It's not you. It's winter.

It’s 7am and the alarm goes off. You’re exhausted but there’s no time to sleep longer. You’ve got things to do. You wonder why you’re so tired but everyone else keeps going so you guess it’s just you.

It’s not you. It’s winter!

Well, that and the fact we do way too much on any given day—but that’s food for another blog. 😉

The real problem with winter isn’t that it’s cold and dark but that you pretend it’s just a chillier version of summer.

The problem is that you push through without listening to your body. You’re so busy getting things done that your body has become something you manage—instead of something you honor.

The seasons impact us much more than we think. We forget our body is tied to the natural rhythms of this planet we live on.

TRUTH: At the height of summer when there is much more daylight, you have a lot more energy than in the dead of winter.

Except that’s not how you behave.

Winter and energy

In the winter, most of us pretend nothing has changed, and we continue at full speed like it’s summer, when our body receives a lot of light and vitamin D. We don’t take into account the fact that everyone has less energy in those darker months. As if it doesn’t impact our productivity.

You simply push through and plan your days just as full all year round.

You don’t take the time to listen to your body and what it’s trying to say. You don’t pause and wonder if your exhaustion might be a reason to rest more. And you likely never realize you’re so busy taking care of everyone else and doing what’s expected that you forget to wonder what you want and need.

Or as a friend said recently, “I’m just plodding along, getting it all done without picking my head up to think about why.”

That’s a problem any time of year but especially in winter when you actually have less energy.

What your body needs

I spoke to my cousin about morning routines and I mentioned I’m getting up about an hour later now than in summer. She said she noticed something similar—wanting to sleep more at the moment.

And that’s totally natural. Except we never take that into account when we plan our days and weeks. Most of us are so busy doing all the things that we don’t allow extra time to rest.

When’s the last time you thought “Oh, it’s winter. I better schedule a longer break. Go to bed earlier. Perhaps start that early morning meeting a bit later?”

I’m guessing you didn’t. Because that’s not how our society operates. I’m lucky to run my own business so I get to choose a lot of my schedule.

But most of us plan our days pretending we have the same amount of energy on any given day. Our energy levels vary throughout the week and month, but especially throughout the seasons!

Our natural rhythm

I’m baffled that companies don’t take this natural rhythm into account when planning projects or even workdays. I believe when we lighten our load as the days shorten, and are in tune with our physical bodies and how much energy we have, we will be more productive, effective, and creative.

The lack of daylight affects our hormones and thus our mood as well. That’s why listening to your circadian rhythm is important. Your circadian rhythm is all about following your natural biological flow. Doing so improves your energy level, quality of sleep and overall well-being.

For eons our only sources of light were the sun, moon and stars and later we added fire and candles as a source of light and warmth. Our body is ingeniously linked to these light cues. And our biological clock moves in sync with these natural cycles of light and dark. These rhythms influence not just our sleep and wake cycles but our metabolism, immune system, mood and performance. In short: our health.

I think a world where we pay attention to our physical body and listen to it—not railroad it—is a much happier and healthier world.

Where to start

Here are some practical tips to get started.

1. Go outside

I know. In winter, assuming you’re living in the Northern hemisphere, it can be gray and rainy and not at all appealing to go outside. But I recommend you do so anyway—even when it rains. Because even when it looks gray, the amount of light (lux) you get is many times higher than what you get indoors.

You’ll have more energy and better health as a result. I can really feel the difference. Even though at times I have to force myself to go outside. Like in the picture above. 😉

2. Go to bed earlier

Or get up later. Whichever is easiest to implement. And if you like watching series and find it hard to stop, I found that pausing a show in the middle is much easier. Because series end with a cliffhanger. They’re designed to make you want to see the next one. Stopping in the middle makes it much easier to go to bed half an hour earlier. 😉  It’s time you’ll win back.

More sleep is one of the easiest—and most relaxing—ways to increase productivity and perform to the best of your ability.

3. Listen to your body

And I mean really listening.

Notice when you’re tired or feeling overwhelmed. Notice when you get a headache or feel a cold coming on. Notice when you feel no enthusiasm to do something but you make yourself do it anyway.

When you’re noticing these things, I invite you to pause. Take a deep breath. And then make a conscious decision on how to move forward. Whether you decide to stop, rest or push forward anyway—at least it’s a conscious choice.

Whether that means rescheduling a meeting, taking a longer lunch break or giving yourself permission to stop when you notice your brain is foggy.

And that’s what’s coming home to yourself feels like. Honoring what you need instead of pretending there’s no limit to the amount of energy you have. Reconnecting to your rhythm and truth. Prioritizing what you want and need over living on automatic pilot or doing things out of obligation and expectation.

When you come home to yourself you start to feel more alive, more joyful.

Come Home to Yourself is a 6-week program starting January where you’ll reconnect with your body, energy, truth, intuition, desires, and power—with live calls, an intimate group of just 10 participants, and direct support from me.

Doors open Friday.

Only 10 spots available. If you’ve been feeling disconnected from yourself—this is your moment.

Iris van Ooyen guides people home to themselves. As a life transformation mentor with 20+ years of experience, she offers hope with a compass—helping you find your way back to who you truly are when life’s demands have made you lose touch with yourself. She’s the author of Radiant: How to Have All the Energy You Need to Live a Life You Love. Contact Iris to come home to yourself—and love your life again. 

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