Snow day
Sunday, January 25th, 2026. The country is enveloped in a snow and ice storm that spans from the middle of the US to the east coast. We have been warned that this storm could be historic, sparking memories of the famous Blizzard of ‘96. I’ve seen images of empty grocery store shelves, I've heard people complain that they cannot find road salt, I’ve seen social media posts advertising snow shoveling. Schools will most likely be shut down on Monday.
Like many others, I find myself struggling to just be present in this moment. Sunday, for me, has always been a busy day: food shopping, meal prepping, laundry, house cleaning, and the occasional workout all jammed in. As I sit here in my home office, I have a wonderful view of the snow, and it reminds me to take a breath.
Winter is a time for inner work. Many people use this time to heal their inner child. I found myself thinking of this today when I felt pressure to be busy. I even thought, “if I shovel now, I can get to the grocery store,” despite the state of emergency. Yes, there will be shoveling in my future today, and there will be tasks done like laundry, cleaning, and cooking.
But I have everything I need right here. I don’t need to go anywhere. I don’t need to do anything. And yet I still feel that pressure to remain productive.
What can I do today while I’m stuck inside? Maybe some writing, maybe a blog post? I can do things I put off like watering all the indoor plants. I can bake, make a huge dinner that will last a few days, so I won’t have to worry about going to the store. I can do hobbies, listen to music, and walk on the treadmill. Even last night as I was falling asleep, I thought to myself, “I will make a list tomorrow and try to get as much done as I can.”
WOAH, let’s relax.
Does this sound familiar? I bet it does. We are so programed to remain productive in this society. And sure, it can be helpful at times. But it can be unhelpful too. It affects our fight or flight. It raises our blood pressure. Take this cue from mother nature. What is she doing right now? She is blanketing us in a thick layer of snow. Snow literally stops us in our tracks. You even have to shovel it slowly or you could have a heart attack (seriously, be careful shoveling).
Why do we feel so uncomfortable when we allow ourselves to take a break? This is where that inner work comes into play. Maybe when you were a kid your parents wouldn’t let you to rest, maybe other people in your life were always busy and you felt guilty. Maybe you’re using productivity as a coping skill: The more productive you are, the better you feel about yourself. But the less productive you are, the worse you feel about yourself. Maybe you use productivity as an escape from uncomfortable emotions. Maybe all of these things are true.
What is productivity?
This is a huge part of the puzzle, especially if you get a sense of self-worth from productivity. What does being productive mean to you? If all you did today was sit on the couch, eat your favorite foods, and watch your favorite show, would you count that as productive? Probably not. I would have a hard time with that too!
What if you thought about it differently?
I am resting my body and my mind.
A few hours of rest will not hurt me.
I am engaging in self-care.
I am allotting this time for myself to just.. be.
If uncomfortable feelings arise, I will notice them and let them pass through me without judgement, without pressure, without wanting to fix or distract myself.
My self-worth is not defined by the number of tasks I can complete in a day.
Sometimes, I find it helpful to think of my body as something that exists separately from me. Like a car. I need to take care of my car. I have to give it gas, clean it, give it fresh tires, make sure the inside is tidy, and smells good. The same can be said about our body and our mind. We need to care for our physical body, of course, and we need to give it rest and relaxation as well. As well as our minds. Our brain likes to move quickly, especially if we are avoiding uncomfortable feelings.
Now, this habit is difficult to break. I struggle with it too. I’m going to do chores today and tomorrow, but I am also giving myself time to rest and face that productivity pressure. I am giving my fight or flight response a cleansing breath of this snowy air.
“Well, I can’t rot all day. I have kids, I have to take care of people, I need to get to work, etc.”
Sure, yes, very valid. We cannot be All or Nothing. Balance is what we need. For your health, you must find it. I hope it's not buried in the snow.
-Be safe.
Rachel Tice, LPC
www.NewMoonCounseling.LLC
