Winter is the Time to Hibernate
Approximate average reading time is 4 minutes.
I have always dreaded the first three months of the new year. I don’t like the cold, dark, dreary days and the feeling that I must drag myself through them. The busy holidays that filled November and December are over. I’m not quite sure what to do with myself, but at the same time I’m resistant to New Year’s Resolutions—let’s just say they leave me feeling cold. Pun intended. It, however, may be time for me to reset my wintertime attitude.
Someone very wise (Beverly) described that time of year when folks just can’t seem to get motivated. They FEEL like they should be doing something. They WANT to be doing something, but it just isn’t happening. Days slip by with what feels like little or no progress.
I was astounded. She was describing me. That was how I felt. It was all true, but why? And then ever so calmly she said, “Because you want to hibernate.”
We have become distanced from our natural instinctual selves. As moderns, we carry the delusion that slowing down is counterproductive—that we must push through. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those bare trees just outside the window are hibernating. They are protecting themselves from the harshness of winter by conserving their energy for a spring resurgence.
Here’s something I learned recently: there is science that shows that “as many as one-fifth of all genes in blood cells undergo seasonal changes.” That means “our DNA actually changes with the seasons.” Those inexplicable changes that we feel are very real, and it’s time to address some of them.
First, acknowledge this is the time of year to slow down. The pace that we speed through life in the modern world takes its toll. This is our time to protect our energy just like the trees. January, February, March is the wrong time of the year to start a big wellness program, embark on a new diet, or any big project or program. Second, pare back your calendar and determine what you will focus on during the winter months and where you find your comfort. That doesn’t mean stopping. That means slowing the pace. That means follow your instincts and “ride the tide of winter and flow with the energy rather than pushing against it.” Here are some tips for slowing the wintertime pace:
Set aside the technology. Your brain needs a break from the electronic buzz. Consider setting down the phone at 6:00 or 7:00. Think about shutting off the computer and television at 7:00 or 8:00 and spend the remainder of the evening reading, working a puzzle, or playing a game with the family.
Limit social engagements and spend more evenings at home. It’s okay to say no. Excuses will sound hollow so simply say, “thank you so much, but not this time.”
Eat healthy, nourishing meals. Take the time to plan out meals that you fix at home. This is the time to prepare your favorite comfort foods and enjoy them with family and close friends.
Get the rest that you need. Your body detoxifies and heals itself while you sleep. It’s one of the very best things you can do for yourself.
I think hibernation is a concept that I can embrace. I’m resetting my attitude and thinking about my favorite foods, the bread I will bake, and the books that I will read. And every time that I look out the window the trees will remind me I’m doing exactly the right thing. I’m conserving my energies for the transformation and renewal that comes with spring!
