Showing Up for the Day — Even When the World Is Snowed In

There are days when the snow falls so heavily that the world feels paused. Schools close, plans cancel, roads disappear under white stillness, and suddenly you are home with nowhere to go and no one expecting you. Those are the days it becomes tempting to stay in pajamas, scroll endlessly, snack mindlessly, and tell yourself you will “start tomorrow.” But those are often the days when showing up for yourself matters the most.

Getting ready for the day is not about vanity or productivity for productivity’s sake. It is about identity. When you wake up, wash your face, brush your hair, change your clothes, and tend to your body, you are sending a quiet but powerful message to your brain: I matter today. Psychologically, this simple act creates structure in a day that could otherwise dissolve into mental fog. Our brains are wired to respond to cues. When you get dressed, your mind shifts from rest mode into presence. Dopamine and serotonin levels are supported by routine and intentional movement, which helps regulate mood, motivation, and emotional stability—especially during isolating winter storms when anxiety and low mood can creep in unnoticed.

When we don’t get ready, the opposite often happens. Staying in sleepwear all day blurs the line between rest and withdrawal. Motivation drops, negative self-talk increases, and the day can begin to feel heavy before it even starts. This is particularly true for women in midlife, when hormonal shifts already make mood regulation more delicate. What feels like “rest” can quietly turn into disconnection—from purpose, from joy, and from yourself.

Showing up for yourself is an act of stewardship. Scripture reminds us that our lives are meant to be lived with intention, not only on the days that are visible to others, but on the quiet, unseen days as well. “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come” (Proverbs 31:25). Strength and dignity are not dependent on a calendar or an audience. They are choices we put on daily, much like clothing.

There is also a spiritual dimension to getting ready for the day. When we care for ourselves, we create space to meet with God attentively. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Notice it does not say some days, or only productive days, or days with plans. Every day—even snowed-in days—is an invitation to show up before God as we are, awake and willing.

Getting ready can become a form of worship. It says, “Lord, I am here. I am present. I am prepared to receive whatever You want to do in me today.” Romans reminds us, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1). Caring for your body and mind is not separate from faith; it is part of how faith is lived out.

Snowstorms slow the world, but they don’t have to shrink your spirit. Even if you never step outside, even if no one sees you, even if the day unfolds quietly, you still deserve to show up fully. Get ready. Make your bed. Wash your face. Put on clothes that make you feel like yourself. Light a candle. Brew a cup of tea. Open your Bible. Pray. Not because you have somewhere to go, but because you are someone worth showing up for—and because God is always ready to meet you, right where you are.