When the Seasons Change, So Do We and Navigating the Emotional Weight of Winter and the Holiday Rush
Lisa Dunn and Lori Sherrington are the Co-Founders of Inner Vision Healing & Wellness, a wellness practice focused on energy healing, frequency wellness, and holistic transformation. Together, they combine intuitive healing modalities with compassionate client care to support emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
There is something about November that feels different. The leaves have fallen, the air has turned colder, and suddenly, darkness arrives before we’ve even finished our day. We’ve turned our clocks back an hour, yet somehow, it feels as though we have less time than ever. Just like that, the holiday season is upon us.
Christmas decorations begin appearing in stores, calendars start filling up, and the familiar pressure to do more, buy more, plan more, and somehow make everything perfect begins creeping in. But here’s something I wish more people would recognize: Just because the world is speeding up doesn’t mean we have to.
The seasons change, and our bodies notice
After spending nearly 25 years working in healthcare before transitioning into holistic wellness, I’ve come to appreciate how deeply our physical, emotional, and mental well-being are connected. When the seasons change, our bodies respond.
Reduced daylight can influence our circadian rhythms, sleep patterns, energy levels, and mood. For some people, these changes are mild. For others, they can contribute to significant seasonal depression, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
We may find ourselves feeling unusually tired, less motivated, more emotional, or simply not quite like ourselves. What do most of us do? We push through. We drink another coffee, add another task to our list, and tell ourselves we’ll slow down when things settle. But when exactly is that supposed to happen?
Our bodies don’t operate according to our calendars. They respond to sleep, stress, nourishment, activity, and the demands we place upon them. Sometimes what we interpret as laziness or a lack of motivation may actually be a sign that something needs our attention.
The holiday season isn’t magical for everyone
Christmas is often portrayed as the happiest time of the year: families gathering, beautifully decorated homes, gifts under the tree, and everyone smiling around the dinner table. But life isn’t always a Christmas movie.
For some, the holidays bring grief over loved ones who are no longer here. For others, they bring financial pressure, strained family relationships, loneliness, or the exhaustion of trying to make everyone else happy.
And sometimes, we don’t even understand why we’re feeling sad. We can be surrounded by people we love and still feel overwhelmed. We can be grateful for everything we have and still feel exhausted. We can look forward to Christmas and simultaneously wish we could skip the stress that comes with it.
Two emotions can exist at the same time, and that’s perfectly human. I think it’s important that we stop expecting everyone to feel joyful simply because the calendar says it’s the holiday season.
Sometimes the kindest thing we can offer someone isn’t another invitation, another obligation, or another expectation. Sometimes it’s simply understanding.
Even those of us who know better forget to slow down
I can speak from experience when I say that slowing down isn’t always easy. After spending nearly 25 years working in healthcare, raising a family, and now running a wellness business, I understand what it’s like to have a never-ending list of responsibilities. Now, as a Nana to seven beautiful grandchildren, I’m reminded just how quickly life moves.
One minute, you’re raising your own children, trying to juggle work, appointments, school activities, and everything else that comes with family life. Then suddenly, those children are grown, having children of their own, and you’re wondering where the years went.
It’s funny how we spend so much of our lives rushing to get everything done, only to look back and wish we’d slowed down enough to enjoy more of it. I’ll admit, even working in the wellness field doesn’t mean I always get it right.
I still have days when I take on too much, when my mind won’t stop racing, or when I realize I’ve spent more time looking after everything else than looking after myself. The difference now is that I’m learning to recognize those moments, because I’ve come to understand something important: We don’t get extra time added to our lives for being busy.
And perhaps that’s what the changing seasons are really reminding us. Time is passing whether we’re paying attention or not. So maybe this November, instead of filling every available moment, we could leave a little room to actually enjoy the life we’re working so hard to create.
What happens when we never give ourselves permission to rest?
One of the things I’ve become increasingly passionate about through my work at Inner Vision Healing & Wellness is helping people recognize when their nervous system needs attention. Our bodies are constantly responding to the demands we place on them.
Deadlines, financial worries, family responsibilities, emotional challenges, and even the pressure to appear happy can contribute to prolonged stress. When stress becomes chronic, it can affect our sleep, concentration, digestion, mood, and overall well-being. Sometimes we become so accustomed to feeling stressed that we forget what it feels like to be truly relaxed.
We begin to accept exhaustion as normal. We tell ourselves that being tired is simply part of getting older, that stress is unavoidable, or that we’ll take care of ourselves when everyone else has been looked after.
