Core Insight
As we approach the winter solstice, the daylight is shrinking each day, but the work on the farm still needs attention. I am finding that I have to get things done before the break of dawn. This year I am experimenting with my new high tunnel and trying to grow lettuce through the winter, so some mornings start with me working on the lettuce seedlings in the dark.
There is an interesting feeling about working before the light of day. It feels like you are getting ahead of the day, and there is a real sense of accomplishment in finishing a few tasks before the sun comes up.
That being said, there is something about the winter months that slows you down. From time to time I know I need to surrender to the season and take a rest from the rat race of always working and getting things done. With the sun setting earlier, I come in a bit earlier in the evening to spend time with my wife, and I am getting to bed earlier and getting a fuller night’s sleep.
I think business works the same way. Some things will slow down, and you can take those as signals to make room for other activities. As we head into the holiday season, that becomes pretty evident.
Three Concrete Details to Notice
1. The early start is its own kind of win
Getting the seedlings tended before the sun comes up gives me a head start on the day. In business, there is the same satisfaction in handling a few important things early, before the day starts pulling you in every direction.
2. The shorter days are a signal, not a setback
The early sunset is what brings me inside sooner. I did not plan that, but it is giving me more evenings at home and more sleep. When work naturally slows down at certain times of year, I want to read that as a signal to make room for something else instead of fighting it.
3. The holiday season changes the work
Business development shifts this time of year. It becomes less about selling and more about getting in front of a prospect one last time before the holidays and appreciating the relationship, maybe by handing out a holiday treat as a token of that appreciation. I think that small shift in mindset lets people take a breather and come back refreshed to go at it again.
Simple Closing Thought
The shrinking daylight can nudge us to let go of a few things so we can pay attention to what can only be done in this season.
What is this season asking you to slow down for?
Keep growing. Keep learning.
Farmer Tommy
This post first appeared on October 23, 2026 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.
