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Warmer nights mean the night sweats that were manageable in January get louder. The thermostat becomes a battleground. And the ratty pajamas you've been wearing since Covid are not built for what's coming.

If January already has you feeling tired, unmotivated, or a little flat — you’re not alone. Late January is one of the lowest-energy points of the year, especially for women. The new-year excitement fades, mornings are dark, and the news and notifications never seem to take a day off. If your energy feels off right now, it’s not a personal failure. It’s biology. Less sunlight affects melatonin and serotonin levels, which can leave many women feeling slower, foggier, and more emotionally drained. We’re also more likely than men to struggle with insomnia, and when you layer in hormones, nonstop caregiving, and everyday life stress, it makes sense that winter blues and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) tend to hit women harder. Trying to push through low energy or force motivation right now usually backfires. You’re already tired.It’s seasonal.Nothing is wrong with you. Why Doing Less Actually Helps Right Now January is often treated like a giant reset button — new routines, new goals, new pressure to be productive or live your best life. But this part of winter isn’t about reinvention. It’s about regulation. Doing less — intentionally — helps calm your nervous system and conserve energy you don’t have to spend. This is the season for fewer expectations, not more. Ease isn’t quitting.It’s self-care. Why Connection Beats Motivation in Winter When energy is low, motivation is usually the first thing to disappear. Connection doesn’t. You don't need big plans. No packed schedule. Just low-effort togetherness. Social connection helps regulate stress, lift mood, and ease seasonal anxiety and depression in ways self-motivation simply can’t — especially in winter. And honestly, if your friends are funny, you’ll probably get a better ab workout from laughing than from any “abs of steel” routine. Choose ease.Choose comfort.Choose connection. Call a friend. Hang out. Have fun. Laugh.Book club. (We Do Not Care Club counts.)Wine night.Potluck — or just order in. The energy will come back. The days will get brighter.For now, staying connected is more than enough. You’re not behind — you’ve got eleven more months to tackle your to-do list. Enjoy wintering.