The In-Between Season: Low Energy, Anxiety & Waiting for Spring

March always messes with me a little.

It’s the month where I want to feel better. I want the light to last longer. I want to stop wearing five layers. I want to step outside and not have my whole body tense up like it’s bracing for impact.

And yet…some days it’s still snowing. Some days the wind is rude. Some days I’m tired in a way that doesn’t make sense on paper.

Lately, I’ve also noticed the very specific kind of late-winter tired that comes from dressing a toddler to go anywhere. The boots, the mittens, the hat that somehow disappears every single time. By the time we’re finally zipped up and out the door, I feel like I’ve already done a full workout.

And if I’m being honest, I’ve caught myself doom scrolling the weather app more than once, looking two weeks ahead like it’s a crystal ball, hoping it says 5 degrees and stays there.

If you’ve been feeling that too – restless, unmotivated, a little foggy, a little irritable, or like you’re waiting for your life to “start again” once winter finally lets go – you’re not alone.

The weird part: I’m craving change and I don’t have the energy to chase it

This is the part I see in so many people (and in myself):

🌱 I want things to feel different.

🌱 I don’t have the capacity to push right now.

And then we judge ourselves for the second one.

We tell ourselves we should be more productive, more consistent, more motivated, more “back on track.” But often, what’s actually happening is much simpler (and much more human)…your nervous system is conserving.

Your nervous system doesn’t respond to the calendar

It’s mid-March. We can logically tell ourselves, “Spring is coming.”

But your body doesn’t run on logic alone. It runs on cues of safety.

And late winter can be full of cues that keep the system a little guarded—even when you’re still getting outside and the evenings are getting longer:

🌱 The in-between weather (sunny but biting cold, slush, wind that changes your mood fast)

🌱 Still needing layers/boots/extra planning for basic outings

🌱 The constant temperature swings (your body never quite settles)

🌱 The mental fatigue of checking the forecast and recalculating your day

🌱 Wanting spring energy…but not having spring conditions yet

So if your energy is lower, or your anxiety is a low hum in the background, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing anything wrong. It might mean your system is doing what it’s designed to do: protect you when resources feel low.

What if you’re not stuck, what if you’re transitioning?

I like the word transition for this time of year.

Not a big reinvention. Not a glow-up. Not a “new you.”

Just…a gentle re-entry.

A thaw. And thaws are slow.

A few “bridge” ideas for the in-between days

These aren’t meant to be another checklist. They’re just small options, things that can help your body feel movement without overwhelm.

🌱 The 2-minute sunlight rule: If there’s sun, stand in it. Two minutes counts.

🌱 One tiny future plan: Put one thing on the calendar that you can look forward to (coffee, a walk, a camping weekend – anything).

🌱 A spring cue (even if it’s symbolic): Clean one window. Buy one plant. Put away one winter item. Make one brighter meal.

🌱 A “first signs” note: Keep track of the firsts – first birdsong, first longer evening light, first day you crack a window.

🌱 One honest sentence: “I’m tired of waiting.” “I want warmth.” “I want ease.” Naming it can be regulating.

If your capacity is lower right now

This is your permission slip to stop treating low capacity like a personal failure.

A question I’ve been using lately is:

           What would feel like 5% more supportive today? Not a full overhaul. Just 5%.

Maybe that’s an earlier bedtime. A slower morning. One less commitment. A warmer lunch. A text to a friend. A walk where you don’t track anything.

A gentle closing

If you’re in the in-between season – ready for change, but not ready to force it – you’re not behind.

You’re human. And your nervous system is allowed to want spring and need slow.

A soft next step (if you want support)

If late winter has been bringing things up – tiredness, a low humming anxiety, irritability, or that feeling of carrying more than you want to admit – you don’t have to hold it alone.

If you’re feeling like you don’t want to carry it alone, our team is here. You’re always welcome to reach out and we can help you find the right fit – no pressure, just an open door.

With warmth, Ashley & The Nurturing Roots Team 🌱