As practitioners of Chinese Medicine, we often contemplate how the external environment and seasons impact our well-being. The seasonal dynamics offer a unique opportunity to nourish and enhance our bodies, minds, and souls. However, maintaining wellness during winter can be challenging. Cold and flu viruses are rampant, and many people experience periods of low energy, fatigue, and emotional flatness. It’s easy to succumb to the allure of the couch with a good book or a TV series, paired with endless slices of toast and pieces of chocolate. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, there are alternative ways to experience winter that can prevent life from stalling or stagnating. Instead, we can transition inward and simply slow down.

Sleep: Nature’s Winter Gift

Winter’s long nights are nature’s way of encouraging us to get extrasleep. Allow nature to guide your body through this seasonal journey of rest. If you feel the need, go to bed at 8 pm—without any guilt. However be cautious of oversleeping, which can sometimes leave us feeling excessively sluggish.
Tip: Aim to rise before 7:30 am, even in winter, but feel free to retire to bed as early as you desire. Nowadays, we often struggle with the slower pace and introspective nature of winter. As a reaction, we tend to force through it or withdraw completely. Chinese Medicine advocates for a balanced approach.

Winter is a time for introspection, reflection, and reassessment. Embrace where you are and take the opportunity to ponder what lies ahead. It might not be a period when you feel like taking a lot of action, and that’s perfectly fine. Put your energy into thinking, contemplating, and wondering, and the rest will naturally unfold when the time is right. This is a season to delve deep within, cultivating a profound sense of self-awareness before the more dynamic seasons arrive and propel you forward.

Stay well this winter and make the most of this unique and nurturing season.