Originally published October 27, 2024
While New York state has gotten it's first snow already in September, we just got the first freeze last week and I'm sitting on the patio typing this newsletter in fuzzy socks and sweater while it's a crisp and cool 65 degree morning here in the plains.
The weather is starting to finally change and the reality of November being just a few days away is hitting me upside the head.
This is also as good a time as any to bring up that next Sunday is already daylight savings again 🫠 lol
It's time to finally admit that summer is over and fall/winter is upon us.
And with it, the desire to shift my routines to match the energy around me. I feel myself (and the dogs) sleeping in a bit later as it stays dark later, and the evenings seem to be "less productive" as I start to wind down earlier with the sun.
It's got me thinking about previous fall seasons and how I haven't always been able to shift my routines with the energy changes. I have an immense amount of gratitude that I have the option the make more shifts than I ever have before instead of trying to push through to be the same level of productivity 24/7/365.
I know that your life may and likely looks different, so with this week's topic, the goal is about finding where you can shift, where you do have control, so you can start making changes there for the coming months. Focusing more on gaining information about your needs than being worried about perfection or mistakes.
Making Room for Change
In life, there are seasons and cycles that we are either subject to or surrounded by. Everything from:
- Years of change and struggle and years of ease and flow
- Childhood, teen years, and your 20s, 30s, 40s, etc.
- Seasons like spring, summer, fall, and winter
- Circadian rhythms like your sleep or body temp cycles
- Infradian rhythms like menstrual cycles and in nature, hibernation and flowering cycles
- Ultradian rhythms like Basic-Rest Activity Cycles, heart rate and blinking
Whether it's reduced sunlight impacting your circadian rhythms and cortisol cycles,[1] shorter days affecting mood and energy,[2] or temperature changes (hello climate change) impacting sleep quality[3]...
None of us are immune to the natural energy shifts that come with seasonal changes.
And I'm sure it's no secret that modern life conflicts with so much of this.
- Standard work hours don't adjust
- Hyper-productivity usually results in longer periods in indoor lighting throwing off natural light/dark cycles that impact sleep
- Productivity expectations rarely account for fluctuation unless it's the most intense or difficult times in life
All of this leads to feeling like we constantly need to "push through."
In the intro of today's letter I put "less productive" in quotations because what is productive for me is relative based on the season, current health conditions, the menstrual phase, etc.
What I've noticed most is that fall and winter require me to flex my prioritization muscles. What has to get done? What activities give me the most bang for my buck? What can I do to be most focused during the days during this season?
Every little bit helps because the pressure to maintain consistent output regardless of seasons, hours worked, or individual or familial needs seems absolutely unsustainable no matter how you look at it.
Not to mention that social expectations seem to be highest during the naturally slowest part of yearly energy levels.
Holiday seasons ask a lot and throw us into:
- Spending increased amounts of time on social events—balancing personal and professional obligations.
- Dealing with sleep habit disruptions due to events, travel, food changes, and most likely of all—stress.
- Being exposed to social pressure, expectations, and commentary on food choices, how food impacts energy, and balancing that all with your baseline energy management needs.
- The physical toll of travel—adapting to different time zones, changed sleep environments, and disrupted exercise and other routines.
- Expending emotional energy, balancing family dynamics, and setting and maintaining boundaries.
And last, but certainly not least...
