Every winter on a farm in Canada, they would see the same thing.

Two groups of chickens.
Same species. Same cold.
Completely different outcomes.

One group was outside in -20°C. Feathers glossy. Eyes bright. Thriving.
The other stayed under artificial lights in climate-controlled barns. Feathers dull. Tired. Just getting by.

The difference?
One group lived in nature’s rhythm. The other lived cut off from it. Under artificial lights!

Now think about the chicken you are buying at the store. Is it pasture raised or is it tied down in a barn with no space to move, force fed to put on weight under artificial lights living in its own poop and being shot up with antibiotics all the time! This gets transfered to you cells and you wonder why people are so sick today?

Another scenario that was seen was that white tailed deer started to not eat grass but switch to eating twigs and bark from the trees. Their microbiome changed as the season changed, as what food was available to them also changed.

Watching that year after year made the farmer realize something important.
If these animals can thrive in the cold, why do so many people struggle so intensely through winter?

Research shows that for most people in the winter their:
• Energy drops
• Cravings rise, and they put on weight
• Sleep gets worse
• Motivation dips
• And for some, winter becomes genuinely overwhelming

Most people are told, “That’s just winter.”
But I don’t believe that’s the full picture.

Winter isn’t designed to be a season of struggle — we’ve just forgotten how to live with it.

I learned this  through studying mitochondria medicine. 
Nature. Light. Darkness. Temperature. Real food. Rhythm.

I know what it feels like to be completely out of sync with the seasons — physically and emotionally.
And I know what it feels like to slowly rebuild yourself by aligning with natural rhythms again. You know my story of how I cured 35 + years of insomnia this way.

Animals don’t read research papers. They don’t take supplements
They don’t debate the science of circadian biology.
They don’t try to override winter with artificial lights and endless stimulation.

They simply live in alignment.

And when I began doing the same — waking with the light, spending more time outdoors, eating seasonally, going to bed earlier, wearing blue blockers after sunset and having lower lights and honoring the darker months — my whole body changed.

My sleep deepened.
My energy came back 
My mood lifted.
My mind cleared.
Winter stopped feeling like something to endure.

The more I aligned with nature, the more resilient I became.

And through years of observing, researching, and experimenting, I realized everything comes down to five natural forces:

1. Light — when and how much you get

2. Darkness — protecting the longer nights

3. Temperature — letting cold strengthen you instead of hiding from it

4. Seasonal food — matching what your environment is telling your body- stop eating foods that are not growing where you live at this time of year! When you eat pineaple when you live in Ottawa you are confusing the heck out of your cells.

5. Connection to the earth — grounding your system

These are simple concepts, but when they’re out of alignment — which is true for almost everyone living a modern lifestyle — winter becomes harder than it’s meant to be.

So over the next posts, I’m going to walk you through each force.
I’ll help you understand what might be working against you and how small shifts can bring everything back into balance.

Before the next blog, try one simple thing:
After sunset tonight, just notice how much artificial light you’re exposed to.
Awareness is always the first step.

And if you’re ready to learn how circadian biology can help you feel more energized, grounded, and well all winter long… you can book in a one on one with me or simply follow along in my post.

👉 it’s all about how to reconnect with nature and actually heal, not just cope.