The Wisdom of Slowing Down

Here's a quote, a resource, and a reflection to help you move through this week with less urgency — and more care.

Quote of the Week

"Your body is not a machine. It needs rhythms, not constant output." — Emily Nagoski

So much of teaching asks us to behave like machines. Bell schedules. Pacing guides. Constant responsiveness. Endless output.

But bodies don't work that way. Nervous systems don't work that way. Humans don't work that way.

Winter is often when the cost of pretending otherwise shows up.

A Practice for This Week: The Hibernation Audit

This week, try this simple reflection:

Look at everything on your plate—lessons, meetings, commitments, even the "shoulds" you've internalized.

Ask: What here is truly necessary? And what am I doing because I'm afraid of what not doing it might mean?

Then give yourself permission to release one thing. Not forever. Just for now.

Hibernation isn't about disengaging from your work or your life. It's about conserving energy, lowering expectations, and honoring the natural rhythms your body has been signaling for weeks.

Doing less right now isn't failure—it's wisdom. White space becomes restorative. "This is enough" becomes a complete sentence.

Research on seasonal rhythms and stress physiology confirms what you already know in your body: when you slow down, stress hormones decrease, emotional regulation improves, and burnout risk drops. Rest isn't what happens after the work. It's what makes future work possible.

An affirmation to carry with you:

I am not built for constant output. I honor my body's rhythms. Slowing down is part of staying well.

Journal Prompt

Where do I feel most depleted right now—and what would it look like to respond with rest instead of pressure?

If You Want to Go Deeper

Inside The STRONG Teacher's Lounge, we're in Week 2 of the Winter Reflection Series: The Hibernation Phase—Rest & Renewal. It's a slower rhythm of shared reflections and simple practices designed to help teachers move through winter without forcing momentum their bodies no longer have.

There's no pressure to catch up. No expectation to perform. Just space to rest—together.

👉 Join The STRONG Teacher's Lounge

A Book for Winter

Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith

Dr. Dalton-Smith identifies seven types of rest we need—physical, mental, emotional, social, sensory, creative, and spiritual—and why "getting enough sleep" isn't always the answer. This is especially helpful for teachers who rest but still feel exhausted.

👉 Buy on Bookshop.org | Buy on Amazon | Book Spotlight Archive
(These affiliate links support Why Edify at no extra cost to you.)

Winter isn't asking you to push harder. It's asking you to listen.

Let this week be slower. Let it be quieter. Let it be enough.

—Jeremy