Wintering: A Gentle Invitation to Rest
Have you heard of “wintering”?
I first came across this idea at a time when my body was quietly asking for less. Less rushing, less striving, less noise. Wintering is the understanding that winter isn’t here for pushing yourself or reinventing who you are. It’s a season for conserving energy, resting, and allowing life to slow down until the light begins to return.
And yet, for so many people, women especially, winter doesn’t feel like rest at all.
The run-up to Christmas can be one of the most demanding times of the year.
Planning. Organising. Holding the mental load.
Making it magical. Keeping everything going.
Making sure everyone else is okay.
By the time January arrives, many women are already depleted.
And then — almost immediately — the pressure begins.
From social media. From diet culture. From productivity culture.
Messages telling us to reset, go harder, be motivated, be better.
But what if your energy is low?
What if your body wants quieter days?
What if the thought of “new year, new you” feels exhausting rather than inspiring?
Wintering and Hypnotherapy
From a mindfulness and hypnotherapy perspective, this makes complete sense.
In winter, the nervous system naturally seeks safety, warmth, and rest. Shorter days and reduced light affect our hormones, our energy levels, and our emotional wellbeing. The unconscious mind responds by slowing us down, whether we like it or not.
This is not laziness.
It’s biology.
It’s wisdom.
And for many women in midlife, this becomes even more pronounced. The body is no longer interested in performing on cue or overriding its own needs to meet external expectations. It starts speaking more clearly, through fatigue, low motivation, or a deep longing for simplicity.
Mindfulness invites us to pause and listen.
Hypnotherapy gently supports us in releasing old beliefs that say we must always be productive, upbeat, or improving in order to be worthy.
Wintering and Self-care
Of course, it can still feel nourishing to eat a little more mindfully after Christmas.
To move your body in ways that feel kind and supportive.
To slowly reconnect with your natural rhythm.
That’s self-care, not self-punishment.
And it’s also true that some women genuinely love January. They thrive on goal-setting, fresh starts, and momentum, and that’s perfectly valid too.
The key is not doing what you should do.
The key is listening to your body, not the noise.
If January feels slower for you…
If rest feels more appealing than reinvention…
If you’re craving space rather than structure…
Nothing is wrong.
Nothing needs fixing.
You may simply be wintering.
And wintering isn’t giving up, it’s restoring.
It’s the quiet preparation beneath the surface.
It’s trusting that growth doesn’t always look active.
Spring will come.
But for now, you’re allowed to rest.
A Short Guided Reflection: Allowing Yourself to Winter
You may like to read this slowly, or come back to it when you have a few quiet moments.
Take a gentle breath in…
And a slow breath out.
Allow your shoulders to soften.
Let your jaw unclench.
Notice the support beneath you.
Imagine for a moment that you are part of the natural world — not separate from it.
Just like the trees, the earth, the tides.
Winter is not asking the trees to bloom.
It’s asking them to rest.
Silently say to yourself:
“I don’t need to push right now.”
And again:
“Rest is safe for me.”
Notice what your body responds with, without judgment.
There is nothing to fix.
Take one more gentle breath…
And when you’re ready, return to your day, carrying even a small sense of permission with you.
How Hypnotherapy can help
If you’re finding that your nervous system feels overstretched, or you’re struggling with guilt around rest, hypnotherapy and mindfulness can offer powerful, gentle support, helping you reconnect with your body’s natural rhythms and restore balance from the inside out.
Katina Chapman Hypnotherapy Training – Accredited online and in-person hypnotherapy and hypnosis training throughout the UK. Learn live and interactively from anywhere, or join me in Norwich.
Personal Hypnotherapy Sessions – Available in Lowestoft, Norwich, and online for anxiety, stress, depression, confidence, and more.