Journal

The Big Dark: When Does It Get Dark in Seattle?
The Big Dark is what Seattle calls the stretch from November to February, when the days are short and the sky is mostly grey. In December the sun sets as early as 4:17 pm, and on the shortest day, 21 December, Seattle gets 8 hours and 25 minutes of daylight. That is about seven and a half hours less than in June. What is the Big Dark in Seattle? It starts when the clocks go back on the first Sunday of November (1 November in 2026). Sunset jumps to before... Read more...
Supplements for Cloudy, Rainy Climates: What the Research Says
If you live somewhere cloudy and rainy, vitamin D is the supplement with the strongest case. Here's what the NIH, the NHS and NOAA climate data say about getting through the grey months. Read more...
Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Seattle
Rainy day ideas for Seattle, sorted by morning, afternoon and evening, with real NOAA rain data and Ray's plan for a grey day. Read more...
How to Beat the Afternoon Slump on Grey Days
A simple afternoon routine for dark, grey winters: a midday walk, water, a lighter lunch and smarter caffeine. Read more...
How to Wind Down When It's Dark at 4:30
A simple wind-down routine for winter evenings that start at 4:30. Read more...
A Grey-Day Morning Routine That Works in the Dark
A simple morning routine for dark, grey winters, built around the little daylight you get. Read more...
Vitamin D in Pacific Northwest winters
In a Seattle or Portland winter, your skin makes little or no vitamin D from sunlight. What the research says, how much adults need, and where to get it. Read more...