Even the Busy Bees Rest in the Winter

The always-on hustle culture that goes against nature

In the thick of an east coast January, I’ve been peeling myself out of bed to brave the cold. I’ve been feeling more tired than usual. I’ve been moving my body less. I’ve been reluctant to get fully ready and dressed. My desire is to snuggle up in comfy clothes next to a fireplace with a cup of coffee as I slowly tackle the day—writing, reading, watching films. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll get bundled up and take a crisp winter walk to get fresh, pine-scented air. I might indulge in a couple glasses of red wine in the evenings, and I’m drawn to eating heartier foods than in the warm months. I’m less inclined to work out, and I typically lose a bit of muscle tone in the winter.

Rest, recharge, reflect, slow down—in theory, this all sounds like a winter well spent, but there’s that voice ingrained in the back of my head that tells me I need to be doing more, hustling more, making more money, keeping busy, producing. Hustle culture. And it’s not just about work, it’s the sudden snap back to moving and grooving after the holidays. Winter arc glow up tips permeate social media’s algorithms as many people document the start of their 75 Hard challenges and embark on ambitious goals to kickstart the new year into high gear. Work never skips a beat as calendars fill up with meetings running from morning until the close of the business day. Rise and grind, or get left behind!

But, to be honest, I don’t want to rise and grind. Sometimes, it’s difficult enough just to rise in the winter. There’s less daylight, colder temperatures, and studies have even proven that humans require more rest in the winter. But hustle culture persists, and in an always-on society that intertwines work and production with self-worth and value, slowing down and taking a break comes with an unfortunate feeling of shame and the potential “lazy” label.

I used to work for companies that would encourage taking one mental health day every once in awhile. At first I thought, wow, how amazing that they care, but then I thought—why is the system of American work culture set up in a way that a mental health day every couple months is seen as a luxury? Why do we have to be driven to the point of needing a mental health day? And who does hustle culture benefit?

This past year, I took a step back from my full time career and focused on creative endeavors like owning a vintage store, writing, and social media. Luckily, I found some success, but when I’d go for long walks smack dab in the middle of the work day, I’d often be overcome with a sense of shame or guilt—like I should be doing more and getting to work. The voice in my head would tell me that if I’m going to be successful solo, I need to be writing and producing every second of the day. But then I’d be sitting there, with an open laptop and no ideas. I realized that rest is productive, taking the time to enjoy life is productive, and sitting in thought in the grass under the sun is productive. And it’s in human nature to rest and recharge with the sun. There is no shame in following your instinct.

Inspired by the rejection of hustle culture, I wrote this poem on the business of busyness.

Watch the performed piece on Instagram:

heidiunhinged

A post shared by @heidiunhinged

So, please, take some time to rest this winter. Recharge for an energetic spring and summer ahead!