The Weather in Your Body: How the Seasons Affect Our Energy

Ever notice how you feel different in winter than in summer - even when nothing else changes? It’s not your imagination. Our bodies shift with the seasons, just like the world around us.

Written by: Elske Visser

Het weer in je lichaam: hoe de seizoenen onze energie beïnvloeden

For a long time, I tried to keep the same routine all year round. Same wake-up time. Same food. Same expectations of myself. But as the months passed, I found myself pushing against something invisible. I felt slower in the winter, restless in the spring, and scattered in autumn.

Eventually, I realised: my energy wasn’t the problem - my expectations were. I was trying to be the same in every season, but my body had other plans.

And that’s when I began listening to my own internal weather.

Nature Doesn’t Rush - And Neither Should We

The earth moves in cycles: day and night, blooming and resting, expansion and stillness. Our bodies do, too. We’re not separate from the seasons - we’re shaped by them.

In winter, we often feel the need to retreat, rest more, and go inward.
In spring, we may feel a surge of creative or physical energy.
In summer, we often feel more social and outward-facing.
In autumn, it’s common to feel reflective, ready to let go or reset.

These shifts aren’t weaknesses. They’re rhythms. And honoring them can help us feel more balanced and less burnt out.

How Light and Temperature Affect Us

There’s real science behind seasonal shifts in mood and energy. Our bodies respond to sunlight, temperature, and environmental cues more than we might think.

Sunlight affects our melatonin (sleep hormone) and serotonin (mood stabiliser).
Colder temperatures can slow digestion and circulation, making us feel sluggish.
Shorter days can reduce motivation, focus, and even immunity.

And yet… we expect ourselves to be productive and cheerful no matter what month it is.

What if we gave ourselves permission to be seasonal beings?

Listening to the Weather Inside

These days, I check in with myself the way I check the forecast. Not to control anything - but to understand what kind of support I need.

Here are a few questions I ask:

Do I feel like expanding or retreating today?
Does my body want movement or rest?
Is my mind foggy like a grey sky - or clear like crisp autumn air?
What season does my inner world feel like right now?

Gentle Ways to Sync with the Seasons

In winter:

Rest more without guilt.
Eat warm, grounding foods.
Light candles, move slower, reflect.

In spring:

Declutter your space and your schedule.
Start new projects gently.
Let creativity bloom without forcing it.

In summer:

Embrace more social time.
Spend time in nature.
Fuel your body with hydration and sunlight.

In autumn:

Journal more often.
Create quiet, cosy rituals.
Reflect on what you’re ready to release.

Let the Seasons Teach You

When I stopped trying to be the same every month, I started feeling more like myself. The seasons taught me that change is natural. That energy comes and goes. That blooming is only one part of growth - and so is resting.

So if you’re feeling a little different these days, pause before fixing it. Maybe it’s just your internal weather asking you to shift with the season.

The writer

I’m Elske Visser, a Dutch writer who finds inspiration in rainclouds, early light, and quiet mornings by the window. I believe our bodies are more in tune with nature than we realise - and that there’s deep wisdom in listening to the rhythms we carry inside.