Winter, Your Season to Rest

“Winter knows to hush, still, listen, so the soul can speak.” - Angie Weiland-Crosby

Winter season is your reason to rest more

If there is only one reason I could love winter, it would be for how it requests that we all take a pause to rest. When you look around you will see that there is a collective rest happening within nature during this season (especially if you live in a region that has a true winter).  It is reserving its energy for when it will be needed most to put forth new growth during the spring. Let us learn from nature. The seasons teach us many lessons and when we live in harmony with it there is a clear energetic shift and clarity that is felt within the mind, body & spirit. Now is the time to to nurture ourselves more. With earlier sunsets and longer evenings it is the natural signal to go inwards and shut things down for a time.

Winter is the season for recovery and preparation

True regeneration of our body is only possible through deep rest. We gain our energy, strength and healing from rest. Our immune system is better when we rest. The digestive system functions better. Even our skin is improved due to proper rest! Of course, life is busy and we cant all just hibernate during the winter. We have to work to some capacity, families and other responsibilities have to be taken care of. So how can you live in winter seasonal flow? Here are a few small changes you can make this winter season to help you bloom in the Spring:

1. Be intentional about getting to bed at a decent hour to get between 6-8 hours of sleep.

2. Create a ritual before bed that will allow a gradual progression of shutting down mind and body.

3. Set aside time each day to journal your thoughts, reflect and explore those deeper feelings.

4. Take time to nurture your body with gentle stretching and self massage a few times a week.

5. Nourish your body with warm whole foods and warm beverages.

6. Take more warm baths.

7. Allow space in your day by not over committing your schedule.

8. Intentionally go about your day at a slower pace.

Try to incorporate one or more of these tips into your daily practice this season. Increase your self-care one small step at a time, you will find it to be most rewarding.