This weekend, we'll turn our clocks back, and it will be darker earlier in the evenings.
For some of us, the shorter days can bring a shift in energy, motivation, or mood. We might find ourselves wanting to spend more time at home, feeling a little less motivated to go out, or craving slower evenings under a blanket.
And yet, something interesting happens this time of year.
As daylight decreases and nature begins to slow down, we seem to get busier.
Suddenly, the holidays approach, and the calendar fills up with social gatherings, shopping, decorating, travel, family obligations, and all the things we want or need to do. There are gifts to buy, traditions to keep up with, and expectations about how the holidays should look and feel. At work, the to-do list doesn't get any shorter. At home, there's always something else to take care of.
And if you're someone who already tends to push yourself, overthink everything, or feel like you're never doing quite enough, it can be easy to ignore what you need in favor of everything you feel you should be doing.
But look at the world around you. While we're getting busier, nature is slowing down.
Winter is a time of dormancy and rest in nature. Trees shed their leaves, plants enter dormancy, and some animals conserve energy or hibernate. Nature doesn't try to maintain the same pace all year long. There are seasons for growth and activity, and seasons for rest and renewal.
Of course, we can't put our responsibilities on hold just because the sun sets earlier. But what if we took a little inspiration from nature and allowed ourselves to slow down, too? What if we questioned the expectation that we should maintain the same pace all year long, or somehow do even more during an already busy season?
We're not meant to keep operating at full speed 24/7 all year long. You can adjust your expectations, make room for the things you enjoy, and let some things wait.
Slowing down doesn't have to mean missing out or neglecting our responsibilities. It means being more intentional about what deserves our time and energy, so we have room to enjoy the season instead of just getting through it.
Here are four ways to embrace the change in season and make room for a little more rest, coziness, and intention.
1. Check in with your capacity & adjust your expectations.
When you're used to being productive, it can be uncomfortable, or even annoying, to notice that you have less energy or motivation than usual. How often do you actually pause to check in with yourself and gauge your current energy and capacity? Or do you tend to push through anyway, telling yourself you shouldn't be tired or that you still need to get more done?
Instead, try paying attention to what you actually need and asking yourself, “What is my capacity right now?”
Maybe you need a quieter evening after a busy day, a little more downtime on the weekend, or a less ambitious to-do list. You don't have to stop being productive. You can simply recognize that your capacity fluctuates, and adjust your expectations when possible.
If your capacity today is 80% of what it normally is, and you give 80% of that, you're giving 100% of what you have today. You don't need to hold yourself to the same standard every day, regardless of what you have the energy or capacity for.
Guess what? You are a human being, not a machine that should operate at the same capacity every day of the year.
2. Make the most of the daylight.
When the days get shorter, it's worth being intentional about getting outside and getting natural light when you can. Morning light helps regulate your body's internal clock, which can be especially helpful as the seasons change.
Look for small opportunities to get outside while it's light, especially early in the day. Try opening your blinds when you wake up, drinking your morning coffee near a window, or taking a short walk before starting your workday. Even stepping outside for a few minutes can be a simple way to start your day with some fresh air and natural light.
This doesn't have to become another thing on your to-do list. Think of it as a small way to support yourself during a season when daylight is more limited.
3. Make room for coziness and simple pleasures.
Instead of treating the early darkness as something to fight against, what if you found ways to enjoy it?
Turn on a warm lamp, light a candle, make a cup of tea, put on your comfiest clothes, bundle up with a book. Maybe you make soup on a chilly evening, work on a puzzle, or designate one night a week for a favorite movie.
You don't have to turn every weekend into an event or every evening into something productive. Look for the value in the ordinary moments, too.
Find little ways to enjoy the slowness, being home, and letting your evenings feel different from the busy hours of the day. You don't always have to use your evenings to catch up on chores or everything that needs to get done. Sometimes, you can just be home.
4. Resist the pressure to do more.
As the holidays approach, it can feel like there's always something to attend, prepare for, or do. While there are plenty of wonderful things about this time of year, it's easy to get caught up in the pressure to do it all.
Before adding another commitment to your calendar, pause and ask yourself: Do I actually want to do this? Do I have the capacity for it? What would I be giving up to make room for it?
You can enjoy this season without attending every event, social gathering, or maintaining every tradition.
Intentionally leave some open space in your calendar. Block off an hour or even a weekend for no plans.
What if we let this season be a little slower?
As the days get shorter, the world around us offers a reminder that life doesn't move at the same pace all year long.
Yet so often, we respond to this season by adding more to our plates, pushing through our exhaustion, and trying to keep up with expectations that leave little room to rest.
What would it look like to do things a little differently this year?
Maybe you simplify your holiday plans. Maybe you spend more evenings at home. Maybe you stop treating rest as something you have to earn or let a few things remain unfinished.
You don't have to abandon your responsibilities or stop enjoying the things that make this season special. You can simply make a little more room for yourself along the way.
Nature doesn't apologize for slowing down. Maybe we don't have to, either.
As we head into the darker months, what's one thing you could do to make this season feel a little slower, cozier, or more manageable?
When slowing down feels hard…
If you find yourself constantly pushing through, struggling to slow down, or feeling like you're never doing quite enough, therapy can help you explore what's underneath that pressure and begin building a different relationship with rest, productivity, and your own needs.
At Spruce View Therapy, I work with women navigating chronic anxiety, overthinking, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and relational patterns. Together, we can work toward helping you feel less pressure to do it all and more freedom to slow down, trust yourself, and enjoy your life. My approach includes EMDR therapy to help you work through the experiences and patterns that may be contributing to these struggles.
If you are interested in seeing if we’re a good fit to work together, you can schedule a consultation to learn more.
Michaela Zoppa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and EMDRIA Certified Therapist™ in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She supports women navigating anxiety, perfectionism, trauma, and burnout. She uses evidence-based, trauma-informed modalities, including EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.n
