I’m terrible at resting. I always have been.
I’m always juggling multiple projects at once, and my to-do list is never ending. If I get sick, I find it hard to put things down and just spend time recovering. But life has a way of forcing rest.
Breaking my ankle. Getting sick with COVID for a month. These moments have made me confront my resistance to slowing down. And here’s what I’ve learned: rest isn’t just about stopping activity,
it’s about what comes up when we do.
During the holidays, it’s so easy to get caught up in the collective craze—shopping, traveling, end of the year work deadlines.
But this frenzied pace is the opposite of what this time of year is about.
Look outside: nature is going underground. Plants are conserving energy. Animals are hibernating.
So why do we push so hard against the rhythms of the season? Maybe that’s why this time of year feels extra stressful.
We’re not just busy—we’re actively going against nature. But there’s even more to it than that.
When life forces us to rest, like it did for me, it becomes clear that the resistance to slowing down often has deeper roots.
When we slow down, the distractions fall away, and suddenly, the emotions we’ve been avoiding bubble up.
Fear. Sadness. Loneliness. Discomfort. Grief.
And so, to keep these feelings at bay, we fill every empty space with activity.
We stay in motion to stay numb.
The winter solstice next week is nature’s invitation to pause.
It’s the longest night of the year, a time to sit in the darkness and allow yourself to feel, to rest, to just be.
Instead of seeing rest as unproductive, think of it as essential for creativity, growth, and healing.
Rest isn’t the absence of doing—it’s the foundation of being.
This solstice, carve out time to be, not just to do.
Light a candle, journal about what you’re feeling, or stare at the snow or rain.
When emotions surface in the quiet, don’t fight them. Acknowledge them. Let them move through you.
Take a walk, even if it’s cold. Notice how the trees have shed their leaves, how the air feels slower, heavier.
Let nature remind you that rest is part of the cycle of life.
To help you embrace the energy of the season and the layer of emotions that may arise, I’ve made a Winter Solstice Playlist— click below to listen:
The light is coming back soon enough. Will you let yourself be ready to receive it?
I love everything in this post Tess and I couldn't agree more. December has always felt like such a sacred time. And you're right, the animals show us this consistently. Thank you for this beautiful expression.
You're right on the money here. The discomfort around negative emotions is definitely what keeps me busy. Slowing down and taking time to be with myself is something that I both need and avoid. Definitely going to make time and do some of the things you mentioned here. Thank you for this lovely post and for sharing your winter solstice playlist ⭐️