Fascinating Friday: Why the Week Between Christmas & New Year’s Feels So Strange (And What Your Body Is Actually Doing)

Fascinating Friday: Why the Week Between Christmas & New Year’s Feels So Strange (And What Your Body Is Actually Doing)

If the days between Christmas and New Year’s feel a little… off—you’re not imagining it.

Motivation dips.

Energy feels inconsistent.

Emotions surface unexpectedly.

Time blurs.

This isn’t laziness, lack of discipline, or “falling off track.”

It’s biology.

Your body is doing exactly what it was designed to do during this in-between season.

Your Nervous System Is Downshifting—On Purpose

The weeks leading up to the holidays are typically filled with heightened stimulation:

  • Social interaction

  • Emotional anticipation

  • Schedule changes

  • Increased sensory input

  • Less consistent sleep

After periods of sustained stimulation, the nervous system naturally shifts toward parasympathetic dominance—the “rest, digest, and integrate” state.

Physiologically, this means:

  • Cortisol levels begin to drop

  • The vagus nerve becomes more active

  • Energy turns inward rather than outward

Research in psychoneuroendocrinology shows that following emotionally intense or socially dense periods, the nervous system seeks homeostasis, not productivity (McEwen, 2007).

That low-drive feeling?

It’s recovery—not regression.

Fascia Responds to Seasons, Not Calendars

Fascial tissue—the connective tissue network that surrounds muscles, organs, and nerves—is highly sensitive to:

  • Temperature

  • Hydration

  • Movement variability

  • Nervous system tone

In winter, several physiological shifts occur:

  • Reduced daylight affects circadian rhythm and hormonal signaling

  • Movement becomes more repetitive and less multidirectional

  • Cold temperatures increase tissue viscosity

Studies in fascial biomechanics show that cooler conditions and reduced movement decrease hyaluronic acid fluidity, leading to a sensation of stiffness or heaviness (Stecco et al., 2014).

This is why:

  • Stretching feels different

  • Slow movement feels better than intensity

  • Gentle mobility is more regulating than pushing harder

Winter fascia prefers intentional input, not force.

Your Brain Is Processing, Not Planning

The brain does not jump cleanly from one chapter to the next.

After emotionally significant events—like holidays—your brain enters a phase of memory consolidation and emotional integration. This process involves the hippocampus, limbic system, and prefrontal cortex working together to sort, store, and contextualize experiences.

Neuroscience research shows that reflection periods are critical for updating identity, emotional meaning, and behavioral patterns (Immordino-Yang et al., 2012).

That mental replay?

That reflective fog?

That sense of “thinking about everything”?

It’s your brain closing loops—so new ones can open later.

Why Forcing a Reset Right Now Backfires

This is the week many people try to:

  • “Get back on track”

  • Start strict plans

  • Overcorrect with workouts or food rules

But forcing high output during a downregulation phase often increases:

  • Nervous system resistance

  • Inflammatory markers

  • Emotional burnout before January even begins

Stress physiology research consistently shows that behavior change sticks best when the nervous system feels safe, not pressured (Porges, 2011).

Your body isn’t asking for discipline. It’s asking for alignment.

What Supports the Body This Week

Think of this week as preparing the soil—not planting seeds yet.

Supportive choices include:

  • Walking and low-intensity movement

  • Pilates, mobility, or gentle strength

  • Protein-forward, stabilizing meals

  • Hydration and electrolytes

  • Consistent sleep timing

  • Reflection without judgment

These inputs help restore nervous system coherence, fascial hydration, and metabolic rhythm.

January Will Meet You Better If You Listen Now

You don’t need to fix anything this week.

You need to notice.

Your nervous system is recalibrating.

Your fascia is adapting.

Your brain is integrating.

January doesn’t start with force. It starts with awareness.

And awareness is the foundation of sustainable change.

Want Support Moving Forward?

If you’d like help understanding what your body needs right now—we offer Wellness Wednesday consults that include:

  • ShapeScale assessment

  • Nutrition guidance

  • Movement strategy

  • Stress and recovery insight

  • Because real progress starts with listening.

References:

McEwen, B. S. (2007). Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation.

Stecco, C. et al. (2014). The role of fascia in movement and proprioception.

Immordino-Yang, M. H. et al. (2012). Rest, reflection, and the brain.

Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory.

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