The winter arc is coming. “Winter arc” is a new term I just learned; it’s grind season. It’s when we change the clocks to “fall back,” and it gets colder, at least here in Michigan. The days are shorter and darker. That’s grind season.
I used to think grind season started after the holidays on January 1. I always loved that feeling of coming back after the holidays, head down, focused and grinding for three or four months to set up a great year. Doing the work in the dark when no one’s watching to get ahead of the game.
But I like this term, winter arc. And I like the idea of starting it earlier, right at the time change. That backs it up a couple of months.
I used to hate the time change. I’m like a lot of people; I feed off the sun. I love long summer days. I’ve always dreaded turning the clocks back and losing daylight. But over the last few years, I’ve learned to embrace it and lean into it.
Part of the reason is that I go hard in the summer. When the days are long, I’m outside working, golfing or at the lake. In West Michigan, it doesn’t get dark until almost 10 p.m. That’s when I usually want to be in bed, but I’m still out playing and going nonstop.
So when fall comes right after Labor Day, and the days start to shorten, I actually feel a bit of relief. It gets dark around 8 p.m., and I can finally start to wind down and rest.
Now, with the time change, I’ve started to ask myself, “What can I do with this time?” I see it as a time for rest and reset. For me, that means more reading. I tend to fall off my reading habits in the summer because I’m out having fun. But right now, I’ve got a list of books I want to read over the next few months.
It also means more rest. Getting to bed earlier. Being more consistent with my workouts. Starting strong in the mornings. Grinding at work and staying focused.
I’m really embracing this winter arc, and I want to hear from you, too. How are you embracing the winter arc? What will you focus on during this time of rest and reset?
