It’s getting colder here in Southwest Missouri. By the time you read this, it’s possible that we’ll have even watched a few flurries peacefully glide onto the cold earth. I both love and hate winter. I don’t like that it means no more baseball. I’m not a fan of going outside, and it feels like nose hairs have frozen. Or shivering to work as I wait for my car to warm up, only to remember that I most definitely need to put more anti-freeze in the car so the heating system works better. I don’t like those parts of winter.
Yet, there is something about the slowing down of winter that is alluring. Just the other day, I was walking by my garage, workshop, and critter hideout, and it beckoned me. I wanted to bundle up, plug in an outdoor heater, and begin to sand a table. There is something about winter that invites slower work. And I love that. If we’re intentional, winter can be a time for us to slow down and practice rest. It’s healthy for our bodies and our soul. Here are 7 ways to be intentional about slowing and practicing rest this winter.
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It’s no secret that our culture celebrates busyness and productivity. It can feel rebellious to rest. But it’s actually rebellion to not rest. God calls us into a weekly pattern of rest. And he has built in times and seasons for us to have extended rest. Rest is an act of trust. Slowing down in the winter is about embracing the season that God has given to us. It’s a reminder of our finitude.
Give yourself permission to rest. Rest is not equated with laziness. Let that silly idea die in the winter cold. Rest isn’t a call to inactivity but a reminder to trust that God has the world in His hands. There is much work that cannot be done in the winter. But God is still working even when we can’t. Resting and rejuvenating will prepare you for the seasons when you can work and gather. Give yourself permission—no, better yet, remind yourself of God’s command to rest. Embrace the season.
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Part of the reason why we can’t rest is because we’re fully entrenched in a consumeristic culture. And we have bought the lie that if we aren’t always churning and burning, we’ll be failures. While it might be true that we’ll come in second a time or two, we will likely be much healthier. Studies show that periods of rest actually make for better workers. Times when we can get away from fast-paced activity and engage in slow and deep work are far more beneficial in the long term. But that information likely will not inspire you. We need something a bit more powerful to break the cycle.
Giving is the answer to that. Giving can work a bit like fasting, it breaks the cycle of consumption and relies upon God for provision. When we give of our finances, our time, and our talents we’re reminding our hearts of our dependence upon God. We aren’t the one who ultimately makes the checking account balance or the to-do-list to be complete. This winter, dedicate yourself to giving. It will nurture a heart of slowness.
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If you’re outside the earth itself communicates to us. As the sun goes down over the horizon, our bodies slow down, and we transition into being home. When the sun rises in the morning, it calls upon us to rise with it. These seasons are woven into creation. God communicates to us through these things.
Social has no such marker. It is always on. Though we might joke that arguing about man-buns, yoga pants, and David and Bathsheba come in seasons on social media, the reality is that there is no on or off-season. While it feels like every moment on social is “different,” in reality, it is all the same season. If you want your body to slow down, you’ll need to remove yourself from the constant barrage of input. Turn off notifications. Challenge yourself to have specific times for engaging on social media. And above all, don’t hop on your phone at bedtime. You’ll never slow down if your phone is always aglow.
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I’m not talking here about frenzied cleaning and doing that Marie Kondo thing of getting read of all your stuff until it hurts. Leave my stacks of books alone, lady! But there are definitely places in our homes, offices, etc., that can become cluttered. And that tends to pour over into our thinking. One of the most helpful things I do for my mental health is clean my desk. Decluttering is helpful.
But don’t only declutter for the sake of having an empty space. Declutter to fill that empty space up with something cozy. If you like to read, and Maria Kondo hasn’t burned all your books, create a cozy reading nook. Whatever you enjoy doing, create a new space for it and enjoy it.
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I might also word this something like find a slower hobby. But I was afraid that I might be misunderstood. There are hobbies and work practices that invite deep work. Deep work is whenever you get so wrapped up in it that you look at the clock and realize three hours have gone by. Your project required all of you but not in a way that is hectic; rather, it engaged the deeper part of your being. Prioritize these kinds of work and activities.
Learn to sew. Prepare and savor a slow-cooked meal. Read a book. Write a book. Do things that are slow and relaxing. Paint like Bob Ross. Build a table. Write a poem. Put together a model car. Finish a puzzle. Learn to play the accordion—okay, not the accordion. I went too far there. But you catch my drift. Prioritize these slower things.
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Yeah, I know, it’s cold and few people want to go walking out in the cold. But give it a try. There are beautiful things out in nature in the winter. One of my favorite things to do after snow is head to the woods and follow animal tracks. I let my imagination run wild as I followed these tracks as a child. Doing this as an adult brings alive my inner child, I guess.
Nature is usually pretty peaceful, but the summer also carries with it a few dangers like snakes, ticks, and bears (not so much in our area). It may be a bit livelier in the summer, but the winter has its advantages. Mosquitoes aren’t swarming, and bees aren’t buzzing. Instead, you can enjoy beautiful views, snowy landscapes, and wildlife in a different state.
Even if you aren’t near a wooded area, being active in the winter is still a healthy idea. Staying cooped up all winter can lead to seasonal depression. Get outside and enjoy creation. It’ll help you relax and calm.
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Ultimately, you will not be able to really rest apart from the gospel. What I mean is that the work of Christ means that we are able to cease from our labors—ultimately, the performance treadmill. Christ has accomplished everything we need for life and godliness. We have in Him all that we need. The ability to rest and relax in wintertime starts here. Believing the gospel means that you don’t have to perform. It also means the holiday season doesn’t have to carry so much weight. Your identity is secure in Christ. You don’t have to achieve.
The best way to rest in any season is to drink in the gospel and to follow after the One who said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” When we’re weary and heavy laden, he beckons us to come to Him. To cast down our anxieties and trust in Him. Winter is a good season for doing just that. It’s an invitation to rest and relax in Christ.
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