By: Ashlee Cook, known as Ask Ashlee, is a beacon of inspiration and empowerment for women. A TV personality on FOX19 and the visionary author of the empowering ebook “I Am Who I Say I Am,” she encourages self-positive talk and personal growth. Ashlee is the creator of “The Girlfriend Experience,” a curated community where women embrace self-discovery and self-care and celebrate their unique strengths while fostering meaningful connections.
We exist in an environment where constant hustle, busyness and grind are glorified, so it makes sense that sometimes it’s hard to allow yourself to rest. Not the kind of rest that lasts as long as a twenty minute cat nap between every detail of your life but that true rest that feels real and transformative and inspires you to embrace the idea that, “It’s ok to pause. It’s ok to be still.”
As winter approaches and nature prepares her annual hibernation, maybe, we should too and lean into this season of stillness. Every winter, trees lose their leaves, and have to draw their energy inward. The ground becomes barren and yet the next season’s bloom is right beneath the surface. What if we started to approach our season of rest the same way? Instead of fearing stillness, we can embrace it as an important step towards future growth.
Hibernation
Our culture is addicted to productivity. How much can we get done, in the maximum amount of time we have to get it done and we often tie our worth to how much we have done or achieved. But here’s a different perspective: What if we stopped viewing rest as opposition to progress and results and started looking at it as the foundation for it? Hibernation allows us to:
- Recharge
We need time to replenish our mental and emotional reserves. Burnout isn’t a badge of honor; it’s a sign that you need to slow down.
- Reflect on what matters
If you are constantly on the move, how can you be sure that all that moving is still heading in the direction of where you intended to go? Have you asked yourself, what is working? What isn’t working? Is it having the impact I intended? Make sure you are still in alignment with the things that matter to you the most.
- Restore your joy and creativity
Are you still allowing yourself to dream and if so, are you dreaming BIG? True restoration happens when you reconnect with your passions, your purpose and yes – even your playfulness.
How to create your Hibernation Ritual
If the idea of slowing down is terrifying or feels foreign to you, here are some ways to create a hibernation ritual that can restore your soul:
- Set Boundaries on your Busyness – Start by saying no to things that drain you of your energy and yes to everything that fills up your cup. Whether that looks like skipping social events, going on a social media hiatus or simply taking moments of silence and being alone.
- Journal Your Way to Reflection – Spend time with your thoughts. Not the random fleeting ones that nudge you throughout the day, but the deep soul stirring thoughts that eat away at you. Write down the things that weigh you down, what you are grateful for and what you want to release.
- Engage in Restorative Practices – Yoga, mindfulness, gym routines, reading or just taking a moment to soak up the sun in nature, just make sure it is restorative to you in a way that is prioritizing.
Take the Courage to Pause
Hibernation requires courage. It asks you to step away from the noise, sit with yourself and honor what you truly need. It is a reminder that rest isn’t a luxury – it is an act of rebellion against society’s desire to thrive off exhaustion.
So as you pause for your season of stillness, remember it is ok to pause. You are allowed to take up space in your own life and feel ok about it. There is no need to justify it or come up with some wild explanation as to why you are choosing to take a moment. When you emerge, you will come back with renewed energy, clarity and a deeper understanding and connection of yourself.
So this winter, find your cave. Rest. Reflect. Restore. When the next season comes, you will rise with full intention and you’ll be ready to bloom.
Ashlee’s Tip: Rest isn’t just about stopping and pausing. It is also about understanding that you’ll also begin again with a purpose. Consider what you’ll rediscover in your season of hibernation.