The Wisdom of the Inner Clock
There’s a particular quality to the light in early November, isn’t there? It’s lower, softer, and it seems to vanish without much warning. The clocks have turned back, the air has a definitive chill, and there’s a collective, quiet instinct to pull inward.
I just want to be upfront: I have Seasonal Affective Disorder, so I hope you can appreciate what it took for me to get behind this.
If you’re feeling a bit sluggish, a little more reflective, or just generally out of sorts with the abrupt darkness of a 5 PM sunset, you’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not broken. You’re simply responding to the oldest rhythm there is.
This isn’t just poetic sentiment; it’s biology. It’s a field called chronobiology, the science of our internal clocks. And understanding it might be one of the kindest things we can do for ourselves in a world that demands a 24/7 summer mindset.
Mind-Bending Science: The Man Who Lived in a Cave (For Science!)
Let’s start with a piece of wonderfully weird history. In 1962, a French scientist named Michel Siffre descended into a glacial cave, with no clock, no calendar, and no sun. He wanted to know what would happen to the human body’s sense of time in total isolation.
He planned to stay for two months. When his team on the surface told him it was time to come up, he genuinely believed he had another month to go. His internal “day” had stretched to about 24 hours and 30 minutes. His body had kept its own time, a steady, reliable rhythm completely independent of the outside world. He proved we have a clock, but it’s not on the wall, it’s baked into our DNA.
This internal timer, our circadian rhythm, governs everything from our sleep-wake cycle to our mood and metabolism. When the external world (like the sudden lack of evening light) shifts dramatically, our inner clock can get a little jet-lagged. The fatigue and melancholy many of us feel this time of year isn’t a personal failing; it’s a biological signal asking us to slow down and realign.
Practical Philosophy: From Chronobiology to “Chronosophy”
In a culture obsessed with “hacking” productivity and optimizing every minute, maybe the most rebellious act is to simply listen. To move from the science of time (chronobiology) to the wisdom of time… let’s call it chronosophy.
This is the practice of gently aligning our days with our own nature, not against it. It’s an antidote to the shallow, performative burnout Elena is so tired of. Instead of fighting the urge to be cozier and quieter, what if we leaned into it? What if we saw this season not as a deficit of light, but as an invitation to a different kind of living?
Curated Finds: Three Ways to Honor Your Inner Clock
As your fellow traveler on this trail, here are a few real-world things I’ve found genuinely helpful for navigating this seasonal shift.
For Waking Up: The Sunrise Alarm Clock. This feels like a gimmick until you try it. Instead of a jarring alarm, it’s a lamp that begins to glow faintly about 30 minutes before you need to wake, gradually brightening to mimic a natural sunrise. It’s a gentle, science-backed way to tell your internal clock that the day is beginning, even when it’s pitch black outside. It has honestly changed my winter mornings.
For Winding Down: The “Tech Sunset.” The blue light from our screens actively tricks our brains into thinking it’s still daytime, messing with melatonin production. My simple rule: when the real sun goes down, the tech sun does too. I set a reminder for an hour before bed to put my phone, laptop, and tablet away. I switch to a warm lamp and pick up a physical book. It feels like a small, quiet act of reclaiming my evening.
For the Mind: Katherine May’s Wintering. This book is the official VengaDragon companion for this time of year. It’s a beautiful, insightful look at “the power of rest and retreat in difficult times.” May argues that, like nature, our lives have seasons. There are times for growth and times for lying fallow. It’s not about defeat; it’s about gathering strength. It’s the perfect read for a long November night.
We can’t stop the earth from tilting away from the sun, but we can stop fighting ourselves. We can listen to the ancient, wise clock ticking away inside us, reminding us when to act and when to rest.
It’s a quieter path, but it’s a good one.
Community Catalyst:
Now, I’d love to hear from you. What’s one small ritual, habit, or comfort that helps you stay grounded when the seasons change?
Leave a comment and share your wisdom. Your small discovery might be just the thing someone else needs to hear today.
Stay curious, Venga