Embracing the Dark: Building Nourishing Routines for the Shorter Days

As the days grow shorter and the evenings arrive sooner than we expect, many people feel their energy dip long before dinner. Maybe you’ve noticed it too — the early darkness brings a heaviness that makes symptoms feel louder. 

Pain feels sharper. Brain fog feels thicker. Motivation feels harder to find.

If you’re navigating chronic pain or post-concussion recovery, seasonal change isn’t just inconvenient — it can feel like your body is working against you. But what if this season wasn’t something to “push through” at all? 

What if the darker months were actually an invitation to heal in a deeper, steadier way?

This is where your story shifts.

You are someone who wants to feel better — not just better-than-yesterday, but truly steady, clear, and strong. You want energy that lasts, pain that doesn’t dictate your day, and a routine that supports the life you’re rebuilding. But the season is changing, and with that change comes uncertainty.

You’ve likely tried “getting tougher” or “pushing through.”

And you’ve learned — that doesn’t work. Not long-term. Not sustainably.

You’re looking for a way to feel grounded again.

Shorter days disrupt the body’s natural rhythms.

We see it every year:

• Fatigue sets in earlier

• Sleep gets inconsistent

• Moods fluctuate

• Pain becomes more noticeable

• Concussion symptoms (like headaches or fog) intensify

You’re not imagining it — your nervous system feels the season change. When daylight decreases, cortisol shifts, melatonin rises earlier, and your brain signals “slow down” even if your schedule doesn’t.

The problem is not that your body is failing you — it’s that your routine hasn’t caught up to the season.

And that mismatch?

That’s the real obstacle.

This is where I come in — not as someone who tells you to “do more,” but as someone who understands the science of healing, nervous system regulation, and slow, supportive movement.

As a Kinesiologist and Yoga Therapist, I help people rebuild the rhythm their body is asking for — especially during seasons when energy is limited and symptoms are louder.

The dark season isn’t your enemy.

It’s your map.

And I can help you read it.

A nourishing routine doesn’t have to be complicated. 

In fact, your body responds best to simple, repeatable actions that restore stability, ease, and energy.

Here’s a 3-step plan that builds nervous system strength during the shorter days:

Step 1: Start the Day with Light + Breath

Within 30 minutes of waking:

• Expose your eyes to natural light (or a bright lamp if the sun isn’t up yet)

• Take 5–8 deep belly breaths

• Add gentle movement like side bends, cat-cow, or shoulder rolls

These three actions tell your brain:

 “I’m awake. I’m safe. I have the energy to begin.”

For pain and concussion recovery, this morning rhythm is foundational.

It sets your system up for clearer thinking, steadier emotions, and more coordinated movement.

Step 2: Build Mini-Pockets of Stability Into Your Day

Instead of long workouts or big energy demands, aim for tiny resets:

• Pause for 3 slow breaths

• Take a 30-second body scan

• Do a gentle spinal twist

• Drink warm water to support digestion and circulation

During darker months, your body thrives on consistency, not intensity.

This is often where people in pain experience breakthroughs — not because they added more, but because they added rhythm.

Step 3: Embrace Early Darkness as Your Invitation to Wind Down

One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to live at summer speed during winter light. 

Your body isn’t wired for that.

Instead:

• Dim the lights after 7 pm

• Switch to lamps or candlelight

• Take a warm shower

• Practice a long exhale breathing pattern

• Do a few minutes of gentle stretching or Yoga Nidra

This isn’t giving in to the darkness — it’s aligning with biology so your nervous system can drop into deep repair.

When working with concussion clients, this evening routine is often the single biggest factor in reducing headaches, improving sleep, and boosting cognitive clarity.

You don’t have to navigate the season alone.

If you want support building a routine that matches your unique pain or concussion recovery journey, join us in class this month — in person or online.

Every class in November is built around:

• Grounding breath

• Gentle strength

• Nervous system regulation

• Seasonal rhythm

• Sustainable endurance

You will feel more stable, more supported, and more connected to your inner light — even as the days grow shorter.

Imagine this:

You wake with more clarity.

Your pain softens instead of spikes.

You move through your day with steadiness, not chaos.

Your evenings become restful instead of overwhelming.

You feel — maybe for the first time in months — like your body is working with you.

This is what nourishing routines can do.

This is what embracing the dark makes possible.

When you work with the season, your body finally has space to heal.