You’re Not Lazy. Your Nervous System Is Doing Exactly What It Should
This time of year always shifts something for me. It's a little harder to get out of bed. My appetite changes, and the routines that felt easy a few months ago suddenly take more effort.
If I’m not careful, a familiar story starts playing:
What’s wrong with me? Why does everything feel heavier?
For a long time, I assumed that meant I was slipping, but now I hear it differently. If you've felt like this, don't worry, I've got some news for you: you are not the only one.
Biological science is telling us our bodies don't move through the year the way our calendars do. During the winter months, we're exposed to less natural light, which affects neurotransmitters tied to mood and motivation like serotonin, while melatonin increases and signals the body toward rest.
So this is why you feel sleepier, hungrier, and less driven than usual. This isn't a mindset issue or flaw you have; it's biology!
This is where many high achievers and productivity-driven people struggle. The work doesn't stop just because it's winter. Responsibilities still remain, and goals still matter. So when there are energy shifts, we tend to judge ourselves for not having spring or summer capacity.
I notice this in myself every year. I try to keep the same pace, the same early mornings, the same expectations for myself, but I hit snooze more than usual, tasks take a little longer, and my body feels like it's resisting.
If you've been feeling like this, maybe there's a different question to ask yourself:
What would it look like to respect my seasonal rhythm rather than fight it?
This question alone changes how rest can feel. Instead of guilt, there's permission. Permission to rest your body and lean into it as opposed to forcing productivity and movement.
Here are some small shifts you can take:
Reading without trying to extract something from it.
Creating something without a goal in mind.
Letting your attention rest without needing it to turn into productivity.
Shrinking your definition of a "successful day" from getting everything done on your to-do list to completing one meaningful thing and letting that be enough.
It's ok to have slower mornings and quieter evenings. You are not checking out, but staying regulated because of the season you are in.
Rest isn't the opposite of ambition, and listening to your body isn't falling behind.
How does this show up for you? Do you notice your energy change in the winter? And if it does, do you fight it or work with it?
Want to go deeper?
I am sharing the first chapter of my book Success Starts Within for free. It explores how inner alignment creates sustainable success for high achievers navigating stress, pressure, and burnout: You can download the first chapter here.
If you are a leader or organization navigating burnout, performance strain, or retention challenges, this is the work I support through speaking and consulting.
Chazz Scott
Author of Success Starts Within
Creator of the Rise & Reclaim Blueprint™
