Masuk Free Press

Waking up early is a common challenge for the school population, as attending class first thing in the morning and missing out on sleep is very difficult for students to manage. However, this is not the case for Masuk history teacher Gani Manelli. The morning is a time for him to reach his fullest potential. While the rest of the world is asleep, Manelli comes to school and gets a head start on his day.

“It’s very rare that I am here after 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. It could be as early as 3:00, sometimes, or 4:00,” he said. “And it’s very quiet. That’s one of the reasons that it has some appeal.”

Arriving at work before the sun rises has its benefits, according to Manelli. Along with the appeal of a peaceful atmosphere, Manelli easily gets work done with no distractions or frustration. For example, he is able to avoid the off-peak hours at the copier machine.

 “Some teachers have even asked me, ‘Did you want to hop on the copier?’ And I often say, ‘How many times have you actually seen me on the copier actually copying things?’ And usually the response is, ‘You know, now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you copy anything the whole time I’ve been here,’” he said.

Although he has to start his day early to maintain his schedule, Manelli manages to avoid exhaustion by drinking coffee.

“When I get here, I usually have tea bags, so I usually make some tea with the microwave. But I start a lot of days with Dunkin Donuts or Cumberland Farms,” he said. “It’s a treat for me because I never make coffee at home, and it’s just something that energizes me. It’s something that’s not necessarily happening every day, so that makes it a little bit more lively.”

Caffeine is known for its uplifting effect when consumed in the morning. For Manelli, however, the time he spends drinking his coffee represents much more than that.

“It’s so quiet when I get here. I can kind of sip it and savor it, and I don’t feel rushed. I don’t like feeling rushed doing anything, so that’s kind of like a nice slope, and a quiet process,” he said. “I love being around people. I love being around school, the whole system. The dynamic and culture are super. But you have all day for that, and the whole idea of kind of a quiet, gradual, a little bit of me time at the beginning of the day, for me, is very therapeutic.”

Along with coffee, Manelli continues to stay energized with a full night’s rest. When waking up early, it is crucial to go to bed early, as well.

“It depends on the day, but if it’s a marathon night of sleep and I’m catching up, honestly, I’ll try to go home. If we don’t have a faculty meeting, I’ll try to be asleep by 4:00,” Manelli said. “I’ll sleep until 4:00, 4:30 the next day. That’s my catchup day. And then some nights, I might go to sleep around 9-ish, 9:30, but I’ll be up at midnight.”

While Manelli’s sleep schedule may differ from his peers, it works for him. He is capable of completing what needs to get done, and ensuring a productive routine. His days are not always about work, however. Manelli enjoys unwinding during his free time, and balancing his productivity and relaxation. He separates his work life from his home life, which helps his productivity as a teacher.

“During the fall, I watch a ton of college football. I go to a lot of college football games. Locally, especially. I go to a lot of the Yale games in particular,” he said. “When football is over, I’m a very sports-oriented person, so I watch a lot of college hockey, and I watch a lot of college basketball.”

Having a work-life balance is crucial for productivity, according to Manelli.

“No matter what you have to do and get done and navigate through, I think every once in a while, at least, give yourself time to retreat, and step back and completely disconnect from it,” he said. “If you disconnect and retreat, you wind up in a better place. You don’t burn out if you find the time to just take a break.”

Overall, Manelli’s daily routine is a reminder that the key to a balanced lifestyle is about savoring the small moments. Whether it’s a peaceful morning, a cup of coffee or a sports game, his ability to find joy in every day is what allows him to thrive.