Reclaiming Rest in a Relentless Season
In a society where being constantly busy seems to be the acceptable baseline, it is perhaps unsurprising that the season that literally signals our bodies to rest—winter—somehow ends up being the most frantic time of the year for most. Shorter days mean less natural light, which in turn means lower levels of serotonin and altered melatonin production, and colder temperatures cause metabolic shifts and blood flow redistribution. As a result, we tend to feel more sluggish, tired, and emotionally taxed in winter months—and we also tend to view these outcomes as pesky obstacles that need to be overcome rather than as benevolent cues from our bodies urging us to slow down and conserve our energy.
Consciously reframing the biological effects of winter as wise signals rather than as problems that need be pushed through is no easy feat. In our society, the holiday season has historically equated care and cheer with energy expenditure. As we juggle social engagements, shopping trips, cooking marathons, and other seasonal obligations—all while still juggling the myriad everyday responsibilities we have year round—wellness can often feel like just another ball in the air. But without your health, you have nothing. There is no prize to be won from constantly overextending oneself except crippling burnout (or worse), and you simply cannot pour from an empty cup.
In an effort to help you fill your cup and stay healthy this holiday season, we have assembled a short list of tips for reclaiming rest.
1. Intentionally remind yourself that your worth is not contingent on your productivity.
It can be all too easy to equate one’s own self-worth with what you can produce for others, but please make daily efforts to remember that your worth is innate. You are not only allowed to rest and abstain from output—your body demands periods of inactivity in order to function properly. Rest is not a reward; it is necessary for survival.
2. Place—and enforce—strict boundaries.
Placing and enforcing boundaries on your time and effort expenditures should ideally be a year-round practice, but limiting your obligations and others’ access to you during the holiday season is especially crucial. Do not feel bad for turning down invitations to social gatherings, for distancing yourself from people and/or things that drain you, or for setting phone-free hours. Those who truly care for you and your well-being will not begrudge you these boundaries.
3. Prioritize sleep.
In an effort to regulate your circadian rhythm and get more restful sleep during winter months, try to incorporate the following simple practices every day: spend 10-30 minutes outside or near a bright window soon after waking, wake up and go to bed at roughly the same times every day, and limit evening screen time.
4. Make gatherings lowkey.
Prioritizing rest does not have to entail cutting out or back on social gatherings. Holiday get-togethers offer opportunities to connect in meaningful ways, and those connections are also important for your health. Traditional holiday gatherings, which can tend to involve a lot of hustle and bustle, can be traded for more fun and relaxing gatherings like holiday movie nights with pajamas and store-bought snacks, leisurely drives to view Christmas lights, or impromptu craft nights where everyone brings bits and baubles to tinker with while drinking hot cocoa. These and other casual get-togethers emphasize relaxation over stress and can help remind us that rest doesn’t have to happen in isolation.
