Seasonality: normal responses versus pathology

If you shudder when Daylight Saving Time ends and the colder months settle in, or if winter leaves you feeling stuck in a funk, we’re here to present a different way to look at this stretch of the year.

In this episode, Kari Leibowitz, a health psychologist and author of 'How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days,' joins Debbie to talk about her journey from being a self-proclaimed winter hater to a winter embracer. 

Kari shows us the impact of mindsets on our well-being, particularly during the cold, dark months, and offers practical strategies drawn from global research. You’ll also learn about the power of wintertime mindsets, adaptations for enjoying the season, and how to turn winter's perceived limitations into opportunities. 

Whether you love or loathe winter, this conversation will provide many tips to help you find joy and thrive during this often challenging season.

Listen and Learn: 

• How Kari’s accidental deep dive into Arctic life launched her decade-long exploration into winter mindsets and human flourishing
• How adopting a positive winter mindset can transform the season from something to endure into a source of enjoyment, opportunity, and greater well-being
• The ways mindsets shape your attention, motivation, behavior, and well-being, and how you can thrive during winter instead of merely enduring it
• Embracing a nuanced wintertime mindset to recognize both the challenges and pleasures of winter, stay present with your actual experiences, and develop a balanced, resilient, and practical approach to the season
• How seasonal changes naturally affect your energy and mood, and why embracing rest and adjusting expectations in winter can be healthy
• Evidence-based strategies to manage seasonal affective disorder that improve mood, resilience, and long-term well-being.

Resources: 

• Kari’s Website: https://www.karileibowitz.com/
• How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780593653753 
• Kari’s Substack, Wintery Mix: https://wintrymix.substack.com/ 

About Kari Leibowitz

Kari Leibowitz is a health psychologist, speaker, and writer, and the author of How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days. She received her PhD in Psychology from Stanford University, served as a US-Norway Fulbright Scholar, and taught the ‘Mindsets Matter’ Stanford Continuing Studies Course. Leibowitz combines scholarly expertise with practical strategies to help people understand and harness the power of their mindsets and find joy in winter. Her writing on the power of wintertime mindset has appeared in the Atlantic, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. She has taught winter workshops to businesses, universities, non-profits, and organizations around the world. Kari lives in Amsterdam with her husband, son, and dog, where she is learning to love biking in the rain. 

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