And Why Our Bodies Might Not Feel Safe Resting More

Now that it’s fall, with the shorter days and colder temperatures, it makes me wonder what urges animals are having right now. And, do I also have any of those urges? 

It’s easy to forget that some (all?) of our natural urges and instincts come from our animalistic past. Yet, in a capitalistic and production-driven society, it can feel wrong/bad/shameful to slow down and rest, even when our bodies are screaming at us to do so.

But here’s the thing, I believe a human’s energy level and productivity in fall and winter are not meant to be the same as they are in the spring and summer. 

And you might even be nodding your head along in agreement. One reason you might not be able to just “let it go and rest” is that, even though our rational minds believe this, our cultural conditioning says we must “always be productive,” which makes it nearly impossible for our bodies to feel safe resting. 

If we view this through the lens of nature’s rhythms, we can see that shorter days, colder temperatures, rain, and/or snow would have typically communicated to our bodies that it’s time to start resting more, hunkering down, cozying in, and preserving food. Yet, that set of innate instructions often isn’t compatible with the work environment that many people are in.

Most people are required to keep up the same amount of output year-round as if they were robots, set to either high output or off. But we’re not robots, we’re humans with real human needs for (guilt-free) rest. 

So this fall, where can you soften your expectations for peak summer performance from yourself and others? 

Can you set a 5-minute timer and just close your eyes, breathe, or imagine your favorite activity? How does this activity benefit you? 

Just as someone might “put a garden to bed” for the winter, what summer productivity expectations are ready for a fall pruning? Can you use this fall as a time of transitioning toward a slower winter mode? If guilt shows up, can you hold it gently?

Where do you feel the tension between honoring your natural rhythms and the expectations others have of you this fall?

Noticing is the first step. You don’t have to come up with any solutions right now. Just notice.

And as always, if you get to the point of wanting to make a change, reach out. I’d love to help!