Yesterday I felt so exhausted that I made an appointment to get my blood tested for iron and TSH. Just like I did last December and the year before. Reading this made me realize that the results will probably come up fine again and that perhaps, instead of looking for a medical explanation, it’d be more helpful to cross a few things off my calendar and to do list, take a warm shower and get an early night. Thank you for making me feel a little more human again ❤️
Yes! But I'm glad you also looked into those possibilities because sometimes the solution is so simple and if we can take an iron supplement and feel better it's pretty convenient :)
Yes! I happen to be reading this still swaddled in cotton flannel and down comforter—with the blue skying waking the day outside. Perhaps I “should” get up and get moving but I’m instead relishing rest and a slow start. Your beautiful message was right on time. 💙
How encouraging, Dr Erica! Instead of upping my coffee consumption, I’m going to start drinking only a cup of hot tea in the AM and just rest more. Looking forward to your next post of more ways to support ourselves this time of year.
I love that simple shift- from coffee to tea in the morning. This encourages your body to slow down from the inside out and that can have such a big impact on everything. Thank you for sharing this self care practice :)
Wonderful piece. As an alternative practitioner for 30 years, this is advice I needed to learn for myself quite a while ago, and pass it along to clients now. I’ll be sharing this. Thank you so much.
You’re so welcome. If you’re still doing the work after 30 years you’re doing something right to take care of yourself! Your clients are lucky to have you 😊
Wow your words echoed so much of my current thoughts. I’m in great health, rarely get sick and found myself with a “cold” and losing my voice just before Halloween - it turned into bronchitis and I am JUST starting to feel normal this week and still have to use an inhaler. I’ve been considering the grief and trauma my body has associated with holidays and winter in general and this post just confirmed so much for me. Looking forward the next one and yes, would love to learn more about supplements or foods you recommend.
I’m just trying to process this in terms of being in the southern hemisphere, in Summer, with light coming by 5am and dark falling round 9pm. I still feel the pull of so many hours in the day to get everything done at the busiest time of the year….
Thank you for this share. I am in Australia and I feel the busyness and energy is twice as intense at this time of year. Do you have any suggestions for this side of the hemisphere? 🙏
I’ve answered this a few times in previous comments and shares and I’d love to hear a perspective from someone who works down under. There are a lot of reasons why people can be fatigued. I do think the holiday craziness probably has an impact on all of us but I don’t have any clinical experience in the southern hemisphere so I can’t really speak to cultural health trends with the kind of understanding and expertise that I like to have when I share about something. I see plenty of fatigue in the summertime in the north but it’s not nearly as widespread and the quality is different so I typically approach it from a more personal and individualized perspective. 😊
I feel we still have an expectations deadline of having all tasks identified throughout the year completed by Christmas both at home and in the workplace, topped off by grand plans for Christmas Day to meet family (our) expectations. The heat can be exhausting and we hear each Christmas now that Covid is rampant. This is the first year due to being made redundant and getting COVID I have fallen into the natural rhythm (after much resistance) and it feels so right and calm. This post is still so relevant to those of us Down Under x thank you 🙏
December feels very overwhelming. Glad to hear it’s not all in my head . I dread December especially the shopping. We decided no more gift exchange. This was a stressor for all of us . Instead we decided to each decide which charity organization they would like to be donated to. This really made me feel like we are making a difference in the world. We stopped accepting many invitations to events . Stay home and relax. It has done wonders to our lives .
THANK YOU for this beautiful reminder. It's been the talk of the virtual town lately. Another synchronistic reminder that we are human and to be part of those rhythms of nature.
"Sleep is the medicine of winter." Thank you. Yesterday, I was so exhausted, I couldn't even get comfortable. I am going to take this message to heart.
Thank you so much for this. It's added another layer of understanding to what I've observed and found hard to articulate to those around me. I feel empowered by this.
only stumbled upon this piece just now, very happy that I did. Over the last year and a half I've been recovering from burnout and PTSD. In early December, I really thought/felt I had broken through some invisible wall, ready to take on the world again. This feeling faded quickly the second half of December. Having read this piece, maybe that wasn't a setback at all, but just the natural state of things entering my body, and me trying to fight against it. Thanks for the reminder ❤️
I feel like this piece found you at just the right time! I love when divine timing hacks the internet 🤣 welcome and congratulations on what sounds like a pretty big healing process.
Yesterday I felt so exhausted that I made an appointment to get my blood tested for iron and TSH. Just like I did last December and the year before. Reading this made me realize that the results will probably come up fine again and that perhaps, instead of looking for a medical explanation, it’d be more helpful to cross a few things off my calendar and to do list, take a warm shower and get an early night. Thank you for making me feel a little more human again ❤️
Yes! But I'm glad you also looked into those possibilities because sometimes the solution is so simple and if we can take an iron supplement and feel better it's pretty convenient :)
Yes! I happen to be reading this still swaddled in cotton flannel and down comforter—with the blue skying waking the day outside. Perhaps I “should” get up and get moving but I’m instead relishing rest and a slow start. Your beautiful message was right on time. 💙
I love this image of you swaddled in your blanket. I think I'm going to follow your lead :)
Rather than labeling it decadent, I’m acknowledging it as essential for wellbeing. 🥰
Thank you for this permission slip and reminder to listen to the rhythms of nature and our bodies and take Winter as a time to rest and restore.
