Another Season Is Coming: Caring for Ourselves as the Days Grow Shorter

Back-to-school season often comes with a mix of excitement and stress—new routines, tighter schedules, and the bittersweet shift from the long, playful days of summer into the busier rhythm of fall. For many families, September can feel like stepping onto a moving train: fast, demanding, and relentless.

And yet, beneath the busy-ness, there’s something bigger happening—something most of us don’t think about. The days are getting shorter. With every sunset that comes a little earlier, our bodies and minds are also shifting.

The Quiet Wisdom of Shorter Days

From September to December, until we reach the shortest day of the year, our energy naturally declines. Less sunlight means lower resilience, a dip in our “umf,” and a reduced ability to handle stress.

The challenge? Just as our reserves are going down, our society asks us to do more—holidays, school projects, deadlines, endless activities. It’s a mismatch between what our bodies need and what the culture demands.

But here’s the opportunity: when we know this, we can choose differently. We can align with nature instead of resisting it.

Rethinking “Getting Sick”

We’re taught to fear “flu season,” as though sickness is waiting to pounce. But here’s a truth worth sitting with: germs are always around us. There has never been a moment in your life without them.

So why do we get sick more often in the fall and winter?

What if illness isn’t an enemy at all, but a safeguard? A reset? A chance for the body to clear out what’s been building up—stress, poor sleep, sugar overload, disconnection from nature.

Instead of seeing sickness as failure, we could see it as wisdom. The body’s way of slowing us down, clearing us out, and guiding us back to balance.

Why I Call It “Sugar Season”

One of the biggest stressors on our system this time of year is sugar. As the days grow darker, cravings for sweets rise. We want comfort, quick energy, a little lift. But sugar drains our resilience and leaves us more vulnerable just when our reserves are lowest.

So maybe we shouldn’t call it flu season at all. Maybe it’s more honest to call it sugar season.

A Gentle Seasonal Prescription

What if we flowed with the seasons instead of fighting them? What if we allowed ourselves to live in rhythm with the shorter days? Here are a few gentle shifts that can make a world of difference:

🌞 Seek the light — Even a few minutes of sunshine can boost mood and immunity.

😴 Rest more — Longer nights are an invitation to sleep more. Honor it.

🥕 Eat with the season — Warm soups, squashes, root vegetables—foods that ground and nourish.

🍯 Cut back on sugar — Give your body a stronger foundation to thrive.

🌿 Simplify your schedule — Do less, but do it with presence.

🔥 Warm yourself — Through food, cozy rituals, and slower moments.

Turning Inward, Growing Stronger

The beauty of this season is its invitation to slow down. To rest. To release. To nourish. Illness, if it comes, can even be part of that process—a reminder that the body is wise, resilient, and always working in our favor.

So this year, instead of fearing “flu season,” what if we welcomed this time as a season of restoration? A season of turning inward, caring more deeply for ourselves, and letting the cycles of nature guide the cycles of our lives.

Because slowing down isn’t weakness. It’s strength. And it may be the most powerful form of health we can practice.