Hi Reader,

In the heart of winter when all of the elements sway us toward slowdown, it’s tempting to respond by doubling down on caffeine. Yes our systems are sluggish, but life doesn’t let us off the hook just like that. Nope, instead we expect the same energy and productivity levels we have during seasons of warmth and daylight.

But how does fighting our biology make us feel? Usually out of balance, edgy, distracted, and worst case, burnt out. Seriously, you can force your way through, but it won’t feel good.

The stats really say it all: one recent study shows 2/3 ​of​ people feel less productive during the winter time, and not in a cozy way. Low mood, feelings of isolation and even physical malaise are all known to increase.

While remedies from self-care practices to happy lamps are all great solutions, what if we explore the answer to a different question?

How does responding to our natural biorhythms in synch with the seasons make us feel?

When we listen to our inner signals, we can respond by honoring our natural inclination toward homeostasis, or balance. Meaning when our bodies feel sluggish even without obvious cause (like sickness or hangover), we give ourselves permission to slow down, to rest more.

Do bears feel guilty about hibernating?

Too often we get caught up in negative self-talk when our expectations are unrealistic. Remember when people took an hour for lunch every day? This was normal until our culture of overdrive began deeming lunch breaks endangered.

Today’s technology means we carry our offices around in our pockets, making it almost impossible for us to disconnect from work, even during mealtimes.

Yet is working more making us happier or healthier? Only if we love our work. Hey this isn’t a judgment; I have a really hard time taking breaks for that very reason. I’m passionate about what I do, so before I rush out the door I just have to finish that email dammit - hence the embarrassing typos last week.

It's a productivity trap, more is always better, and so easy to fall into especially and ironically, when you're stressing your way into burn-out.

These days instead, when I feel my energy waning, I’m choosing to respond to my biological needs in a way that allows for regeneration, it's a process!

“It’s not just you: humans need to sleep more in wintertime”.

Rather than judging the slower pace as a problem to solve, I invite you to try listening to what your body is telling you it needs. If you ignore sleep cravings, for example, your entire being is affected in a ripple of ways.
And according to one study in a sea of agreement, we should all lean into these changes even more.

In addition to more sleep, what might leaning in the rhythms of the seasons look like? Here are a few examples:

• Giving yourself permission to slow down and take a breath when notice you’re more frustrated by things like slow-moving lines, heavy traffic, or long stoplights.
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• Recognizing a natural energy lull isn’t a one-way trip down to lazy town, instead recharging will bring us back stronger.
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• Taking time and space to reassess where to let go, say no, and set boundaries. Think of it as pruning those obligations or distractions that don’t align with your big-picture goals.
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• Finding easy and fun ways to stay connected to friends.
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• Making time for things you enjoy doing but "don’t have the time".

And if you’re ready to take it to the next level, here are a few suggestions:

Drop into cozy Hygge: Create a Danish-inspired warm and inviting atmosphere in your home with soft blankets, beautifully scented candles, and comfortable loungewear. Enjoy hot cups of herbal tea, curl up with a good book, or watch your favorite movie as you unwind and recharge. Even better when done with a friend!

Whip up a colorful wellness soup with just a stovetop pot and a blender. Use your favorite orange veggies like any combination of carrots, sweet potato, butternut squash, turmeric root, yellow pepper, and citrus fruit, wash, chop, and steam until cooked, transfer to your blender, season, and serve (see recipe below).

If old fashioned tomato soup is your jam, have you tried whipping up your own? Make too much and pour the rest into jars to freeze for easy later meals.

I hope some of these intentions inspire you to lean into the rhythm of the seasons. By giving yourself permission to accept and align with your deeper needs, you’ll experience less stress and greater self-compassion. Annoying as it often seems, no amount of rushing will get you there!

Simply Delicious Wellness Soup:

3 thick carrots
1 small sweet potato
1 cup cubed butternut squash
1 medium to large onion, peeled and halved
1 tsp. turmeric root or powder
1 tsp. cumin (optional)
1/” fresh ginger root
1 peeled orange
1-2 veggie bouillon cubes
2 cloves of garlic
ground black pepper, salt and

Steam the veggies together in ½ cup of water in a pot until cooked through, add the bouillon cube, turmeric, the orange and garlic to the pot and stir in 2 more cups of water. Add the whole mixture to your high speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Reheat or serve warm, sprinkled with toasted pecans. Enjoy!

To your wellness,

Elizabeth

If you’re interested, don’t miss my upcoming free webinar, The Art of Mediterranean Living: 3 Secrets Health, Happiness and Longevity