It is my greatest pleasure to write that particular permission slip!
How encouraging, Dr Erica! Instead of upping my coffee consumption, I’m going to start drinking only a cup of hot tea in the AM and just rest more. Looking forward to your next post of more ways to support ourselves this time of year.
Thank you for all you share😘
I love that simple shift- from coffee to tea in the morning. This encourages your body to slow down from the inside out and that can have such a big impact on everything. Thank you for sharing this self care practice :)
Wonderful piece. As an alternative practitioner for 30 years, this is advice I needed to learn for myself quite a while ago, and pass it along to clients now. I’ll be sharing this. Thank you so much.
You’re so welcome. If you’re still doing the work after 30 years you’re doing something right to take care of yourself! Your clients are lucky to have you 😊
Wow your words echoed so much of my current thoughts. I’m in great health, rarely get sick and found myself with a “cold” and losing my voice just before Halloween - it turned into bronchitis and I am JUST starting to feel normal this week and still have to use an inhaler. I’ve been considering the grief and trauma my body has associated with holidays and winter in general and this post just confirmed so much for me. Looking forward the next one and yes, would love to learn more about supplements or foods you recommend.
Thank you for sharing this and for bringing up the relationship between grief and trauma and the holidays- this is such a deep well to explore.
I’m just trying to process this in terms of being in the southern hemisphere, in Summer, with light coming by 5am and dark falling round 9pm. I still feel the pull of so many hours in the day to get everything done at the busiest time of the year….
I was thinking about that too! I wonder how different December feels you all down there. It gets the wheels of my mind turning 😊
Thank you for this share. I am in Australia and I feel the busyness and energy is twice as intense at this time of year. Do you have any suggestions for this side of the hemisphere? 🙏
I’ve answered this a few times in previous comments and shares and I’d love to hear a perspective from someone who works down under. There are a lot of reasons why people can be fatigued. I do think the holiday craziness probably has an impact on all of us but I don’t have any clinical experience in the southern hemisphere so I can’t really speak to cultural health trends with the kind of understanding and expertise that I like to have when I share about something. I see plenty of fatigue in the summertime in the north but it’s not nearly as widespread and the quality is different so I typically approach it from a more personal and individualized perspective. 😊
I feel we still have an expectations deadline of having all tasks identified throughout the year completed by Christmas both at home and in the workplace, topped off by grand plans for Christmas Day to meet family (our) expectations. The heat can be exhausting and we hear each Christmas now that Covid is rampant. This is the first year due to being made redundant and getting COVID I have fallen into the natural rhythm (after much resistance) and it feels so right and calm. This post is still so relevant to those of us Down Under x thank you 🙏
It's so great to hear your perspective and how the heat can have such a similar effect as the cold. Happy holidays my friend. May you rest well :)
December feels very overwhelming. Glad to hear it’s not all in my head . I dread December especially the shopping. We decided no more gift exchange. This was a stressor for all of us . Instead we decided to each decide which charity organization they would like to be donated to. This really made me feel like we are making a difference in the world. We stopped accepting many invitations to events . Stay home and relax. It has done wonders to our lives .
Good for you- minimizing the stress in every way we can goes a long way.
I'm just now journal writing about this very thing, the feeling of just Being, giving in gratefully to the tired bodymind.
We are riding the same thought wave my friend!
Yes! A return to Nature’s rhythm is good medicine
I couldn’t agree more!
THANK YOU for this beautiful reminder. It's been the talk of the virtual town lately. Another synchronistic reminder that we are human and to be part of those rhythms of nature.
My pleasure! I love when the same message comes from multiple directions! ❤️
"Sleep is the medicine of winter." Thank you. Yesterday, I was so exhausted, I couldn't even get comfortable. I am going to take this message to heart.
Sweet dreams my friend! It's so nourishing and needed this time of year. :)
Thank you so much for this. It's added another layer of understanding to what I've observed and found hard to articulate to those around me. I feel empowered by this.
Then my intention had the impact I hoped to have! Thank you so much for the feedback and for reading :)
Thank you, exactly what I needed to hear right now. Love, peace and joy in all seasons.
I love finding out exactly who I wrote for. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment Patty. It really means a lot :)
only stumbled upon this piece just now, very happy that I did. Over the last year and a half I've been recovering from burnout and PTSD. In early December, I really thought/felt I had broken through some invisible wall, ready to take on the world again. This feeling faded quickly the second half of December. Having read this piece, maybe that wasn't a setback at all, but just the natural state of things entering my body, and me trying to fight against it. Thanks for the reminder ❤️
I feel like this piece found you at just the right time! I love when divine timing hacks the internet 🤣 welcome and congratulations on what sounds like a pretty big healing process.