When the Sun Has a Bad Day (And So Do You)
Earlier this week, something felt off. Tasks that usually flowed felt like wading through fog. Focus slipped. By mid-afternoon I was inexplicably exhausted, despite sleeping well the night before.
Then I saw the news about the solar storms. Multiple X-class flares. A G4 severe geomagnetic storm, the kind that happens once or twice a year. Auroras visible as far south as Spain and Alabama. Scientists calling it one of the strongest events of the current solar cycle. And I wondered if that might explain why I felt so drained. It sounds far-fetched until you look at the research. Then it sounds less so.
Some forces shape us quietly from 93 million miles away.
The Science Bit (Briefly)
The sun occasionally throws tantrums. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections send charged particles hurtling towards Earth. When they hit our magnetosphere, they create geomagnetic storms that affect satellites, power grids, and possibly, our biology. We’re at solar maximum, the peak of the sun’s 11-year cycle when its magnetic poles flip. This means more solar eruptions, more geomagnetic storms, and more strange effects through at least the end of this year.
Research suggests sharp changes in geomagnetic activity can stress human regulatory systems, altering melatonin and serotonin balance, blood pressure, immune response, and neurological processes. Some studies show magnetic disturbances can increase heart rate and reduce heart rate variability. The body works harder to stay balanced while the electromagnetic environment shifts. This can disrupt circadian rhythm, increase inflammation, and leave some people fatigued or foggy. Not everyone feels it, but severe disturbances seem to affect certain people more than others.
Just this week, from 11–13 November 2025, Earth was hit by several severe geomagnetic storms. An X5.1-class solar flare triggered a “cannibal CME”, when two coronal mass ejections merged before striking Earth’s magnetic field. The storms reached G4 levels (far stronger than forecast) and auroras appeared across much of Europe and North America. The May 2024 “Gannon” storm was even larger, the first extreme geomagnetic storm in over twenty years, strong enough for NASA to hold emergency coordination meetings. Both were big enough that many people felt off without knowing why.
Why It Matters for People Who Run Businesses
I work with consultants and purpose-led businesses. People who care deeply about their work and push themselves to show up well for clients. They also tend to internalise struggle. When productivity drops, they assume it’s something they’ve done wrong.
Sometimes the answer is simple: you’re tired and need rest. Sometimes you’re facing something difficult and your capacity is reduced. And sometimes, the planet’s electromagnetic field is in turmoil and your nervous system is reacting to an invisible environmental stressor. That’s context worth noticing.
What I’ve Started Paying Attention To
I’m not suggesting anyone plan their business around space weather. But I’ve started noticing patterns. When alerts for incoming storms appear, I adjust expectations early. I avoid creative strategy work and focus on straightforward admin. I go to bed earlier. On high-activity days, complex thinking feels heavier and decisions take longer. I used to push through. Now I adjust. If geomagnetic activity is elevated, I move client-facing work, take more breaks, and expect less of myself. It’s working with my biology instead of against it.
The Permission We Don’t Give Ourselves
Learning this brought relief. Not because it gives an excuse, but because it reminds me I’m a physical being on a physical planet affected by physical forces. Some days the atmosphere is being bombarded by charged particles from the sun. Expecting to perform at the same level regardless feels unrealistic. Work culture still treats humans as machines — always on, always sharp, always consistent. But life doesn’t work that way.
What to Do With This Information
I’m not recommending you email clients saying “sorry for the delay, solar flare.” But you can use the awareness to plan better and treat yourself more kindly.
Notice your patterns. Track the days focus slips. Check if geomagnetic activity spiked. You may see a link.
Build in buffer. If you know certain factors affect you, leave more margin for rest.
Adjust in real time. When focus fades, remember it’s not always your fault. Do what matters most. Let the rest wait.
Be honest about capacity. Some days you have more to give, some less. Both are fine.
Question the consistency myth. True professionalism isn’t constant output. It’s realistic self-management.
The Larger Point
Solar weather is only one example of how we forget we’re biological. Our bodies respond to light, temperature, electromagnetic fields, hormones, nutrition, stress, and connection. Recognising this isn’t weakness. It’s accuracy. The people I admire most notice their patterns, adapt, and respect their limits. That approach builds long-term stability.
Where I’ve Landed
I no longer give elaborate justifications when I need to reschedule or slow down. Sometimes I’m having a rough day. Sometimes external factors play a part. The willingness to adapt matters more than the reason.
Now I check space weather like I check regular weather. I don’t plan life around it, but it offers context. And that context helps me be kinder to myself, which has improved my productivity more than any technique I’ve tried.
The Thing About Space Weather
The sun is 93 million miles away, yet when it flares, some of us feel it. Your productivity is shaped by more than your willpower: sleep, stress, light, hormones, meals, and yes, the planet’s electromagnetic field. You already know this, but we forget. We treat productivity as a test of discipline instead of a reflection of many moving parts. These factors matter. Not as excuses, but as context and as reminders to work with yourself rather than against yourself.
Some days are harder. Sometimes there’s a reason. Sometimes there isn’t. Either way, kindness helps.
A practical note: if you’re curious about space weather, the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (swpc.noaa.gov) offers free forecasts. You don’t need to plan your week around them, but when you’re having a low-energy day, they might provide context. And if there’s no geomagnetic activity and you’re simply tired, rest anyway.
