Winter is well under way… and at first, it’s easy to sink into.
When the seasons begin to change, we get excited to slip on our trackies, pour a mug of hot cocoa and spend guilt-free time curled up by the TV. We let our social calendars take a pause, we forgive ourselves for not wanting to step outside, and we schedule rest-and-rejuvenate holidays that soothe the soul.
But as the days, weeks and months march on, the guilt creeps back in.
An accumulation of rest time might have us wondering: should I be doing more? Getting out more? Being more? It nags us and hovers over us as we try to rest and recharge. What felt cosy, comfortable and oh-so-right a few weeks ago can start to bring feelings of shame, a pang in the stomach, that moment of ‘down’, even as we’re trying to lay back and feel good.
If you’re experiencing this, we’re here to tell you: it’s okay to curl up into the season of calmness… still. It’s a wonderful thing to continue your hibernation. Truly, the best thing you can do for yourself is connect to what you feel, and honour what you know you need.
If you know deep in your gut that you need to rest more, then keep resting; keep yourself plugged into everything that makes you feel calm, serene and wonderful as you charge your battery for the next season of life. If you’re feeling like a spring bloom, bursting at the seams to emerge and face the day with new light, then dive into that feeling, too.
Either way, be sure to consciously choose what feels best for you at any given moment; for your body, mind and soul. Whether you take three months to do less than usual, or switch up your get-out-there energy each week, take what you need from life — and give yourself what feels best. Periods of rest are required sometimes; seasons of fun, growth, building and experiencing life lie ahead with excitement.
So, if you need a pause, take a pause. Extend your pause. Get back to the hustle and bustle another day.
The craziness of life will always be waiting for you… and it’s best enjoyed when you feel totally, completely, wonderfully recharged.