This is One Thing, a column with tips on how to live.

It started accidentally. I woke up at 4 a.m. one day, unable to fall back asleep. Instead of forcing myself to lie in bed, I made coffee and turned on the TV. In a zombie-like state, I fumbled with the remote and found TCM, the Turner Classic Movies channel. Audrey Hepburn was just stepping out of a taxi, approaching the Tiffany & Co. windows, croissant in hand. There’s something about beginning the day just right that can make you feel calm and grounded. As I went about my routine later, I recited one of the movie’s famous quotes, “I am a very stylish girl,” to myself, like an affirmation. Some people have early-morning workouts, or start the day with journaling and creative writing. But I’m here to recommend simply watching a movie.

After that morning with Breakfast at Tiffany’s, I regularly set my alarm for dawn so that I’d have time to settle in on the couch. Whether erotic thrillers like Basic Instinct or comfort comedies—The Naked Gun; Weekend at Bernie’s—waking up early to enjoy a movie became a cherished form of self-care. When I had a baby last summer, I assumed my precious routine would end. The opposite turned out to be true.

Initially, pumping milk and breastfeeding a newborn every three hours on a 24-hour loop made an entire morning movie impossible. I either got distracted or interrupted, or fell asleep. So I added TV to my arsenal. The CBS procedural Elsbeth was my new favorite series. I got obsessed with scam shows like Scamanda and Apple Cider Vinegar. These were more manageable. Martin Scorsese has said he keeps the TCM channel on in the background while he works because it provides comfort and creativity. Similarly, having the television on while I nursed my baby felt oddly like a form of support. Forget a calming playlist or a meditation app. The noise of the TV can be very soothing.

Now that my daughter is no longer a newborn, I multitask during my morning movie time, organizing and cleaning or even writing while an old favorite is playing. It’s necessary time to myself before anyone needs me.