The Problem With “Pushing Through”

Why Your Body Pushes Back in Winter

By the end of January, many people notice the same pattern. The body feels stiff, energy is inconsistent, and familiar aches start lingering longer than they should. The instinctive response is to push through it. More workouts, more stretching, less rest.

On the surface, this sounds disciplined. In reality, it often works against the body.

Why “pushing through” feels logical but fails

From a cultural standpoint, we associate progress with effort. If something feels off, the assumption is that we are not doing enough.

Physiologically, winter changes the rules.

Cold temperatures cause muscles to maintain a slightly higher resting tone to preserve heat. This means tissues are already working harder before you even move. Combine that with shorter days, less spontaneous movement, and more sitting, and muscles begin to adapt by shortening and tightening.

By late January, many muscles are not undertrained. They are overloaded.

Interesting fact: muscles do not relax on command

Muscles are not controlled by willpower. They respond to nervous system input. When the nervous system perceives stress, fatigue, or cold, muscles increase tension as a protective response.

This is why aggressive stretching or intense workouts can sometimes increase stiffness instead of reducing it. The nervous system interprets force as a threat and keeps the muscle guarded.

Relaxation is not something you force. It is something you allow.

What actually happens when you “push through” tension

When tight or irritated muscles are repeatedly stressed:

• Circulation becomes more restricted

• Waste products accumulate in tissues more easily

• Range of motion decreases

• Movement patterns compensate, shifting load to other areas

Over time, this creates a cycle. One area tightens, another overworks, and discomfort begins to move around the body. Neck pain becomes shoulder pain. Hip tightness starts showing up in the lower back. What felt manageable at first becomes persistent.

Why winter is different from other seasons

In warmer months, increased circulation and daily movement help tissues recover more easily. In winter, those natural recovery aids are reduced.

Studies show that cold exposure decreases blood flow to peripheral muscles. Less blood flow means slower tissue recovery and increased stiffness. This is one reason injuries and flare ups often appear during winter even when activity levels have not changed dramatically.

Winter is not the season for intensity. It is the season for maintenance.

Where massage fits into this picture

Therapeutic massage works with the nervous system, not against it.

Instead of forcing tissue to lengthen or perform, massage uses controlled pressure and rhythm to signal safety. When muscles feel supported rather than challenged, they are more likely to release stored tension.

Massage also increases local circulation, which is especially important in colder months. Improved blood flow helps muscles clear metabolic waste, receive oxygen, and regain normal elasticity.

Many clients notice that after a massage, movement feels smoother and less effortful. This is not because strength suddenly increased, but because resistance decreased.

Interesting fact: tension costs energy

Holding muscular tension requires continuous neural input. In other words, tight muscles are energy expensive. Reducing unnecessary tension can improve overall energy levels without changing activity or sleep patterns.

This is why people often feel lighter or more rested after massage even if they have not slept more or exercised differently.

A smarter approach to winter discomfort

Instead of pushing through discomfort, a more effective approach includes:

• Reducing intensity while maintaining consistency

• Supporting circulation and tissue recovery

• Addressing tight areas before pain becomes established

• Listening to early signals rather than overriding them

Massage fits into this approach as preventive care, not crisis intervention.

Listening instead of forcing

Discomfort is not a challenge to overcome. It is information.

By late January, the body is not asking for more pressure. It is asking for attention. When we respond appropriately, tension softens, movement improves, and energy stabilizes naturally.

Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is stop pushing and start supporting.