Hi friends,
I currently live in San Diego, where the sun still shines in February and palm trees sway like nothing is wrong. And while I’m deeply grateful for that, I want to say this clearly: I didn’t always live here.
I’m from Chicago.
And I know firsthand how heavy winter can feel.
I know what it’s like to spend months indoors because of snow and ice. To feel your world shrink because going outside feels like too much effort. To reach late winter—when everyone says spring is “around the corner”—and still feel emotionally worn down, restless, and depleted.
Late winter has a way of lingering, especially in places where cold, darkness, and isolation stretch on longer than expected. And even if you don’t live in a snowy climate, your body still carries seasonal rhythms. Your nervous system still feels the weight of slower days and prolonged stress.
So if you’re feeling tired right now, less motivated, or emotionally tender—nothing has gone wrong.
Progress Doesn’t Always Look Like Momentum
We often measure progress by productivity, energy, and forward motion. But late winter asks us to redefine what progress really means.
Sometimes progress looks like:
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Getting through the day with care
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Choosing rest instead of pushing through exhaustion
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Adjusting expectations when your capacity shifts
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Listening to your body rather than overriding it
These moments may not look impressive from the outside, but they are deeply meaningful acts of self-trust.
Rest Is Not a Reward
One of the most harmful beliefs we’ve internalized is that rest must be earned—that we’re only allowed to slow down once we’ve done “enough.”
But rest is not a reward.
It’s a biological need.
After months of chronic stress, reduced sunlight, and limited movement (especially in colder climates), your nervous system is simply asking for care. Research shows that prolonged stress without adequate rest can contribute to burnout, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation.
Choosing rest isn’t quitting—it’s preserving yourself.
Late Winter Is a Season of Conservation
In nature, late winter is quiet. Growth hasn’t disappeared—it’s just happening beneath the surface. Nothing is rushing. Nothing is forcing blooms too early.
You are allowed to follow that same rhythm.
Late winter invites:
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Fewer expectations
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More gentleness
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A slower pace than you may have planned
This isn’t a setback—it’s alignment.
Redefining What “Enough” Looks Like
Progress doesn’t always mean moving forward at full speed. Sometimes progress is maintaining. Sometimes it’s choosing not to abandon yourself when things feel heavy.
Ask yourself:
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What feels sustainable right now?
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What can I release, even temporarily?
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What would it look like to meet myself where I am?
Your answers don’t need to be permanent. They only need to be honest.
A Gentle Reminder
Whether you’re staring at snow-covered sidewalks in Chicago, gray skies elsewhere, or even sunshine that doesn’t quite lift the heaviness—your experience is valid.
You are not behind.
You are not lazy.
You are not failing.
You are moving through a season that asks for patience, rest, and compassion. Energy will return. Growth will come again. For now, let progress look like presence, care, and choosing yourself—exactly as you are.