Winter is for Rest

Hibernation is not a moral failure & Lazy is my least favorite 4 letter word

I want to begin with the takeaway, because if your energy feels low right now, you may not want to spend it reading a blog post. The heart of this post is simple: winter is for rest. We are supposed to slow down, to turn inward, to recover. You are not lazy — you’re seasonal. If that feels unbelievable or just… wrong, please read on.

Somewhere along the way, we humans forgot that winter is supposed to be a time of slowing down. This process was helped along by the systems that we live within, specifically capitalism. Capitalism benefits from our fear of rest. Our view that rest is a moral failing and, worse, makes us LAZY. If we fear rest we are better workers and better spenders feeding into the machine of capitalism. Corporations invented peppermint-flavored chaos to prod us along when our nature and our environment tells us to slowwww downnnn. Holiday office parties, endless gift lists, and New Year’s resolutions that make us feel behind before we even start. Meanwhile, nature is literally saying, “Shhh… nap time.”

After watching Come See Me in the Good Light (definitely worth a watch) this weekend, I did a deep dive into their exquisite work. I had written this post awhile back and this poem leapt out to me, so I wanted to share it with you here (I think we are saying something similar, they just happen to be a world class poet): 

Instead of Depression

try calling it hibernation.

Imagine the darkness is a cave

in which you will be nurtured

by doing absolutely nothing.

Hibernating animals don’t even dream.

It’s okay if you can’t imagine

Spring. Sleep through the alarm

of the world. Name your hopelessness

a quiet hollow, a place you go

to heal, a den you dug,

Sweetheart, instead

of a grave.

In nature

Let’s take a page from the animal kingdom. Bears (and many other animals) don’t spend winter hustling. They don’t sign up for new gym memberships or buy seasonal decor to fit the newest trends. I see you Ralph Lauren Christmas... They hibernate—a biological masterpiece of conservation.

During hibernation, a bear’s heart rate drops from about 55 beats per minute to as low as 9. Their body temperature decreases, and metabolism slows dramatically so they can live off stored energy. Translation: nature built rest into their survival strategy. They rest when there are less resources- less light and less food.

And while we don’t technically hibernate (though I’ve had some Januarys that come close), humans do experience seasonal changes in energy. Research shows that exposure to shorter daylight hours can shift our circadian rhythms and lower serotonin levels—both of which make us crave more sleep and less activity. Your body is not betraying you; it’s responding to the environment exactly as it’s designed to.

So if you’re feeling sluggish or craving early bedtimes, congratulations—you’re basically a very sophisticated bear.

Humans

Unlike animals, we can’t crawl into a cave until April (although many of us would if it had Wi-Fi and snacks). But we can listen to our natural rhythm by honoring slowness.

Winter hibernation for humans might look like:

• Saying no to social plans that feel more draining than joyful.

• Swapping “new year, new me” for “same me, just warmer socks.”

• Scheduling small mandatory naps, snuggle sessions or soup sipping.

• Eating foods that comfort and nourish the soul.

• Prioritizing slow self care like baths, reading and art making.

Rest isn’t the opposite of productivity—it’s the foundation of it. Every living system has periods of dormancy so it can bloom again later. Trees don’t feel guilty for losing their leaves; they know regeneration requires retreat. Don’t let capitalism  rebrand your important and valuable instincts as l*ziness. Instead consider the acceptance of rest as a radical act of defiance!

In my experience with clients and my own healing- cycles of rest, growth and reflection are critical for sustained emotional regulation and creativity. Sometimes that means that sessions feel slow and meandering for a while before there is a session of breakthroughs. This process can parallel your individual healing. Shaming yourself for having periods of directionlessness of dormancy is counterproductive.

Even the Danish concept of hygge—all those candles, blankets, and steaming mugs of tea—is backed by evidence suggesting that coziness and ritualized rest can lower stress hormones and boost wellbeing.

So next time you find yourself half-napping under a blanket at 6 p.m., instead of saying, “Ugh, I’m so lazy,” try: “Wow! I’m taking part in a powerful natural rhythm” or even, “I’m proud of myself for listening to nature instead of our scary capitalist overlords.”

A Therapy Note

With all of this said the darker months shouldn’t feel debilitating and there are real mental health issues that can emerge. If winter feels heavier in an uncomfortable way for you—emotionally, physically, or mentally—you’re not alone. The season can bring real challenges for mood, especially if you struggle with anxiety or depression. Therapy can help you build rhythms that  work with nature and without shame, and explore ways to find meaning and connection even in the darker months.

So here’s your permission slip: Slow down. Hibernate a little. Be a bear. And excuse the word lazy from your vocabulary.

And if you need help learning how to rest without guilt, or you just want a safe space to untangle your winter blues, reach out. Let’s make this the season you stop apologizing for being human—and start honoring the rhythm that nature built right into you.

Warmly,

Miriam