Do you feel a bit sleepy, walking around like a zombie, detached from the world around you?

Do the days pass you by with no real difference between Monday and Friday? 

You may be in a season of hibernation and not even know it.

Just like bears, humans experience hibernation, though not in the literal sense. 

In a state of hibernation, a human rarely feels. They do the same thing day in and day out without feeling any sense of purpose. All food starts to taste the same. They disengage from others and sometimes even themselves. 

Learning to wake up from a season of hibernation can be hard…here’s how to ease that transition from deep sleep to alertness in life. 

How To Wake Up From Hibernation 

#1 Recognize What Things Are Enabling You to Remain Asleep 

You know when you’re laying in bed, trying to motivate yourself to get up, but the blanket is just so fuzzy, and you feel so warm and cozy, and the pillow perfectly supports your dream-hazed head? 

Yeah, you ain’t gettin’ outta bed any time soon under those circumstances…

If you’re in a season of hibernation but have hundreds of things enabling you to continue to sleep, then that’s exactly what you’ll do. 

It’s important to first recognize what is enabling you to stay asleep. Is it the mundanity of your everyday routine that’s keeping you asleep? Is it the lack of creativity and spontaneity? Is it social media? Netflix? 

Take a look at the people you’re around (or lack thereof). Maybe they’re hibernating to you. If you want to be awake and live life to the fullest, surround yourself with people who you think are doing just that. 

#2 Stretch Your Mind and Body

When you wake up from a period of hibernation, your mind and body are sure to need a good stretch.

Exercise your mind by trying something new. Look into that one thing that you’ve always wanted to try. Go to a new restaurant. Do something that freshens your perspective and mindset. 

Working out is a great way to wake your body up. If you go to the gym every day, try going on a hike. If your M.O. is a walk after dinner, try a yoga flow on YouTube. 

Your mind and body won’t be used to doing activities when you first wake up, so go slow. Allow yourself grace when your mind feels tired, or your body feels heavy. 

#3 Ease Into the Sunlight 

I haven’t studied up on my bear hibernation facts, but I’d assume when bears come out of hibernation (in a cave of course) that they don’t walk into the glaring sunlight immediately. 

Similarly, if you’re in a season of hibernation, it’s best that you ease yourself to consciousness.

Take things slow as you first wake up. Trying to go from 0% to 100% risks failure by pure overstimulation.

Whenever I wake up from a season of hibernation, I like to look around and take stock of what needs to change in my life. I make a list and slowly start to chip away at it until I’m back into my usual flow. 

I’m sure to take lots of YouTube and Netflix breaks as I make this transition. Maybe you can try to do the same. 

Real Talk

It takes a high level of personal awareness to realize that you’re in a state of hibernation. 

It takes an ever higher level of determination to wake yourself up.

The reality is that no one is going to do it for you. You have to make the choice and follow through with actions that match that choice. 

Otherwise, you may be asleep while those around you are wide awake. 

Don’t sleep away your life. Choose to wake up and stay awake. 

Your life is waiting to be lived!