As another winter sets in here in the Northern Hemisphere, I’ve heard numerous comments from people who are feeling anxious and uncomfortable in their bodies; achy, tired, sluggish, and physically low are common grievances. They express guilt about their cravings for foods high in sugar and fat. They feel badly about getting away from their usual eating and exercise routines. 

As my mind slowly came to consciousness on this cold, dark morning, I discovered the perfect word for how I feel as winter takes hold: squishy.

squish • y, adj.

1. soft
2. overly sentimental
3. weak

When I was younger, I thought something was seriously wrong with me because my relationship with my body and my mental state changed so drastically as the darkness set in. I felt out of touch with my physical self, and believed I’d never be happy again. I felt squishy!

What I’ve learned in my sixty years of cycling through the seasons is that I am no different from other animals on the planet, and, as such, my desire to slow down and hibernate makes complete sense.

It is natural to stay indoors to keep the cold at bay (if we are so privileged), to get more rest, and to eat foods that give our bodies the cushioning they need to stay warm (again, if we have this privilege). No matter our natural body size—fat, thin, or somewhere in between—in winter we are meant to slow down, rest, and honor our bodies’ winter needs in order to survive.

I’m guessing you may experience what I do at this time of year: the near impossibility of honoring our winter needs in this fast-paced, never-slow-down human world. I feel out of sorts and grouchy when too much is demanded of me in winter. As the days get darker and the temperature drops (though I really can’t complain too much about the temperature living in California!), I find I’m not much interested in rigorous exercise, and feel content eating foods with more fat and sugar. I bake my favorite cookies regularly, and eating more butter, oil, and cheese feels like the right thing to do. Yes, I still eat my veggies and take pleasure in cooking delicious, nourishing meals. And most days I go out for a walk or bounce on my mini trampoline while watching Netflix. But I also honor the days when I don’t have the energy to move, and do so without guilt. I allow myself to naturally put on winter weight without feeling anxious. I do my work, though less efficiently, and accept that “doing my best” from late November through February is drastically different from the months when I’m filled with light and energy. I try to honor my obligations and promises to other people, but do so with great effort.

If I had my way, I would have zero obligations in winter so I could curl up on my couch, wrapped in my favorite blanket with a warm beverage and delicious snacks at my fingertips, and read—all day, every day—until the end of February. I would honor that I really am a bear in human clothing and desperately need my hibernation time! 

I love watching the squirrels outside my kitchen office window. In the fall, they scurry around the yard, stashing food everywhere imaginable for the coming winter. Their energy is focused on the task of survival. As the cold and dark days arrive, the squirrels are beautifully fat with thick fur and shiny coats. They don’t play with one another as they do in spring and summer. If the sun is out, they sprawl out on the fence or over a tree branch, legs hanging freely, with their sweet little faces resting on their front paws! Ahh…

Let’s be like the squirrels, my human friends. Since we still need to semi-function in the cold winter months and can’t go into full hibernation mode as bears do, let’s at least recognize that we physiologically function like other animals on this planet. Let’s allow ourselves to winterize. Let’s be okay with the softening of body and mind so we can focus our gaze internally and process the lessons of the year. Let’s be kind to ourselves and enjoy the delicious foods and beverages of the holidays. Note: if you feel guilt for eating holiday treats or shame for indulging in holiday spirits more than usual, you will end up consuming more of what you think you should limit! Deprivation will lead to bingeing!*

I choose to honor that my body asks for a different type of balance in the winter—one where moving slowly is needed as much as energetic movement, and my nutritional needs include fat and sugar in higher amounts than at other times of the year.

That’s me. What does winter balance mean to you?

In their book Healthy Pleasures, Dr. David Sobel and Dr. Robert Ornstein write about how our brilliant (my word) bodies crave certain foods to stimulate production of necessary neurotransmitters to combat stress or to ensure our intake of important nutrients. To quote from their book, “It may be instinctive, then, when we eat certain foods to bolster production of these neurotransmitters to help us get through stressful situations or to satisfy a hunger for a specific nutrient. So, the next time you ‘feel like a steak’ or ‘need a cookie’ it could be your brain—and not your stomach—talking.” Out of the mouths of doctors! **

As we all know, the holidays can be stressful for many reasons—and more so this year than usual with the COVID pandemic adding additional anxiety. Let’s not make life harder by criticizing our bodies and beating ourselves up for indulging in the flavors and sensations of the season. Let’s remember that spring always does follow winter, and our desire to move more and eat a lighter fare will naturally return, especially if we don’t make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight on a restrictive diet! Our moods will lift as the light and warmth return to our part of the planet, and our ability to function in all parts of our lives will improve as our energy returns.

‘Tis the season to be squishy, my friends—enjoy!

With love,

Connie