Most of us have been taught from a young age that January is a time to set goals and push ourselves to make drastic changes. But for many women, this push does the opposite of what it promises. Instead of positive shifts, it often creates dysregulation, fatigue, flared symptoms, and a sense of falling behind before the year has truly begun.
This is an invitation to try something different. Rather than forcing change, winter asks us to root in, stabilize, nourish, and create safety in the body so growth can happen naturally when the time is right.
The Pressure of January and Why It Often Backfires
After the overstimulation of the holidays, the body is rarely primed for drastic change. Blood sugar has often been inconsistent, sleep disrupted, routines off, and stress levels elevated. Layering rigid expectations on top of an already taxed system can increase cortisol, disrupt hormone balance, and aggravate symptoms like pelvic pain, digestive issues, painful periods, and fatigue.
From a physiological standpoint, January is still winter. Expecting peak productivity during a season designed for conservation creates internal conflict. When the nervous system doesn’t feel safe or supported, the body resists change, no matter how motivated the mind may be.
What It Means to “Root In” Physiologically
Rooting in is about creating stability before expansion. In the body, this means supporting foundational systems like your nervous system, hormones, digestion, and pelvic floor, so they can function cohesively.
Physiologically, rooting in looks like slowing down, regulating stress responses, warming tissues, stabilizing blood sugar, and reinforcing rhythms the body can rely on. When these basics are in place, the body is far more receptive to healing, adaptation, and growth.
The Nervous System, Hormones, Digestion, and Pelvic Floor Connection
These systems are deeply interconnected. A dysregulated nervous system signals threat, keeping the body in fight-or-flight. This state diverts resources away from digestion, hormone regulation, and pelvic floor coordination.
When digestion is compromised, nutrient absorption suffers, directly impacting hormone production and detoxification. Meanwhile, the pelvic floor—highly responsive to stress—often responds with tension or poor coordination, contributing to pain, urgency, constipation, or discomfort with intimacy.
Rooting in supports parasympathetic activation—the state where digestion improves, hormones regulate more smoothly, and the pelvic floor can both relax and respond appropriately.
Simple Ways to Root In This Winter
Rooting in does not require a complete overhaul. Small, consistent signals of safety go a long way.
Prioritize warmth—both externally with layers, warm baths, and heat, and internally through warm, cooked meals. Eat high protein meals to stabilize blood sugar. Choose gentle movement that emphasizes breath, mobility, and grounding rather than intensity.
Protect your nervous system by limiting overstimulation, especially first thing in the morning and before bed. Establish simple routines you can actually maintain. Sleep is not optional. It is vital.
Most importantly, allow this season to be slower. Root systems grow underground before anything blooms above the surface.
A Personal Note on Rooting In
This theme feels especially relevant to me right now as I settle into a new chapter with the clinic. Moving into a new space has required patience, presence, and a willingness to let things unfold gradually rather than perfectly. Creating a grounded, supportive environment, for myself and for the amazing people I work with, has mirrored the same principles I encourage in healing.
Rooting in isn’t passive. It’s intentional. It’s choosing stability over urgency and trust over pressure. As we move into the new year, my hope is that you give your body permission to settle first because that’s where lasting change begins.
Dr. Emily Mason
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