When Spain went dark, my hormones finally spoke

When the electricity cut across Spain yesterday, my first thought was typical: "how inconvenient."

My second thought came hours later as I sat on my balcony, watching the sun set without a single artificial light competing with it: "My body feels completely different."

Have you ever had that moment when something you've intellectually understood for years suddenly becomes viscerally real? That was me, listening to neighbors chat across balconies, watching children play in courtyards without tablets, feeling genuine tiredness wash over me at an hour my body—not my schedule—decided.

I've spent years learning about women's hormonal health, but yesterday I experienced what happens when our modern world suddenly stops overriding our biological rhythms.

And I can't stop thinking about what this means for all of us.

The Whispers We've Stopped Hearing

Think about the last time you felt naturally sleepy when darkness fell. Or genuinely hungry—not bored, stressed, or scheduled-hungry. When was the last time you felt the subtle shift in energy that happens with the changing light?

If you're struggling to remember, you're not alone.

Our bodies speak to us through hormonal messages—subtle chemical whispers that guide everything from our energy and hunger to our fertility and mood. But we've created a world that drowns out these whispers with:

• Screens that tell our brains it's perpetually noon

• Notifications that trigger stress responses at all hours

• Artificial schedules that override natural energy flows

• Constant connectivity that never allows our nervous systems to truly rest

The result? Our hormones are still speaking, but we've lost the ability to hear them.

What Your Hormones Are Trying to Tell You

During Monday's blackout, as I sat in growing darkness with nothing but candlelight and conversation, I felt my body responding in ways that felt both foreign and deeply familiar:

My eyes grew heavy around 9:30 pm — not because Netflix ended or I checked the time, but because darkness triggered an actual melatonin response.

I noticed my breathing deepening — without the subtle tension that comes from being perpetually "on call" to respond to messages.

My hunger felt different — more gradual, less urgent, as my cortisol wasn't spiking from constant stimulation.

This wasn't nostalgia or imagination. This was my endocrine system finally getting the environmental cues it evolved to expect.

Think about it: for thousands of generations, our female bodies synchronized with natural rhythms of light and dark. Our ovulatory cycles, stress responses, and metabolic functions all evolved to work within these patterns.

Yet in just a few decades, we've completely transformed this relationship.

The Price We're Paying

When I work with women struggling with hormonal chaos—irregular periods, fertility challenges, inexplicable fatigue, stubborn weight, mood disturbances—I always start with the same question:

"When was the last time your body experienced actual darkness? Actual rest? Actual cyclical living?"

The science is becoming undeniable. When we disrupt our circadian rhythms, we trigger a hormonal cascade that affects everything:

Cortisol goes rogue — Instead of its natural morning peak and evening decline, it stays elevated, bullying your other hormones and blocking progesterone receptors (hello, PMS, anxiety, and sleep problems).

Melatonin production falters — This isn't just about sleep. Melatonin also protects your ovaries, supports egg quality, and offers powerful anti-inflammatory effects throughout your body.

Your hunger hormones get confused — Ever find yourself ravenous at night despite adequate calories during the day? Your leptin and ghrelin are likely responding to circadian disruption.

Your sex hormones struggle — Without proper signals from your master glands, your reproductive hormones become like musicians without a conductor—each playing their own tune without harmony.

But here's what gives me hope: your body hasn't forgotten how to be well. It remembers. It's just waiting for the right conditions.

Your 7-Day Hormonal Homecoming

What if we intentionally created mini "blackouts" in our lives? Not through power failures, but through conscious choices to reintroduce the conditions our hormones are craving?

Here's a journey back to your body's wisdom—one day at a time:

Day 1: Greet the Morning Light

Your mission: Within 30 minutes of waking, step outside—no sunglasses—for just 5-10 minutes. Feel the daylight on your face and eyes.

The magic behind it: When morning light hits your retinas, it triggers a beautiful cascade of hormonal signaling. Your brain essentially says, "It's daytime now!" setting your cortisol awakening response in motion and starting the roughly 14-hour countdown to melatonin release.

Day 2: Host a Sunset Ceremony

Your mission: Create an "electronic sundown" ritual. Set an alarm for 1 hour (2 is better) before bed as your signal to power down all screens. Light a candle, dim your lights, and let your body feel the transition.

The magic behind it: Your pineal gland—that tiny maestro of melatonin—can finally do its job without blue light interference. One study found that just one hour of screen time before bed can reduce melatonin production by 30%.

Day 3: Reclaim Your Dinner Hour

Your mission: Eat your final meal at least 2-3 hours before bedtime, and make it a screen-free experience. Actually taste your food. Notice when you feel satisfied.

