Coping with the Clock Change: How Hypnotherapy Can Help You Adjust and Stay Positive
As the clocks go back this weekend in the UK, we officially welcome the darker evenings and shorter days of autumn and winter. While this shift gives us lighter mornings for a while, many people find it difficult to adjust when the evenings suddenly draw in and daylight feels scarce.
I remember when I was commuting every day, this change always hit me hard. I’d leave work as the light was fading and often find myself panicking on the drive home as dusk settled in. Strangely, I was fine once it was properly dark (I actually find darkness quite peaceful), but it was that sudden change — the in-between light — that unsettled me.
Over time, I discovered that hypnotherapy could help me calm those anxious feelings, adjust my body clock more easily, and even embrace this seasonal shift as a time for slowing down and nurturing myself.
If you find the clock change difficult too, whether it’s your sleep, energy, or mood that’s affected, you’re not alone. The change in light levels can disrupt our natural rhythms and affect both our sleep and emotional wellbeing. And the good news is, there are gentle and effective ways to ease this transition, and hypnotherapy can be one of them.
Why the Clock Change Affects Us
Our bodies have an internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, which helps regulate when we sleep, wake, and feel alert. When the clocks change, this rhythm can fall out of sync. It’s a bit like a form of mild jet lag.
This can lead to:
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep
- Waking too early
- Low energy or irritability
- A dip in motivation or mood
The darker evenings can also trigger what’s often known as the “winter blues” or in some cases, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is where the reduced daylight impacts serotonin and melatonin levels, the hormones that regulate mood and sleep. You can read more about Seasonal Affective Disorder here.
How Hypnotherapy Can Help
Hypnotherapy works by guiding you into a deeply relaxed state where your mind becomes more receptive to positive suggestions and new ways of thinking.
Here’s how it can help during this seasonal shift:
- Reset Your Sleep Patterns:
Hypnosis can calm a racing mind, helping you unwind more easily at night and wake feeling refreshed. It can also reinforce healthy bedtime routines and sleep associations. - Lift Your Mood and Motivation:
By using positive visualisation and suggestion, hypnotherapy can help you focus on what uplifts you, encouraging you to reconnect with your inner resilience and joy, even during darker days. - Reduce Stress and Anxiety:
Hypnotherapy teaches your body and mind how to relax deeply, lowering stress hormones and supporting emotional balance. - Reframe Your Thoughts About Winter:
Through hypnosis, you can shift from “I hate the dark nights” to “I embrace this time for rest, reflection, and self-care.” This subtle change in mindset can make a huge difference to how you experience the season.
Empowerment Tips to Help You Thrive Through the Time Change
Whether you use hypnotherapy or not, there are simple steps you can take to support yourself as the days grow shorter:
- Soak up natural daylight as much as possible — even a short walk outside with your dog (like my Bella!) helps boost serotonin.
- Create a calming bedtime routine — dim the lights, sip herbal tea, and avoid screens before bed.
- Use relaxation recordings or self-hypnosis — to guide you into a peaceful, restorative sleep.
- Stay connected — reach out to friends, join a class, or simply chat with someone who lifts your spirits.
- Embrace hygge — cosy blankets, candles, soothing music, and gratitude can make this season nurturing rather than draining.
Remember
You have the power to adapt and thrive. The darker months can actually become a beautiful time for rest, reflection, and inner growth.
If you’re finding the time change challenging, hypnotherapy can help you reset, restore, and reconnect with your natural rhythm — so you can feel balanced, peaceful, and energised again.
If you’d like support adjusting to the clock change, easing sleep difficulties, or lifting your mood, I offer one-to-one hypnotherapy sessions online and in-person in Lowestoft and Norwich. Feel free to get in touch. I’d love to help you feel empowered and at ease this season. 🌙