But being busy isn’t necessarily the same thing as living well. Constantly pushing through isn’t always a sign of strength. Sometimes strength means recognizing that something needs to change.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is nothing
I know that sounds almost ridiculous in a world that celebrates productivity. But think about it. When was the last time you sat quietly without your phone, without the television, and without mentally planning your next ten tasks? When was the last time you did something simply because it made you feel good, rather than because it needed to be done?
Rest isn’t something we should have to earn. It’s something our bodies and minds genuinely need.
At Inner Vision Healing & Wellness, we encourage people to create intentional moments to disconnect from the demands of everyday life and reconnect with themselves. Whether through meditation, Reiki, Biofield Tuning, a Harmonic Egg session, time in nature, or simply sitting quietly with a cup of tea, the intention is to create space for rest, reflection, and relaxation.
While energy-based wellness practices are not established treatments for depression or other medical conditions, some individuals find them personally meaningful as complementary approaches to relaxation and self-care. They are never intended to replace appropriate medical or mental health support. Sometimes, just giving yourself permission to stop is an important first step.
Maybe nature is trying to teach us something
Have you ever noticed that nature doesn’t fight the changing seasons? Trees don’t desperately cling to their leaves. Flowers don’t force themselves to bloom in November. The natural world gradually shifts into a quieter rhythm.
Yet we expect ourselves to operate at the same pace, with the same energy, every single day of the year. Perhaps there’s something we can learn from that. Maybe November isn’t telling us to work harder. Maybe it’s reminding us to slow down, to reflect, to release what no longer serves us, and to recognize that we don’t have to carry everything into the next season.
And perhaps, as the year begins drawing to a close, we can ask ourselves a different question. Instead of asking, “What else do I need to accomplish before Christmas?” what if we asked, “What do I need to feel well as I move into the next season?”
5 gentle reminders for the months ahead
Protect your peace. You don’t have to attend every gathering, accept every invitation, or meet everyone else’s expectations. It’s okay to say no. Setting boundaries doesn’t make you selfish; it means recognizing your own needs.
Make time for daylight. With the clocks changing and daylight hours becoming shorter, try to spend some time outdoors during the day. Natural light, regular movement, and consistent sleep routines can help support your body’s internal clock.
Pay attention to how you’re feeling. If you’re unusually tired, irritable, anxious, or sad, don’t automatically dismiss it. Persistent low mood, changes in sleep, or a loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy deserve attention. Seasonal affective disorder is a recognized form of depression, and effective treatments are available. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional if symptoms persist or interfere with daily life.
Create moments of stillness. Whether it’s meditation, gentle breathing exercises, journaling, or simply enjoying a quiet moment, allow yourself time without demands. You don’t need an entire afternoon. Sometimes a few intentional minutes can help you feel more grounded.
Let go of perfect. Your family probably won’t remember whether every decoration was perfectly placed or every gift was beautifully wrapped. More often, it’s the moments of connection that matter: the laughter, the conversations, and the memories. Sometimes, the most meaningful memories happen when nothing goes according to plan.
Your well-being shouldn’t be the last thing on your Christmas list
If there’s one message I hope people take away from my work, it’s this: Make time for wellness before illness forces you to.
We spend so much of our lives taking care of everyone and everything around us that we sometimes forget we’re part of that equation too. You deserve the same kindness, patience, and care that you so freely offer others.
As November unfolds and the holiday season approaches, I encourage you to check in with yourself. Not just with your calendar, not just with your shopping list, but with your body, your emotions, and your own needs.
If you’re struggling, please remember that you don’t have to navigate those feelings alone. Reaching out to someone you trust or seeking professional support can make a meaningful difference.
Because the greatest gift you can give yourself this season may not come wrapped in a box. It may simply be permission to slow down, breathe, and remember that you matter too. Perhaps, when we stop rushing through the seasons of our lives, we’ll discover that some of the most beautiful moments were never the ones we planned. They were the ones we actually took the time to experience.
Read more from Lisa Dunn and Lori Sherrington
Lisa Dunn and Lori Sherrington, Co-Founders of Inner Vision Healing & Wellness
Lisa Dunn and Lori Sherrington are the Co-Founders of Inner Vision Healing & Wellness, a wellness practice focused on energy healing, frequency wellness, holistic transformation, and autonomic nervous system reset. Both Lisa and Lori have experienced personal health challenges, which inspired their passion for holistic healing and for helping others reconnect with balance, clarity, and self-healing. Lisa brings more than 20 years of healthcare leadership experience and is a Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Reiki Master, Harmonic Egg Guardian, and author. Lori specializes in Biofield Tuning and Reiki and also works closely with children with special needs as an Educational Assistant, with knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL).