The magic behind it: Your digestive system and liver need downtime to process not just food but also hormones. Eating late confuses your insulin response and forces your body to prioritize digestion over the important hormonal processing that happens during sleep.

Day 4: Embrace the Darkness

Your mission: Make your bedroom as dark as possible tonight. Remove LED lights, cover electronics, use blackout curtains, or try a sleep mask.

The magic behind it: Studies show that even small amounts of light—like from a digital alarm clock—can suppress melatonin and disrupt your sleep architecture. Your brain registers light through closed eyelids, affecting hormonal secretion patterns.

My own experience with this was dramatic. After creating true darkness in my bedroom, I noticed my sleep patterns improve every night.

Day 5: Cool Your Bedroom

Your mission: Lower your thermostat to 65-68°F (18-20°C) tonight and add an extra blanket if needed.

The magic behind it: Your body temperature naturally drops to initiate sleep. By supporting this process, you enhance the release of growth hormone during deep sleep phases—essential for tissue repair and hormonal balance.

Day 6: Create an Evening Ritual

Your mission: Design a 10-minute wind-down practice before bed. Maybe gentle stretching, a few deep breaths, or writing down three things you're grateful for.

The magic behind it: These simple practices activate your parasympathetic ("rest and digest") nervous system, lowering evening cortisol that would otherwise interfere with your sleep hormones and block progesterone receptors.

I like reading before bed using warm low lights...

Day 7: Host a Blackout Gathering

Your mission: Invite friends or family for a candlelit dinner or game night. Phones go in a basket by the door.

The magic behind it: Face-to-face connection triggers oxytocin release, which counteracts stress hormones and supports healthy progesterone levels. Plus, shared laughter releases endorphins that further balance your hormonal system.

Small Shifts, Profound Impact

The beauty of hormonal healing is that it doesn't require massive life overhauls. Small, consistent signals to your body create cumulative effects.

Consider these daily habits to maintain your reset:

Morning sunlight + protein breakfast = Stabilized cortisol rhythm and blood sugar

Midday movement = Improved insulin sensitivity when your hormones can best support it

Evening magnesium-rich foods (dark greens, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate) = Natural relaxation support

Consistent sleep/wake times = Hormonal predictability your body craves

Weekly technology breaks = Regular nervous system reset

You might notice more regular cycles. Improved sleep quality. More stable energy. Fewer cravings. Clearer skin. Better mood stability. Less PMS. Improved digestion.

Your body speaks when given the chance. The question is: are we creating the conditions to hear it?

Beyond Personal Wellness

On Monday, as I watched neighbors connecting in courtyards and families eating together by candlelight, I realized something important: Hormonal health isn't just about personal wellness. It's about reclaiming our collective humanity.

When we create "blackout moments" in our lives, we're not just supporting our endocrine systems. We're creating space for:

• Genuine connection when phones aren't competing for attention

• Creative thinking when our brains aren't constantly processing inputs

• Environmental healing as we consume less electricity

• Cultural shifts as we model healthier relationships with technology

• Community resilience when we remember how to be together

A Moment of Reflection

Spain's blackout has ended. Power has been restored. Life has returned to "normal."

But perhaps the greatest gift of this unexpected pause was the reminder of what our bodies already know—what they've always known, despite our best efforts to override them with modern conveniences and constant connectivity.

For a few hours, as darkness fell across Madrid, I glimpsed what life might feel like if we created more space for our natural rhythms:

• The gentle onset of genuine fatigue as darkness falls

• The richness of conversation without digital interruption

• The satisfaction of hunger that arrives from true biological cues

• The deep rest that comes when our nervous systems fully power down

These aren't luxuries. They're not wellness trends. They're the basic conditions under which our hormonal systems evolved to function optimally.

What would happen if we occasionally created our own intentional "blackouts"? Not through power failures, but through conscious choices to reconnect with darkness, quiet, and presence?

I don't have all the answers. I'm on this journey too, navigating the tension between modern life and biological wisdom just like you. But Monday's blackout showed me what's possible when we create even brief windows for our bodies to remember their innate intelligence.

If this resonates with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you experienced a similar reset during power outages, travel, or intentional disconnection? What did your body tell you when the noise of modern life temporarily faded?

Share in the comments below. Your insight might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

Our hormones are always speaking. Sometimes they just need a little darkness to be heard.

This reflection is part of my ongoing exploration of how we might create more harmony between our modern lives and our biological needs. If you found value in these thoughts, consider sharing them with someone who might appreciate a fresh perspective on our relationship with technology and health.