You Didn't Evolve for Costco & Constant Light

A version of the following will appear in the Friday, February 6, 2026, edition of the Estes Park News.

Despite the unprecedented warm weather here in the Rockies, it really is winter in the northern hemisphere.  

And that means winter is messing with us—biologically…and therefore mentally and emotionally. 

It doesn’t have a personal vendetta. It’s just doing what Nature does.

The problem is that we’re not.

We humans didn’t evolve with fluorescent lights, smartwatches, and grocery stores stocked with mangoes in February. We evolved living in small communities, eating seasonal food, and living by light of the sun, moon, and fire.

Winter used to mean slowing down, resting, and relishing heavier meals (because that’s what we could get…when we could get anything at all). 

Now everyone’s trying juice fasts in January and wondering why they feel tired. Eating salads and confused when their belt notch gets tighter. Setting sky-high intentions and shocked when their motivation flies to Cabo without them. 

The sun sets before dinner, the ground is frozen, and half of us have become emotionally supported by soup. Meanwhile, we’re expecting July energy in February. 

Which is kind of like yelling at your crockpot for not being an air fryer. 

Winter isn’t the problem; pretending like it shouldn’t affect us is. 

We live in bodies that want to semi-hibernate inside a culture that wants us to double-hustle. No wonder we all feel like something’s “wrong.” 

Less sunlight affects your mood and sleep. Colder temps make you crave more calories—and tell your metabolism to ride the clutch on burning them. Energy dips, motivation wobbles.

But instead of adapting, we try to override. You think your brain is broken when it’s really just old software running on a new operating system

We ask our lowest-energy season to manifest our highest expectations. We launch extreme goals. Shame ourselves for wanting to nap. Try to “fix” winter with more willpower. But you can’t out-hustle a season. 

A smarter winter strategy isn’t to do nothing but, rather, to do things differently. 

First, like I suggested last month, schedule down time on purpose. Shorter days mean you need more rest. That doesn’t mean quitting your job, your goals, or life as you know it entirely. It just means a calendar that’s more simmer, less full-on boil. 

Second, change your goalposts. Despite the marketing shoved in your face, winter’s not “new year, new you” time. It’s a maintenance season. A “don’t lose ground” season. A “keep the lights on and the body fed” season.  

Third, prioritize warmth and nourishment. This is not salad-in-the-snow season. This is soup, stew, roasted vegetables, and real meals that actually satisfy you. Your nervous system does not want raw kale right now. It wants something that feels like a hug. (From your grandma, not from a creepy stranger. Keep comfort food real, not candy from a rusted Astro van.) 

Fourth, move for circulation, not domination. Winter movement should warm you up, not break you down. Walks. Strength training. Dancing in your kitchen waiting for the kettle to boil. This is not the season for “no days off” energy. It’s the season for “let’s keep the joints and mood functioning and the toes from freezing.” 

And finally, use winter for reflection, not conquest. This is the season for pruning, planning, and noticing what’s not working anymore. Winter is for root work. Summer is for harvesting.  

We treat winter like a bug in the system. But it’s actually a key feature.

It’s the compost pile of the year. The crockpot phase. The quiet place where things break down so something else can grow. 

When you stop fighting winter and start working with it, something amazing happens: You waste less energy. You feel less like a failure. You make choices that actually stick.

Elevated living isn’t about forcing yourself into constant peak performance. It’s about aligning with reality—biological, emotional, and seasonal—so you’re not constantly swimming upstream in a parka. 

So if you’ve been feeling behind, unmotivated, or “off,” try this reframe: You’re not lazy; you’re seasonal.

February may not be the month to become a new person. But it can be the month to be a kinder one, especially to yourself. Do the simplest things that support you. Eat food that actually nourishes you. Move your body so it feels more alive. Rest without apologizing. Make plans without debilitating urgency. 

Spring will come. It always does.

Until then, let winter be winter.

With love & stew in the crockpot,

Chazz