Have you noticed it?

That early fall crash? The one where kids suddenly start melting down about bedtime (even though bedtime used to be smooth). Parents feel like they have to scramble; schedules all feel at a breakneck pace. Sleep gets rocky, and you just have to wonder: is it the new routines or is Fall just destined to be this way?

But it’s not just back-to-school stress, because if it were, it would only be affecting those going back to school. Since it does affect the majority of people this time of year, we know it’s actually a seasonal signaling problem.

The modern problem of the Autumn Equinox

Modern life tricks the body into believing it’s still summer. Bright lights. Late meals. Constant stimulation.

But biologically, this time of year should mean cold, dark, and restoration. When those signals don’t come, the body doesn't downshift like it should. In time, people burn out because as stimulating as they are, artificial lights don’t give the full nourishment of summer light.

This means most people in the Fall and Winter tend to feel “wired but tired.”

Stimulated by the light? Yes.

Nourished by the light? No.

And this is why so many parents are seeing things ramping up, like teething struggles and tantrums in their younger children, and hormonal acne, insomnia, and anxiety in their older children (or even themselves).

It’s not your fault. It’s your environment not being tuned in harmony with the season change. It’s culture, divorced from the realities of hunt and harvest that anchored our ancestors, carrying on its exuberant way as though it was still June.

The good news is, this is something you can easily correct course on for yourself and your family, for the better.

An invitation for a seasonal reset

This Fall doesn’t have to lead to a miserable winter. My colleague, Carrie Bennet, is offering an extremely affordable challenge to help you prepare for Winter this year and I am very excited to offer it to you as a resource if you feel you need a little hand-holding this Fall.

The challenge begins on October 2nd, 2025 and runs for 19 days. Each day gives you a new bite-sized insight you can use immediately to help have a better Fall and Winter this year.

Here’s the full program overview

(by the way, an amazing thing about this challenge is you actually can pay as little as $1 per lesson—even if you only catch a few, this is totally worth it! And Carrie Bennet is a wonderful and generous teacher).

What’s in the winter challenge:

1. The Science of Why Winter is So Healing
2. How to Block Artificial Light to Maximize Healing Melatonin
3. Circadian-Friendly Indoor Lighting for Winter
4. Why a Dark Sleep Space is Essential + 2 Ways to Create One
5. Why I Reduce My Exercise Intensity in the Winter
6. Using Intermittent Fasting to Your Advantage in the Winter
7. Cold 1: How Ambient Air Temp Heals Mitochondria & Brain Fog
8. Cold 2: Face Plunges for Nervous System Support & Better Sleep
9. Cold 3: Full-Body—3 Key Ways a Full-Body Plunge Heals Your Body
10. Reversing SAD Naturally
11. Why Red Light Therapy is So Supportive in the Winter
12. Infrared 1: The Science of Campfire—Why We’re Missing Far-Infrared Heat
13. Infrared 2: Therapeutic Bathing—Another Way to Get Infrared
14. Infrared 3: Sauna—Redox & Detox
15. Lymph Care: Why Infrared & Lymph Drainage Go Hand-in-Hand
16. Cycling Ketosis for Mitochondrial Support & Less Inflammation
17. Earthing in Winter: Ways to Stay Connected, Even When It’s Cold
18. Your Complete Guide to Staying Hydrated in the Winter
19. The Need for Restorative Downtime & How to Do It

I believe Carrie is also doing a big giveaway with 3 winners to be selected. Check out the details here.

And feel free to reply if you have any questions.

Best,

Nikko

Nikko Kennedy | Doula, Science Writer, and Research Director

​nikkokennedy.com​