Jaded Issue #24

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Every year when it starts getting dark at 4:30, I basically shut down.
I get tired. I get lazy. I don’t want to do anything.
It’s giving “I guess the day is over now?” even though it’s literally the afternoon.

But we’re not doing that this year. We’re not spiraling. We’re adjusting. We’re taking care of ourselves.

Here’s how:

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1. Honor the Seasonal Shift

You’re not “less motivated.” Your circadian rhythm is responding to less sunlight.
Your body is supposed to slow down in winter. This is not a moral failure. It’s biology. Less pushing. More gentleness. Soft, not stagnant.

2. Morning Light Ritual

First thing: Go outside.
No, I don’t care if it’s cold.
No, I don’t care if it’s cloudy.

10 minutes of daylight in your eyes =

• Better mood
  
• Better sleep
  
• Less winter brain fog
  

It resets your internal clock. Literally.

3. Soft Lighting at Night

The overhead lights? Harsh. Aggressive. Unnecessary.
We’re switching to:

• Lamps
  
• Salt lamps
  
• Candles
  
• String lights
  
• Warm tones only
  

Your nervous system will unclench. You’ll sleep better.

4. Warm, Grounding Food

It’s not the season for cold salads and iced greens.
Your body wants warmth to regulate stress hormones and support digestion.

Think:

• Soups
  
• Stews
  
• Roasted veggies
  
• Bone broth or mineral veggie broth
  
• Warm teas (ginger, cinnamon, chamomile, tulsi)
  

This keeps your mood and blood sugar stable. Winter is slow-cooker season. Lean in.

5. Cozy Evening Ritual 

Instead of scrolling yourself into an anxious coma, try:

• Herbal tea
  
• Light stretching or yoga
  
• Oil massage or gua sha
  
• Reading something that calms your brain (I mean a good book not reddit drama or people.com)
  Not everything needs to be productive. Some things can just be soothing.
  

6. Reimagine Movement for the Season

This is not “go hard or go home” season.

Aim for:

• Strength training 2–4x/week to build warmth + energy
  
• Walks outside (even short ones) for serotonin
  
• Gentle stretching or yoga in the evening
  

Move to feel stable, not depleted.

7. Tend to Your Emotional Body

Less sunlight = more introspection.
Just don’t isolate to the point where you forget how to speak to other humans.

Schedule:

• A weekly dinner
  
• A walk with a friend
  
• A class
  
• A hobby night
  

Connection is regulation.

8. Bring the Greenery Inside

If nature is dull outside, bring life indoors.
Plants help your mood. They change the energy of a room.

Winter-friendly easy plants:

• Snake plant
  
• Pothos
  
• ZZ plant
  
• Peace lily
  

Low effort. High comfort.

9. Let Darkness Be a Season of Rest

Darkness is not just “sad” or “empty.”
It’s a reset. A pause. A rooting. A quiet growth period.

Journal prompts if you want them:

• What feels heavy that I want to release?
  
• What needs more rest?
  
• What am I building slowly, without rushing?
  

Winter is preparation energy.

10. Warmth = Regulation

Cold stresses the body. Warmth relaxes it.

So:

• Wear socks inside
  
• Use a heating pad at night
  
• Drink warm drinks
  
• Take warm baths
  
• Wrap yourself in blankets like a burrito

No explanation needed. You’ll feel the difference.

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And Listen… I Still Hate It.

I’m not going to sit here and pretend I suddenly love when it gets dark in the middle of the afternoon.
I don’t. I hate it. It’s rude. It’s dramatic. It feels unnecessary.

But in life, I try not to focus on things I can’t control.
And I, unfortunately, do not control the sun.

So this is us choosing what we can control:
How we support ourselves.
How we nourish ourselves.
How we soften into the season instead of fighting it.

We’re doing this together.
No spiraling.
No feral winter goblin arc.
Just steady, cozy, regulated winter woman energy.

We’ve got this.

xoxo, Olivia Jade