New Years R̶e̶s̶o̶l̶u̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ Hibernation

can we all agree to slow down instead

In the New Year, we are often inundated with messages to hustle. Dive headfirst into dieting and restricting. Wake up at the crack of dawn to hit the gym. 75-Hard. Everything I see seems to be filled with subliminal messages that we are not enough as we are.

If you have ever felt this constant feeling of behindness — struggling to catch up in January — you’re not alone. This speeding up goes against what our bodies truly need at this time of year: slowing down, rest and deep nourishment.

Ancestrally, our bodies are wired to hold onto more weight during the winter months as a survival mechanism: a protection against less-abundant food sources and harsh winters. Our bodies crave deep rest, because energy conservation was essential for survival. Just as animals slow down during winter through hibernation, our well-being also thrives by flowing with the seasons.

Winter x Slowing Down

With shorter days and longer nights, nature signals a shift — a call to rest, reflect, and rejuvenate. Winter is a season of profound transformation if we choose to align with its rhythms.

Yet, during this time of year, the noise around us grows louder: the pressure to reinvent ourselves, achieve more, or change in some specific way. But what if we tuned that out and instead tuned into our intuition? That’s where real, lasting growth begins.

Winter invites us to honor slowness. It’s a season to embrace the quiet, turn inward, and listen to the wisdom within. By embracing stillness, we create space to connect with our mind and body, trusting that growth is unfolding in its own time.

This is a time to prioritize rest — not as laziness, but as something vital. Rest is the foundation for renewal, vitality, and the energy to move forward.

Our bodies naturally crave warmth, intention, and slowness. Ignoring this instinct — like by pushing through endless to-do lists or neglecting emotional needs — can lead to imbalance, fatigue, and even burnout.

Instead, leaning into winter’s gifts allows us to replenish, feel grounded, and move into the months ahead with clarity, intention, and strength.

Spring is where the flowers bloom, the sun begins to shine, and energy awakens. Where fresh starts and renewal thrive. Until then — let’s embrace slowness.

How I am Embracing Slowness

1. Slow Mornings

How we begin our mornings is reflective of the mood of the entire day. When I wake up and grab my phone first thing in the morning — I feel that anxiety with me all day. So setting myself up for a successful day and a calm nervous system starts with my mornings.

Recently, I have set a pen, notebook and a few books on my nightstand. I always read before bed, but this also allows me to wake up and go straight into reading and/or writing with no excuses. Starting my morning with reading and writing before anything else sets a slow and calming pace for my day. Even if its only for 10 minutes.

If I have extra time — I love to stretch, do red light therapy, make a nice beverage lineup, go for a walk, and add-in things that bring me joy without the stress of hustling.

2. Circadian Alignment

Circadian rhythm alignment is essential for full-body health. I deep dive into the importance of circadian rhythm and tips&tricks if you are interested in learning more —

Circadian Rhythm Reset

In the winter — the days are shorter, the nights are longer, and our body’s are wired to rest more often due to the longer nights. I really try to be cautious of this during the winter months. It is normal to be sleeping more during winter. I promise you this is not laziness — it is human nature. Once the sun goes down, I do my best to shift to dimmer lighting (I love the ones from boncharge — I use their circadian lights with three settings and also their red light bulbs in all of my lamps — discount is ELLA15) and candles are wonderful as well. I limit blue light where I can or wear my blue light glasses.

When I wake up in the morning I kickstart my circadian rhythm with a nourishing breakfast, and I try to eat my last meal at least a few hours before bed and a bit earlier than usual. And whenever the sun is out — I make sure to take advantage and go outside, even if it is for a quick walk all bundled up.

3. Early Nights

This one is more a goal I am building towards lol. My nights have not been early lately but they do feel so much better when they are. Moving in with a boyfriend who is not on the same sleeping schedule as I am (I like going to bed at 9PM — he likes to stay up late — has disrupted that a bit). Either way — spending my time before bed, in bed, reading and doing calming activities has been super helpful. Instead of being on my computer and phone, or watching TV, getting in bed and reading, or having a nice conversation, doing a puzzle or crossword, slow activities really help me to get my best nights sleep and rest. BTW — I never have my cell phone in my bedroom at the night time. Neither do I have a TV in my room. This has been life-changing.

4. Reading + Personal Growth

I want to read A LOT this year. I learn so much from reading — even if it is a book that is a Fantasy escape, I feel more calm reading than doing anything else. One of my main goals is to shift to reading if I ever feel myself falling down the hole of mindlessly scrolling. Reading just feels so much more intentional. It allows me to slow down, and really just be.

