Embracing Winter.

At Wattle Tree, we support a lot of young people who struggle with their relationship with their body, eating habits, and exercise. One of the most common themes in this area of work, is an inner voice that is critical and unrelenting. I. Must. Be. Better. There’s no such thing as good enough. Unsurprisingly, we spend a lot of time in therapy trying to unwind this narrative.

Once you’ve been working in this space for long enough, you also start to witness a consequence of this thought pattern. Each year, with a change of seasons, so comes a ramping in the intensity of stress, “because summer bodies are made in the winter.”

I mean if I had a penny…

I’d really love to chat with the marketing guy who originally coined this term. I’ve got some questions for him.

As it gets colder and the days get shorter, our bodies want to slow down. We seek the comforts of a warm bed, an afternoon on the lounge or a big comforting meal (or several big comforting meals). It gets harder to keep our summer routines and our productivity levels dip.  This is called having an adrenal system. It’s part of being human. And yet, this biological process is devastating to young people who relentlessly and anxiously hold themselves to a rigid and unwavering routine.

Of course, this anxiety is completely exploited by the engine that is capitalism. Whether it be gym challenges, “summer shreds” or transformation pics, young people are guilted into fighting their biology. I am determined to wage a war against this narrative until the day I die.

So, this is a public service reminder. It’s okay to embrace hibernation. Be a bear. Emerge in the spring in a body that is well rested, hydrated, and excited for the sunshine.  

Until next time,

Courtney.