As the days grow darker and the air turns crisp, many of us feel the pull to slow down. In other words…many of us feel totally exhausted and are just trying to summon the energy to get through winter. But maybe, just maybe, there’s a different way.
This season, when the world hibernates, is often the busiest time of year. We push through fatigue, pack our calendars and try to squeeze in more when our bodies are quietly asking for less.
So, if you’re feeling unmotivated, tired or just a little “off”, you might be simply responding to the rhythm of nature.
In the natural world, winter is a time of hibernation, conserving energy and healing beneath the surface. Bears retreat into caves, trees let go of their leaves and the soil rests in preparation for spring.
Nothing in nature blooms all year and we’re not meant to either.
Nature’s Reminder: We’re Meant to Slow Down
Somewhere along the way, many of us began to believe that rest is something we have to earn. That it’s the reward for being productive or something we get only after everything else is done. But nature doesn’t work that way.
Every living thing around us is preparing for rest in winter. Hibernation is tapping into that old wisdom; it’s really powerful.
As humans, we are not separate from this rhythm—we are nature. Our bodies, minds and nervous systems are wired to follow the seasons. And when we don’t allow ourselves to rest, we begin to feel the consequences: burnout, overwhelm, fatigue that sleep alone can’t fix.
Your Nervous System Needs a Winter Too
We often think of rest as just getting more sleep, but true rest goes much deeper. It requires giving our nervous system a break from constant stimulation, pressure and stress. It’s about allowing space for slowness, stillness and recovery.
When we’re always “on” (checking our phones, juggling responsibilities, pushing through) we stay stuck in a state of fight-or-flight. Over time, this wears us down emotionally and physically. But when we slow down, even a little, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, our rest-and-digest state. This is where healing happens.
Choosing to rest isn’t easy, especially in a world that glorifies hustle and quietly judges the well-rested. But I’ve learned that rest is something I need in order to feel like me; it’s a non-negotiable in my life. I don’t run on overdrive and I don’t want to. These days, every nap I take feels like a quiet act of rebellion…and a deeply loving one.
Why Rest Feels So Hard (And How to Relearn It)
If rest feels uncomfortable or even frustrating, you’re not alone. So many of us have been conditioned to associate rest with “laziness”. We feel guilty for not being “productive”, and we get fidgety when there’s nothing to check off a list.
But that reaction is learned and can be unlearned. It’s the result of a culture that values doing over being.
Remember, you don’t have to prove your worth through constant output. You don’t need to earn rest. You deserve care simply because you’re human.
Relearning how to rest is about creating small, intentional pauses where your body and mind can breathe. It lets you reconnect with your natural rhythm, the same one that already knows how to slow down when winter comes.
Gentle Ways to Rest This Winter
Rest doesn’t need to be dramatic or time-consuming. It can be a part of your day. Here are a few ways to invite more rest into your winter:
- Let yourself sleep more. Just like nature slows down, our bodies naturally need more rest during the darker months. If you’re craving more sleep, that’s the winter season asking for rest. Follow that urge when you can.
- Pause in the in-between moments. If you arrive early and you’re waiting in your car, try closing your eyes instead of doomscrolling on social media. Set a timer, lean back and give yourself a few quiet minutes of downtime.
- Take a 10-minute walk without your phone. Noticing nature and the beauty around you is a quick way to calm your nervous system. We live in such a beautiful place— take the time to enjoy it.
- Give yourself permission to do nothing. Even for just five minutes, do nothing and notice how that feels. It’s okay if it feels uncomfortable at first; over time that feeling will fade.
- And maybe try this:
- Rest loudly. Brag about your nap. Be the person in the group chat who says, “I just had the best nap!”
Let’s make feeling rested something to be proud of.
You Are Allowed to Slow Down
Nature isn’t rushing right now and you don’t have to either. The trees are bare, the bears are tucked away and the soil is still. This is a season for quiet, not productivity. Let yourself slow down and let it be enough. Rest doesn’t need to be a luxury, it’s part of the cycle. It’s something we all deserve.
You don’t have to overhaul your life, just give yourself five quiet minutes a day and see what shifts.
Lisa Kilgour, rhn After years of being frustrated with her own health issues, she began looking at her health like a puzzle, searching for the missing pieces that would help her heal. Today, as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN), Lisa helps others piece together all the ways they care for themselves—emotions, gut flora, sleep, stress and food—to inspire health and healing.
Learn more: lisakilgour.com
Article was published in The Good Life.
