Living with the Season

The phrase "living simply" applies to all facets of life. One of the simplest, and perhaps healthiest, things we can do is to align ourselves with the seasons.

According to the recently recognized science of chronobiology (which has actually been around for at least a couple of decades), we humans do tend to slow down in the winter months - a response that is mediated by the amount of sunlight available. In fact, we carry genes for hibernation! (Scientists Have Discovered Genes for Hibernation in Humans) Indeed our metabolisms slow down at this time of year, and we may require a little more sleep than usual. In today's world, of course, it would be impractical to hibernate. However we take quite a toll upon our health when we force ourselves into high gear in the winter.

This is one of the busiest times of the year, though this appears to run counter to the body's wisdom. Winter festivities have long been a part of our calendar; it is believed that they began centuries, perhaps millenia, ago when our ancestors believed that the sun would not return unless they encouraged it with celebrations in its honor (Winter Solstice Celebrations) These celebrations have continued on, in one form or another, down to the present day.

So how do we reconcile our need to slow down with our human desire for celebration and festivities? Through living simply - by paying attention to our bodies' changing needs through the year - we can find a balance. The following suggestions utilize the principles of simple living, and may be helpful in creating that balance:

1. Get more sleep if you need to. This is a very simple way to be good to your body, especially at this time of year. Naps may take on a new importance; it's only natural and is not a sign of laziness. In fact, a brief nap may leave you feeling more energetic for the rest of the day and evening.

2. Eating healthy foods and not skipping meals is another very simple in which you can be good to yourself. If you snack, eat between-meals snacks of fresh fruit and small amounts of nuts.

3. Find ways to avoid stressful situations. For example, if you hate driving to the mall, fighting for a parking space, and being swept along by the crowds at the mall, you may decide to buy gifts from catalogues. Most will also wrap and deliver the gifts to the recipients.

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