The December You Deserve
WINTER IS NOT A PERFORMANCE
By the UWM editors
In nature, winter isn’t about doing more. Trees pull their energy inward, animals rest and tuck in, and the light fades a little earlier each day. The season has its own quiet, time-tested logic: conserve, restore, prepare.
Real life doesn’t always line up with that rhythm. Deadlines still demand our time, caregiving continues, and inboxes certainly don’t take a holiday. But your body still remembers that quieter winter pace. When you push past it for too long, you often feel it: foggy thinking, irritability, burnout, or that deep tiredness that sleep alone doesn’t fix.
Honoring the season doesn’t mean stepping away from everything. It simply means noticing where you can soften the pace you’ve been taught to normalize.
Shifting Into a Gentler Winter
You don’t need to move to a cabin or change your whole life to slow things down a bit. Small choices can make the whole month feel more manageable:
Shorter social windows. Leave gatherings a little earlier or choose a few meaningful conversations over a crowded room.
Protected quiet hours. Keep one evening or morning each week as truly calm — no errands, no tasks, just room to breathe.
One less obligation. Step back from one specific thing that drains you, even if you’ve always done it.
This isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about reclaiming a little space from a month that often tries to take too much.
Seasonal Slowness and Nervous System Recovery
Your nervous system runs on rhythm and consistency. Winter naturally invites more of both. Think about simple practices that help your body feel supported instead of rushed:
Lower the lights in the evening to gently signal the end of the day.
Choose movement that feels good: stretching, walking, or gentle yoga instead of pushing yourself when you’re depleted. Regular movement can reduce stress and improve mood, even at low intensity.
Warm, simple meals that help you feel grounded.
You can also get outside, even briefly. A Harvard Health report found that just twenty minutes in nature can lower cortisol and ease stress:
These small moments can act like an internal reset. Over time you may notice more ease, more presence, and a clearer sense of what truly deserves your energy.
Designing Your “Enough” December
Imagine this: if December didn’t have to impress anyone, what would feel like enough?
Enough social time.
Enough rest.
Enough giving and receiving.
Enough work without sacrificing your wellbeing.
Write down three feelings you want to protect this month — maybe steadiness, warmth, connection, or spaciousness. Let those guide your choices more than your calendar or your to-do list.
You’re allowed to have a quieter December than the world expects. You’re allowed to choose a version of the season that you can actually live inside, not just push through.