Six months. It's exactly half a year. When you look at the calendar and realize we are finally 6 months after May, you’re staring directly at November. Most people just think of it as the "pre-holiday month" or the time when the clocks go back, but there is a massive physiological and psychological shift that happens in this specific window. It’s not just about the weather getting colder. Honestly, it’s about how our bodies and schedules react to the total inversion of May’s energy.
May is peak optimism. Everything is blooming, the days are stretching out, and "Spring Fever" is a documented medical phenomenon where increased light exposure boosts dopamine and activity levels. Then, 180 days later, you hit the wall.
The Biology of Being 6 Months After May
Why do we feel so different? Well, for starters, your circadian rhythm is basically in a fistfight with the sun. In May, the Northern Hemisphere experiences a rapid increase in daylight hours. By the time we reach November, we’ve lost roughly 4 to 6 hours of daily sunlight depending on your latitude.
This isn't just "shorter days." It’s a biological reset.
Dr. Norman Rosenthal, the psychiatrist who first described Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in the 1980s, noted that the transition into late autumn is when the "winter blues" actually take root. When you are 6 months after May, your melatonin production starts peaking earlier in the evening. You feel sluggish. You crave carbs. You’re not lazy; you’re just responding to a 180-degree shift in light.
Think about the numbers. If May 1st was the start of your "growth phase," November 1st is the start of your "survival phase."
The Productivity Trap of Late Autumn
Business cycles love to ignore the seasons. We expect the same output in the dark, cold weeks of November that we got in the bright, high-energy weeks of May. It’s a recipe for burnout. Many corporate fiscal years are wrapping up or hitting their final "push," but human energy is naturally dipping.
Actually, the concept of "The 6-Month Mark" is a major milestone in goal-setting theory. If you started a New Year’s resolution, you’ve likely failed by May. If you started a "Summer Goal" in May, November is when you find out if it actually stuck. It's the reality check.
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What Really Happens to Your Body in November
It’s more than just a mood swing. There are tangible, physical changes that peak during this time of year.
- Vitamin D Levels Plummet: Most people have exhausted their stores from the summer sun. By November, blood serum levels of Vitamin D often drop below the recommended 30 ng/mL.
- Cortisol Spikes: The stress of the upcoming holiday season, combined with less outdoor time, can lead to higher baseline stress hormones.
- The "Hunker Down" Instinct: Evolutionarily, we are wired to conserve energy. This is why you suddenly want to spend $40 on a heavy blanket and stay on the couch.
It’s funny because in May, we’re all about "New Year, New Me" (the second version). We buy running shoes. We plan garden beds. Then November hits. The running shoes are in the back of the closet. The garden is a patch of brown sticks.
Financial Reality: The 6-Month Lag
If you look at market trends, the "Sell in May and go away" adage is a famous Wall Street trope. It suggests that the six months from May through October are historically weaker for the stock market.
So, what happens when that period ends?
November typically kicks off what traders call the "Year-End Rally" or the "Santa Claus Rally" anticipation. Historically, the 6 months following October have outperformed the May-October period. Data from the Stock Trader’s Almanac shows that since 1950, the November-April period has consistently provided better returns.
Basically, the 6 months after May is when the money starts moving again. People start spending for the holidays, and institutional investors rebalance their portfolios. It's a pivot point.
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The Mental Health Pivot
We need to talk about the "November Slump." It’s a real thing. In the psychology world, the shift away from May’s high-energy environment can lead to a sense of mourning. You're mourning the sun. You're mourning the ease of being outdoors.
Clinical psychologists often see a spike in appointments during this window. It’s the realization that the year is ending. There is a sense of "Oh no, I didn't do enough." This "End-of-Year Panic" is the exact opposite of the "May Hopefulness."
Why We Get This Transition Wrong
Most people try to fight the change. They drink more caffeine to combat the darkness. They force themselves to maintain May-level social calendars.
That’s a mistake.
The most successful people—and I mean both in terms of health and productivity—actually lean into the 180-day cycle. They treat May through October as the "Outward Phase" and November through April as the "Inward Phase."
- Outward: Travel, socializing, physical growth, high-intensity workouts.
- Inward: Deep work, reading, recovery, low-impact movement, planning.
If you’re still trying to live like it’s May when it’s actually 6 months later, you’re going to hit a wall. Hard.
Actionable Steps for the 6 Months After May Window
You can't change the tilt of the Earth, but you can change how you handle the shift.
First, fix your light. If you’re feeling the November drag, get a 10,000 lux light therapy lamp. Use it for 20 minutes in the morning. It mimics the light intensity you were getting back in May and tells your brain to stop producing melatonin so early.
Second, audit your goals. Don't wait for January 1st. Look at what you started in May. Is it still serving you? If not, kill it. November is a great time for a "pre-winter purge" of unnecessary commitments.
Third, shift your diet. Your body wants more calories because it thinks it needs to stay warm. Feed it complex fats and proteins instead of the refined sugars that lead to the mid-afternoon "November Crash." Think walnuts, salmon, and root vegetables—the stuff that's actually in season.
Fourth, change your workout timing. In May, evening runs are great. In November, they are dark and demotivating. Switch to midday movement. Even a 15-minute walk at noon gives you the sun exposure you’re desperately missing.
Stop fighting the calendar. May was great. It’s gone. Now is the time for the "Great Reset." Use this 6-month marker to stabilize your health and finances before the chaotic holiday rush takes over. You’ve reached the halfway point of the seasonal cycle—adjust your sails accordingly.
Next Steps for Your November Pivot:
- Check your Vitamin D levels: Get a blood test or start a supplement (usually 1,000-2,000 IU) to replace what you lost since the summer.
- Adjust your "Deep Work" hours: Move your most difficult tasks to the morning hours when your natural alertness is highest.
- Review your Q4 budget: November is the highest-spending month for most households; set your "Black Friday" limits now before the impulse kicks in.
- Practice "Hygge": Embrace the Danish concept of coziness. If you can't be outside, make your inside environment a place where you actually want to be.