Circadian Living when it's freezing outside! 🥶

We made it through the darkest 10 weeks of the year…
Only to enter a full-on Ice Age 🥶

Dear Lord… what is happening out there? I mean, honestly!

I came back from Florida and thought I had it in the bag.   

When it hit 9 degrees on Saturday, I still ate lunch outside in the sun and it actually felt warm. 🥶 

Then the storm hit on Sunday and now we're in sub-zero nights and barely-above-20 days here in Boston.

There's literally nowhere to go.  I am living in a snow/ice prison. ❄️

When it is this cold, icy, and snowy, our winter strategy has to shift. We still need sunlight and a protected light environment at night, but some things just are not realistic right now.

Here is how I have adjusted this week.👇🏾 👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

1️⃣ Sunrise is still non-negotiable for me.

Cold doesn't change the fact that your body clock runs on sunlight. If I skip sunrise, my sleep, cortisol, mood, and energy all pay the price.

The adjustment? I bundle up and spend just 1 to 2 minutes outside. My teen son jumps up and down in place to stay warm.

Something is always better than nothing… and consistency matters more than duration.

If you haven't built a sunrise habit yet, start HERE.

2️⃣ SHORT, STRATEGIC sunlight breaks during the day.

If you're going outside in this weather, make it count. 

Sunlight changes throughout the day, and certain times matter more for hormones, sleep, and neurotransmitters (especially in perimenopause and post-menopause).

You don't need long breaks. Even 30 seconds can help, as long as the timing is right.  And… it's helpful to keep moving.  Grab the mail… feed the chickens… shovel some snow.  Standing in place doesn't work in this cold.

The Circadian Rhythm Reset teaches you exactly how to time your outside time so you're not freezing your butt off for no reason.

3️⃣ Bring the magic inside

When outdoor grounding and long walks are not possible, I rely on indoor support.  Some of my favorites this week are:

• When inside, I basically live on my biomat. It's warm, calming, and mimics some of the benefits (negative ions and infrared light) of sunlight and the beach.  I can nap instantly on it!

• I wash dishes more often since running water is grounded in most homes. Not glamorous, but it works.

• A warm bath with magnesium flakes and essential oils is another delicious warm to ground and warm yourself.  (Eucalyptus or Rosemary for detox… Roman Chamomile, Lavender, or Peace & Calming for relaxation… Copaiba or Northern Lights Black Spruce for pain/inflammation… and Evening Peace Bath Gel or Lavender Bath Bombs for the easy bath button. ))

• I do saunas to help myself sweat and detox.  If done right, sauna also boosts BDNF in the brain, which helps me think better and prevent overwhelm when I'm working on projects (like this newsletter).

• And if you live in an old house like I do, ear plugs can be a sleep saver when the pipes get loud in the cold.

One last tip…

If outdoor workouts are not happening, take your movement indoors.  

This week, I've been doing weights in the late afternoon and Zumba or Qi Gong earlier in the day after breakfast and morning light.

Here are some of the workouts I'm loving this week:

👉🏾 A great 30-minute beginner Zumba workout…  I used to be a Zumba instructor in the day… and this lady is AMAZING.

👉🏾 A simple 20-minute weight workout for Menopause… (this guy is so sweet… and I'm a sucker for accents).

👉🏾My favorite de-stressing/energizing  Qi Gong for Menopause…

I hope you see that circadian health isn't rigid or dogmatic.  It's about adapting to the situation you're living in - right now - so that your cells can find balance and safety… and your brain can do what needs to be done! 🩵

How did you fare during this storm? I'd love to hear!

xoxo,

Christi