I’ve been noticing an interesting tension lately. It’s the new year, and for many of us, that means we’ve just set some goals or intentions for the new year, which usually comes with a burst of excitement and energy.
But if you’re in the northern hemisphere like me, we’re still deep in winter – cold, grey days that don’t exactly scream “time to crush your goals.”
Instead, winter asks for rest and recovery. It’s a time to slow down, get more sleep, and eat nourishing food. This has been the rhythm of humanity long before New Year’s resolutions existed.
For example, I usually wake up around 6:00ish, meditate, read/write, walk my dog Josie for ~45 minutes, and then I work out (lift or ride or climb) before I start the work day.
But lately, I’ve found myself silencing the alarm and waking up around 7:00 instead. At first, this bothered me because it felt like I was starting my day too late. But after a few weeks, I realized my body just needs more rest right now. I needed to adjust my schedule to listen to my body rather than push through with my ideal (and sometimes unrealistic) routine.
Look, I’d love to be in the 5:00 AM club. I genuinely love early mornings and drinking coffee on my back porch as the sun comes up. But at this stage of my life, and in this winter season, my body craves more rest, regardless of how productive I think I should be.
Professional athletes understand the importance of recovery. Muscle doesn’t grow from workouts; it grows when the body rests. The same principle applies to our mental and emotional well-being
So my question here is WHY do I feel like I need to be ON all the time? WHY do I crave uber productivity in my life even when my body and mind are asking for a break?
WHY is it so counterintuitive for me to align myself to the seasons and take some cues from all the hibernating animals and all the trees and go a little dormant for a while?
I’m accepting the 7:00 wake up time as my body’s way of telling me I need more rest.
I’m focusing less on the goals I’ve set for 2025 and not letting myself feel frustrated that I haven’t already achieved them all by the third week in January.
I’m prioritizing naps, reading on the couch, Zone 2 workouts on the bike, and some hearty soups as the things I need to recover and trusting that I will be everything I need to be when spring arrives.
Here are some questions we can ask ourselves:
- WHAT IF, instead of feeling like I need to be ON all the time so I can be fit, rich, skinny, growing, etc….I prioritized rest, downtime, quiet and recovery?
- WHAT IF I could achieve my goals more quickly by taking the time to slow down?
- WHAT IF, by resting, I realize that some of the goals I’ve set for myself no longer align with what I truly want?
Last week, I turned 51, and I’ve noticed that I often still rely on some of the outdated mindsets and approaches I used in my 20s, 30s, and 40s. This year, I’m focusing on living/working smarter, not harder. I want to flow with life (the natural world, seasons, etc) more often and have the awareness to recognize when I’m swimming upstream, then adjust accordingly.
If you're feeling the tension of wanting to hustle and achieve your 2025 goals but also feeling more sleepy and slower during this winter season, please know that it’s totally normal. This is the time of year when nature rests, and so should we. There’s nothing wrong with you – it’s just the rhythm of winter.
You don’t have to get it all done today or even this month or even this quarter. Feel free to ignore that hustle culture bullshit. Listen to your body and practice awareness. Work in a way that feels right for you - which will ultimately ensure that you are operating at your best.
And remember, little steps taken consistently will get you where you want to be.