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In today’s episode, we explore one of the most overlooked yet powerful forces shaping your daily life: your circadian rhythm. Building on last week’s discussion about naps and nighttime waking, we peel back the layers of the body’s internal timing system—the 24-hour(ish) clock that governs your sleep, mood, focus, hormones, hunger, and even emotional intelligence.

I share a personal story from our own recent move and how I realized I wasn’t taking my own design advice. From intrusive streetlights to freeway noise, I found myself feeling frustrated without understanding why. That moment of “design soul searching” opened the door to this deeper conversation about illumination and the biology behind feeling rested, aligned, and well.

Together, we’ll unpack:

* How your internal clock works—even in total darkness

* Why all humans run a little “late” biologically

* How light isn’t the engine of the circadian rhythm, but the alignment system

* Why poor lighting, environmental stressors, and bad design throw our biology into chaos

* And what renters and homeowners can do to recalibrate their daily rhythm

This episode sets the stage for next week’s deep dive into the body systems controlled by the circadian rhythm—and how you can design your home to work with your biology instead of against it.

If this conversation inspires you to rethink your evening lighting, bedroom setup, or daily routines, be sure to subscribe for more science-backed design insight and practical steps you can use to transform your home and your health.

Get full access to INTREPID at intrepidinterior.substack.com/subscribe