Issue #34: The Forecast Calls for Mild Motivation

November 11, 2025

💌 From the Editor’s Desk

Welcome back to Work In Progmess, where we believe every season has a mood and every mood has a playlist.

This week marks the first full week since daylight savings time disappeared and took our collective willpower with it. The sun now sets at 4:45 p.m., leaving millions of professionals confused, cranky, and Googling “Is it normal to eat dinner at 5:10?”

So in honor of our national power-down period, we bring you a special report from the frontlines of low sunlight and lower motivation.

— The Mess

📰Headline Shocker

NATION BRACES FOR ANNUAL DECLINE IN MOTIVATION AS SUN PACKS UP AND MOVES SOUTH

Experts urge workers to stock up on Vitamin D, coffee, and emotional support hoodies.

CHICAGO, IL — The Department of Personal Energy issued a seasonal warning this week, citing widespread drops in enthusiasm, punctuality, and general optimism following the annual end of daylight savings time.

Researchers say the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) include fatigue, carb cravings, and a strong belief that time is fake. Employers nationwide report an uptick in employees scheduling “quiet reflection blocks” that suspiciously align with nap times.

“I’m still working hard,” said one remote worker while wrapped in a blanket like a motivational burrito. “Just horizontally.”

Schools and offices alike are struggling to adjust. Morning classes now feel like midnight. Afternoon meetings feel like punishment. And by 3 p.m., the only thing being lit is a candle that smells like “Pretending I’m Okay.”

Health professionals recommend getting outside for at least 20 minutes of daylight, though some citizens insist that “the walk from bed to fridge counts.”

Economists predict the productivity slump will last until approximately April, when the sun finally returns and workers collectively remember what hope feels like.

🌤️ Seasonal Productivity Forecast

Monday: 40% chance of focus before noon, followed by scattered yawns.
Tuesday: Coffee strong but attention span weak. Expect heavy scrolling.
Wednesday: Outlook hazy with a chance of snacks.
Thursday: Meetings canceled due to emotional frost.
Friday: Sudden burst of optimism. Fades by 3:30.

☕ Bonus Feature: SAD Survival Tips for Professionals

Replace your morning alarm with a sunrise simulator or the sound of applause.
Keep a desk blanket. You are one meeting away from burrito mode.
Write your goals in pencil. It feels less permanent when you nap through them.
Schedule “walking meetings.” Even if you just walk to the pantry.
Remember: You are not unmotivated. You are solar-powered and on low battery.

🪑 From The Editor’s Desk

Here’s the truth. You’re not lazy, you’re just human. Energy has seasons just like the weather does. You can’t grow in perpetual sunlight.

So instead of forcing summer productivity in winter mode, try something different.
Slow down. Reflect. Hibernate wisely.

Because rest isn’t quitting. It’s maintenance.

📩Until Next Time…

Forward this to someone who’s currently Googling “Can I get seasonal affective disorder from my email inbox?”

Remind them: progress doesn’t always look like movement. Sometimes it looks like a blanket and a cup of something warm.

— The Progmess Editorial Team

🔗 Bitter End

Feeling the early sunsets? Maybe it’s time to borrow a page from Denmark.

🎥 Watch Good Morning America’s segment on Hygge, the Danish practice of getting cozy and connecting with loved ones. Hygge is all about creating a comfortable atmosphere that helps lift your mood and protect your mental health.

👉 Watch Here

Because sometimes the most productive thing you can do is grab a blanket, light a candle, and let yourself feel warm again.

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