HUMAN HIBERNATION

I was wondering, recently, if we humans actually go into kind of hibernation or something like that.

Not properly, I mean, but I sure have the feeling that I myself and my body and spirit are kind of preparing for hibernation in some very awkward way.

With the temperatures dropping into the minus degrees (-4 currently) I feel my energy and mood dropping with it, accordingly.

Apart from the fact that I am constantly freezing, even with wearing 2 jackets, I have a heavy craving for very warm and very rich and savoury foods.

I feel like a squirrel, trying to conserve as much energy as I can and with the fluctuation of my body temperature my motivation to be active sinks into the minus degrees, alongside the temperature outside.

By the time the clock on the wall says 4pm and the sun has set my body says: “Gosh, gimme a break, lets have snooze…for about 12 hours, please!”

Sometimes, I have a siesta, but waking up after 4 hours I realise this wasn’t a bloody siesta, this was a proper sleep! And the worst is: I really could do with even more!

Now, Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in order to conserve life.

Conserving energy in times when food is scarce and winters are cold is what saves the life of mammals and rodents who fall into hibernation for a certain time, until the climate and environmental changes allow a more active and vivid life with plenty of food.

To do so, they eat more in autumn, store fat and then find a safe place where to fall into a deep sleep which they cannot be woken up from easily.

But I don’t understand my own hibernation issue here at all.

I am human.

My food isn’t scarce.

Co-op and Tesco’s just around the corner and open every day from 7am – 10pm, in order to supply my human fellows and me with any kind of food desired.

And why the heck would I wanna sleep 20 hours every day?

Why would I wanna bury myself in the house next to the fire place, rather than socialise but just stay with myself? How could one possibly to socialise when asleep anyways?

I don’t know WHY this all is, but sure it IS.

I want to sleep, I want to rest and I don’t want to move until its warm outside again.

My energy level is low, my body temperature is dropping and even my mind is resting and not as open and vivid as usual, as you can see with this very post here, where I have to search and cram for words at the very bottom of my word pouch.

I sure have come to the conclusion that I need an absolute different rhythm for the winter months.

A vivid monkey like me…what could I wish for?

20h sleep

2h food

1h grooming

1h spacing out and staring at the ceiling

Sometimes though, its just too bad I am a human being, having to go to work and fulfilling ordinary duties, but being at the mercy of deeper, natural instincts at the same time.

It makes me wonder.

If we all followed our hibernation rhythms, wouldn’t winter be just merely peaceful?

:D