Along with my escapism books — I am trying to read more books that allow me to learn and grow as an individual. I have been really called to stoicism lately so that is my current personal development choice of reading. I have linked a few favs here.

I also have been feeling really called to journal more. Not even about any in particular — but it just really helps me to understand my thoughts and habits more, and really allows me to evaluate, be introspective, reflect and move forward with more clarity.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine — they believe in using the stillness of winter to assess your life. Winter is ideal for contemplating what to release and what seeds to plant for the coming spring.

5. New Hobbies

Learning new things and diving into topics that interest me is one of my main intentions this year. I have been obsessed with ceramics — so I want to take a pottery class. I have been loving crochet — so I just got a kit to crochet my own blanket. I want to do more things that ignite my creativity and passion — just because.

6. Nourishing Meals & Warm Bevs

One of my favorite ways to embrace winter — leaning into warmth. It is what our bodies crave right now. Alll the stews, soups, broths — the grounding and rooty seasonal produce — teas, lemon water, bone broth, coffee, cacao — all the spices: ginger, cloves, cardamom, ceylon cinnamon, turmeric & nutmeg — I swear my body smiles at me when I lean into warmth during the winter.

I also have been challenging myself to lean into slow meals. In a world where everything is a 5 min easy meal (which don’t get me wrong comes in handy) — learning to make a 24 hour stew allows me to practice patience, and makes the meal so much more rewarding. Something about slow cooking really allows me to be more present, cook with more love, and be more grateful for the nourishment in front of me.

7. Moving Intentionally

I am ditching the intense hiit workouts and cardio overload and leaning into moving slowly and intentionally. Long walks when the weather provides, deep stretching, pilates and yoga. Deep belly breathing. Allowing my mind to quiet.

8. Embrace Warmth

Cozy up by the fire. Literally. Ditch the blue light for fire light. Light a fire — and since I don’t have a fire I set a fake one to the TV, light some candles, and pretend lol.

Epsom salt baths. Breathwork in the sauna. Steaming hot showers. Hot tea. Tons of blankets cozied up. Alll the fuzzy socks.

9. Spend Time with Loved Ones

Laughter and love is the best medicine. Connecting with loved ones provides a different type of valued warmth outside of physical warmth.

Game nights are my favorite during winter. Board games, s’mores & good snacks, deck of cards, charades, fishbowl…The best winter evenings are those spent with loved ones laughing around the table.

Cuddle with your loved one. Lots of deep long hugs. Kiss for a few seconds longer. Embrace love, slowness, and mental warmth.

10. Internal Talk & Mindset Shift

The biggest factor in helping me embrace slowness has been my mindset. As someone who is naturally type-A and constantly go-go-go, my mind often feels like it’s racing in a billion different directions. It doesn’t come naturally for me to just sit and be present. I’ve had to, and continue to, train my brain to slow down and stay in the moment.

One of the most helpful practices has been actively reminding myself to do one thing at a time. I get easily overwhelmed by long to-do lists (even though they always help me organize my scrambled brain), but breaking tasks into smaller pieces and choosing just one to start with makes everything feel more manageable. I also try to shift my perspective on time, reminding myself that it is abundant, not scarce.

Practicing gratitude for the small, mundane moments has also been transformative. I savor the aroma of my morning coffee with a deep inhale, appreciating the simple pleasure. I take a big stretch paired with a deep breath, feeling grateful for my strong lungs and mobile body. I linger a second longer to admire something beautiful in nature, appreciating my sight and the Earth’s beauty.

The key to embracing slowness is being intentional and creating small, consistent habits to retrain my mind. Calming affirmations like “I have time for what matters” help me reframe busyness as meaningful engagement. Reminding myself that slowness is productive, and that if something makes me happy it is not a waste of time. I celebrate small wins when I choose to slow down and make time for micro-pauses — whether it’s a slow morning, mindful breathing, or grounding myself in my surroundings. It is such a gift to be able to enjoy life — yet we naturally try to rush through it every day. To race to a finish line that doesn’t exist. Embracing slow living, and truly living, is when I feel my most joyful.

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So…In a world that is constantly glorifying busyness, and hustling, I encourage you to choose to slow down.

As we move through this winter, let us release the societal expectation to speed up. Instead, let’s embrace the wisdom of the earth, the cycles of light and dark, and the profound beauty of slowing down.

Winter invites us to turn inward, embrace the quiet, and trust in the process of growth. Take time to rest deeply, care for ourselves, and ready for the renewal that spring will bring.

This New Year, let’s forget the resolutions. Embrace hibernation. Cheers & love you.

XO - Ella