Back in October we talked about seasonal rhythms and holiday planning in advance.
But how do we shift from preparation to experiencing?
Our preparation strategies are (and have to be) different from our experience strategies that help manage our energy and needs during the event(s).
Part of my preparation for experiencing means this newsletter will be taking a break next weekend because #RestIsImportant and let's be honest, we all want to avoid the absolute chaos of our inboxes during Black Friday weekend. I'll be back again on December 8th as normal!
Now let's jump into the meat and potatoes of today's topic...
The Seasonal Surrender
We know that winter naturally invites us to slow down, yet our modern life often expects us to maintain the same intense pace year-round.
This disconnect between our natural rhythms and societal expectations creates a unique kind of stress - one where we're constantly fighting against ourselves.
It's like trying to stay awake at 3am when every cell in your body is begging for sleep.
This struggle is amplified during the holiday season. Where the pressure to maintain peak-level energy collides with winter's call for rest and we end up pushing ourselves to:
Keep up regular work productivity
Attend every social event
Tackle ambitious end-of-year goals
Create picture-perfect holiday experiences
Start planning next year's achievements
All while our bodies are asking us to:
Sleep a little longer
Move a little slower
Turn inward for reflection
Conserve energy for what truly matters
Find comfort in quiet moments
This resistance often shows up as frustration with ourselves - that inner voice questioning why we can't just "push through" or "do more." Feeling guilty for wanting more rest or judging ourselves for having less motivation than usual.
But here's what I've learned in my own journey with seasonal energy management:
Fighting against winter's natural invitation to slow down is like swimming upstream. You can do it for a while, but eventually, you'll exhaust yourself trying to maintain a pace that the current season simply doesn't support.
Instead, what if we experimented with surrendering to winter's rhythm?
This doesn't mean dropping all responsibilities or hibernating until spring (though daydreams of endless rotting has it's appeal!)
Rather, it's about making intentional adjustments that honor both our seasonal needs and our commitments. Giving ourselves grace and our future selves trust so that we can stay present, avoid anxiety, and focus on managing stress as it comes instead of borrowing it from tomorrow.
Here are some examples of intentional adjustments that my clients and I have use:
Adjusting bedtime and waking times to allow for more rest
Shifting important meetings and deep work to align with your peak energy hours (which may be different than in summer)
Creating cozy work spaces that feel nurturing rather than just functional
Setting realistic expectations for social energy and building in recovery time
Choosing 2-3 meaningful winter priorities instead of an ambitious list
Creating event anchors before and after to support needs when events feel like they will be chaotic, unorganized, and overwhelming
Finding joy in simple pleasures rather than seeking constant stimulation
When we surrender to winter's pace, we often discover that:
Energy becomes more sustainable
Mood stabilizes despite darker days
We have more capacity for what truly matters
Creative insights emerge from quiet moments
We enter spring feeling restored rather than depleted
When we shift the expectations we hold for ourselves, our minds can actually rest during this slowed down period—helping to reduce stress and over time, prevent burnout.
This doesn't have to be a huge replanning or schedule overhaul as we move into winter. It is best to be small shifts that have big supportive benefits.
To get started, I invite you to...
Try This:
Name Your Winter Shifts
This week's exercise is all about noticing. Noticing where you might be fighting against winter's natural rhythm. Notice where you can adjust your expectations of yourself to be more sustainable.
Below are a few journal prompts to help uncover where your body, mind, and energy may be asking for change:
What would it feel like to trust that slowing down now is actually supporting your long-term wellbeing?
What activities or commitments currently feel like you're "pushing through" rather than flowing naturally?
When you think about your most peaceful winter memories, what elements made them feel restful and nourishing?
How does your body feel different during winter compared to summer? What might these physical signals be telling you about your needs?
What activities or responsibilities could you temporarily pause or scale back without major consequences?
If you removed the pressure of "should" from your winter schedule, what natural preferences for rest and activity would emerge?
Where could you start experimenting with letting up just a little?
Once you're done journaling, see where these reflections pinpoint habit changes you can start putting into place.
REMEMBER:
This isn't about dramatic overnight changes. Start with small adjustments - maybe it's permitting yourself an extra 30 minutes of sleep, or declining one non-essential commitment. The goal isn't perfection but rather gradually learning to work with your seasonal nature instead of against it.
As someone who spent years resisting these seasonal shifts, I can tell you that surrendering to winter's pace feels counterintuitive at first. But much like learning to float in water requires relaxing instead of fighting, easing and surrendering into winter's rhythm ultimately helps us stay afloat with far less effort.
From My Journal
I'm really leaning into gratitude lately. It's not that I've never had a gratitude practice but for a long time it felt forced. Like doing so was an exercise in toxic positivity when I constantly felt like Eeyore. (Depression really does a number on you.)
But as a I've been reflecting back on this year, I am incredibly grateful for good people, good food, and the ability to give my body the rest it needs.
I've always been someone who has moved on before fully celebrating how far I've come. This shift has me feeling both awestruck and proud at how much easier it feels to surrender in all areas of life now that I've been honoring my energy and healing my burnout consistently.
(E - I can still hear your voice in my head immediately asking me how I'm going to celebrate every time I achieve any kind of win or milestone—big or small 🫶)
Five years ago when I was struggling to make it through the day, I was begging for what my life looks like now. It didn't come overnight (or easily) and it took a lot of faith, trust, and perseverance to bring to life over these last five years.
Now, it feels like I'm sitting on the precipice of another big five-year evolution. While part of me is so excited to get started, it feels necessary to first:
Be still
Acknowledge how much life has changed
Thank the past versions of me
Those versions of me survived, endured, and put in so much hard work to get us to this point. And I can't wait for future me to look back on today and how it helped us get where we are going next.
I couldn't talk about gratitude today without also sharing how incredibly thankful I am that you choose to be here with me. Some of you have been here since this newsletter was about lettering and others may only know the newsletter version you see today, but your email responses, messages, and feedback when I see you irl truly make this work worth it. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your time, space, and energy each week! 🖤
WHAT I'M LOVING:
A reminder to know whose land you are on.
I made pavlova's from this recipe for a friendsgiving this weekend but I made them silver-dollar sized to be good finger foods and they came out so good 🤤 I also made a plum topping instead of the poached pears but I kinda just winged it so there is no recipe to share. It had diced plums, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, salt, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt then sautéed. 10/10 would recommend!
I don't have a green thumb to save my life, but this plant care routine feels like something I could accomplish 🌱😉
HAVING A GREAT TIME HERE?
Here's a few ways you can let me know:
Option 1: 💌 Share with a fellow creative or business owner. Community starts with each of us and friends don't let friends chase their dreams at the expense of their mental health! If you know someone seeking more sustainability and harmony in their life and/or business, send this their way.
Option 2: 👋 Say hi! Hit reply and share a sentence or two about anything you enjoyed or hit home for you. I always hope these words find the right people at the right time, but it's always makes my day to hear from you!
