✨ Hey, hi, hello! Happy Friday!
I wanted to give a little check-in from my wintering. I am currently fighting a cold/upper respiratory bug, which I fully believe is my body telling me: “Okay, you won’t slow down on your own? I’ll do it for you.” 🤧
And while I’m kinda frustrated… I’m also grateful for the extra push. The past week has been a lot slower than any of the rest of this process has been, and it feels really weird, but I know it’s needed. 🕯️
📚 “Wintering” Was the Permission Slip I Didn’t Know I Needed
I finished reading Wintering by Katherine May the other day and I cannot recommend it enough. It genuinely feels like it was the permission slip to truly slow down I didn’t know I needed.
It has really helped me shift my perspective around this phase I’m going through and shed some of the shame I’ve been feeling about my non-linear growth. 💛
🧭 Learning What Brings Me Joy (And What Doesn’t)
One thing I am really focusing on is learning what brings me joy and what does not.
Earlier this week, I decided I was going to curl up and watch season 2 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. I watched Season 1 when it came out and enjoyed it then, but I’ve been so focused on other things that I didn’t even realize there were two new seasons out now.
With my new focus on rest and slowing down, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to indulge… but I got an episode and a half in and then I had to turn it off. It was triggering my anxiety in a way I hadn’t felt in a while, so I said: “No, thank you.”
There is plenty of other content out there I can enjoy without triggering my fight-or-flight response. 🫶
Instead, I switched over to watching Good Hang with Amy Poehler on YouTube. Since it launched earlier this year, I’ve watched a few episodes here and there, but not with any real consistency.
Over the last few days, however, I’ve watched a bunch of different episodes and it has felt like a hug to my heart. This show is indeed perfectly named. Each episode feels like a good hang with good friends — and that has been bringing me a lot of joy right now. 🥹💜
📖 A Cozy Read That’s Just for Me
I am also reading A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos and I am really enjoying that as well.
When I first started it a couple of weeks ago, I admittedly had a hard time getting into it and reading consistently. But now I think that had less to do with the story itself and more to do with the internal story I was telling myself.
I think I was still shaming myself for reading something that wasn’t going to teach me anything about my journey. But now that I am slowing down and giving myself space and time to heal, focusing on finding the joy, and just being present with myself… I am really, really enjoying this book. ✨
It is the first book in a four-part series and I am looking forward to reading all of it.
😴 Rest Without Rigid Rules
I am sleeping a lot more these days — partly because I feel icky fighting off this cold, and partly because my soul just needs more rest in general.
I am letting go of the rigidity and letting myself sleep when I am tired. I am still trying to go to bed and wake up at the same time, but I am also letting myself be flexible with it as needed.
The set sleep and wake times I have are goals and guidelines, not punishments or restrictions. 🌙
🛁 Comfort as a Practice
I am feeling really proud of myself for finally exploring life through a slower, less urgent lens. It’s definitely a process to let go of the strictness and rigidity, but I am working on it and it feels good. 🤍
I am really leaning into comfort these days:
- Taking lots of baths, soaking in salts and oils to soothe my body and my soul 🛁
- Taking extra hot showers to let the steam open up my sinuses 🚿
- Drinking a lot of water and electrolytes to help flush everything out 💧
- Exclusively wearing comfy clothes — leggings, big t-shirts, long cardigans, and cozy socks 🧦
I did some yoga with Heath last night, but we kept it light with a slow, restorative practice — and it felt nice to get back on the mat in a manageable and meaningful way. 🧘♀️
I haven’t been on the walk pad in a few days and while I do miss it, I know my body needs to be resting right now. I’ll get back to it when I’m physically feeling better.
Maybe I can get back on tomorrow and just keep it really slow, so I am moving with intention but not overexerting myself. But I am going to listen to my body and go with the flow because I know that is what is needed right now. 🌿
❄️ That’s My Check-In for Now
And that’s about it — that’s all I’ve got for ya right now. I really don’t feel like I have a whole lot to say today, but that’s okay.
I still wanted to show up and check in and update you all where I am right now. I am very much wintering, and it’s not glamorous or exciting… but it is necessary. 🕯️
💬 A Question for You
What’s bringing you comfort right now — a show, a book, a ritual, a cozy routine?
If you feel like sharing, tell me in the comments. I’d love to know what’s helping you soften and breathe this season. 🤍
✨ Want to Follow Along?
If you enjoyed this post and want to keep following along with my wintering era — the healing, the slowing down, the small joys, and the honest check-ins — I’d love for you to subscribe.
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Love always,
Bailz 💜
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