12/23/2025
: Navigating the "Texas Winter" ☀️🌵
In Texas, winter doesn't always look like a postcard, but our bodies still feel the seasonal shift. Even if it’s 70 degrees outside, the shorter days and local environment can impact your mental health.
Here are 5 tips to stay "Closer to Whole" during the Texas winter:
1️⃣ Seek "High-Noon" Sunlight: Since the days are shorter (The Photoperiod Shift), aim to get outside between 11 AM and 1 PM. This peak sunlight helps regulate your serotonin and melatonin levels, even on a warm afternoon.
2️⃣ Validate Your Own "Winter": If you're feeling the "Expectation Gap"—seeing snow on TV while feeling humidity outside—give yourself permission to slow down anyway. You don't need a blizzard to justify rest and reflection.
3️⃣ Check Your "Brain Fog": Before assuming a low mood is purely psychological, consider the "Cedar Fever" factor. If you're feeling lethargic or foggy, check local pollen counts and treat allergy-related inflammation to help clear your head.
4️⃣ Prioritize "Non-Event" Movement: As cultural rhythms move us indoors to malls and parties, don't sacrifice exercise. Maintain a routine of outdoor walks or gym time to stabilize your blood sugar and mood against holiday "fuel."
5️⃣ Create a "Hard Stop": Since Texas weather doesn't force a "hibernation," you have to create your own "Seasonal Closure." Pick a date to intentionally unplug and pause the hustle to prevent end-of-year burnout.
6️⃣ Balance Social Rhythms: While the season moves us into crowded, high-stress social environments, make sure to balance these with smaller, meaningful connections. Quality time in low-stress settings helps maintain emotional regulation regardless of the temperature.
Your mental health doesn't depend on the temperature outside—it depends on how you care for yourself inside. 🕊️
