Why You Might Feel “Off” When the Seasons Change
By Taylin D. Ramirez
As the air cools and days grow shorter, you may notice that you feel tired, distracted, or less motivated. Maybe your body feels heavy or your brain keeps racing even though you’re exhausted. This shift can be confusing — one day you’re fine, the next you feel like you’re moving through a hazy fog.
When the seasons change, your nervous system changes too. Less daylight, cooler weather, and the end of busy summer routines can all affect your mood and energy. For people already managing anxiety, trauma, or chronic stress, these changes can hit harder.
You might notice symptoms like:
Feeling tense or on edge for no clear reason
Sleeping too much or not enough
Wanting to withdraw or isolate
Trouble focusing at work or school
A deep fatigue that rest doesn’t fix
These are all signs that your body is trying to slow down — even when your mind is still pushing to do more.
When You Keep Pushing Past Your Limits
Many people mistake slowing down for laziness. You might tell yourself, “I just need to get through the week,” or “I can rest after the holidays.” But that constant push keeps your nervous system stuck in overdrive.
If you’ve experienced trauma or chronic stress, your body may be wired to stay alert — even when you’re safe. So when life quiets down in the fall, your system doesn’t always know what to do with the stillness. You may feel restless, guilty for resting, or anxious when trying to slow down.
This isn’t a failure. It’s your body’s way of saying, “I’ve been running too long.” Burnout often shows up right before the holidays because the pressure to hold everything together only grows.
Deeper Dive:
“5 Steps to Overcome Burnout” — from Psychology Today, this article offers practical, research-informed strategies for recognizing burnout and beginning recovery, especially when stress has been persistent. Check it out here.
A quiet walk with a furry companion can remind you to breathe again. Sometimes healing begins with simple moments — soft footsteps, cool air, and the steady presence of an animal by your side.
How Slowing Down Can Be Healing
It’s easy to think you need to fix burnout by doing more — more self-care, more routines, more productivity. But the truth is, slowing down isn’t about doing nothing. It’s about choosing gentler rhythms that match the season you’re in.
Here’s what helps:
Grounding rituals: Light a candle, stretch, or sit by a window for a few quiet minutes each morning.
Body awareness: Notice how your shoulders, stomach, or chest feel when you rush versus when you breathe slowly.
Simplifying your days: Instead of trying to do everything, choose one or two priorities that truly matter.
Allowing rest without guilt: Rest isn’t a reward. It’s a basic need — especially for healing.
Therapy can also help you learn how to listen to your body instead of fighting it. A trauma-informed therapist can guide you in noticing the signs of stress before burnout takes over, and help you reconnect with what feels grounding and safe.
What Therapy Teaches You About Seasons and Self-Compassion
Therapy isn’t just about coping skills — it’s about understanding your patterns. Many people find that seasonal burnout mirrors deeper beliefs: that they have to be productive to be worthy, or that slowing down means falling behind. In therapy, you can explore where your beliefs come from and begin rewriting them. You’ll learn that slowing down isn’t weakness — it’s how your body heals and rebuilds strength.
You don’t have to do this alone. Support can make all the difference in how you move through stressful seasons and care for yourself before the holidays begin.
Sometimes slowing down isn’t about stopping — it’s about noticing.
Take a breath, let the world move gently, and allow yourself to pause.
Take a Moment to Breathe
If you’ve been feeling stuck or exhausted as the seasons shift, you’re not failing — you’re human. Your body is asking for space, and therapy can help you learn how to give it. Slowing down isn’t losing progress; it’s how you rebuild your strength and reconnect with yourself before burnout takes over.
Each season brings its own rhythm, and learning to move with it — instead of against it — can make all the difference. You deserve care that honors your pace, not your productivity.
Ready to reconnect with yourself before burnout hits?
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to begin therapy and find your rhythm again.
**Call The National Mental Health Hotline at 866-903-3787. You can also call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Both numbers are confidential and offer free-of-charge support with trained crisis counselors. If in doubt, call 911
