Reframing Winter

“Not a chill to the winter but a nip to the air” - Robert Hunter, Scarlet Begonias

Winter is in full swing in the United States. Shorter days, colder temps and extreme weather abound. To me, it’s more challenging to be active: I sleep longer, I’m inside more, and spend more time on the couch reading. In the warmer months, it’s easier to get up a bit earlier for that morning run, to play basketball with the kids, even to stay up late talking with friends and family. 

I’m not alone. In the winter, the lack of sun and cold outside invariably leads to a change in our activities. Some wait out the cold by binging on shows and movies. Others rest during the week and ski on the weekends. Some “nest” during the winter by focusing on cleaning and organizing.

I used to fight this seasonal adjustment, taking Vitamin D and packing my schedule with activities. More recently, however, I’m reframing my approach to winter, following the lead of Matt Thomas, who suggests we embrace seasonal change and adjust our routines according to the natural gifts of the seasons like our ancestors used to do. 

To me, this means leaning into the rest that comes with winter, looking at it as a recharging of the batteries. Like the maple trees in my yard, I might look more dormant, but I’m really enjoying the rewards of the year’s work and gearing up for the big things to come. After all, the days are already getting longer, and I’m starting to sense the seeds that I’m quietly cultivating will soon sprout. I’m looking forward to what they have to offer.

Thomas writes:  “...when you think of things in terms of seasons instead of a single day, the entire year becomes your canvas.” 

What would you create on your winter canvas? What are the hidden benefits of winter?