Editor's note: Zaruhi Poghosyan is a multimedia editor at CGTN Digital. This article is part of the China, Soft Focus series and concludes our exploration of TCM and winter health.

Modern life flows without a pause. Screens glow late into the night, meals are rushed or skipped, and personal worth is often measured by one's productivity.

Seasons pass almost unnoticed, and years seem to blur into one another.

Determined not to fall out of the loop, our brains keep pushing us forward, but the body quietly registers the strain and stores the consequences. Fatigue, brain fog, digestive discomfort and a lingering sense of heaviness have become so common that we brush them off as the new normal or accept them as the cost of keeping up.

In part one of this series, "Staying warm the traditional way: How Chinese women embrace ancient wisdom in winter," we highlighted how TCM views winter as a time for rest, inward focus, and conservation of energy, and how Chinese women embrace ancient wisdom through simple but smart daily choices and habits.

Sadly, modern routines rarely adjust for colder, darker months. Instead of slowing down, many people push harder through winter – caffeinated, mentally overstimulated and often supported by an imbalanced diet. From a TCM perspective, this mismatch between lifestyle and season can weaken digestion and contribute to internal "dampness," a state associated with heaviness, sluggishness and mental fog. We explore how simple dietary adjustments can help prevent or ease this condition in part two of this series, "Winter, food and 'dampness': A TCM guide to staying energized."

This mismatch between constant stimulation and seasonal rest is becoming increasingly felt, especially among younger generations. Millennials can no longer proudly claim "burnout" as a modus operandi; many people in Gen Z also describe feeling exhausted despite being digitally connected and somewhat health-conscious.

In response, a quiet shift is taking place. Across cities in China and beyond, more people are turning back to traditional practices – not out of nostalgia, but out of necessity. TCM clinics attract young professionals. Herbal teas replace iced drinks. Yoga and tai chi are becoming increasingly popular. Warming breakfasts, congees and porridges are making a grand return.

What draws people back to TCM is not rigid rules, but its emphasis on awareness. Instead of counting calories or following trends, TCM asks different questions: Does this food support digestion and Qi (the vital life force or the energy flowing through the body)? Does this season call for rest or activity? How does the body feel after eating certain foods, working or resting? In a world that rewards speed and constant motion, this slow attentiveness can feel almost radical.

Yet it is precisely this slowing down that many find restorative.

Reconnecting with ancient wisdom does not require drastic lifestyle changes. Often, it begins with small rituals that help re-anchor the body in time. Drinking warm water in the morning instead of reaching immediately for coffee is recommended – coffee should be taken about an hour after waking. There is a whole science behind this: Our bodies release cortisol naturally to help us wake up, peaking about 30-60 minutes after waking. Drinking coffee during this period can amplify stress hormones and potentially cause anxiety or jitters.

Allowing evenings to wind down, rather than staying mentally "on" until sleep, is proven to improve sleep quality and ensure adequate deep sleep – the crucial stage when the body focuses on physical repair, immune function and memory consolidation.

Importantly, TCM does not promote strict avoidance or perfection. Its approach emphasizes moderation and adaptability, recognizing that each body responds differently to food, climate and stress. The goal is not to follow an idealized version of tradition, but to cultivate sensitivity to one's own rhythms.

In this sense, ancient Chinese wisdom remains relevant precisely because it is rooted in lived experience and stays flexible.

Slowly but surely, we are starting to witness an interesting phenomenon: As modern life accelerates, the appeal of slowing down grows stronger.

In China, this has taken visible cultural form in trends such as tang ping (lying flat), a quiet rejection of relentless competition, and bai lan (literally "let it rot") – trends that reflect fatigue and a growing desire to step off the treadmill, reclaim personal rhythm, and redefine what balance and success look like in an overdriven world.

This shift is also visible beyond personal habits. In recent years, a growing number of young Chinese have chosen to leave major cities, returning to villages or smaller towns to rebuild a different rhythm of life. Some pool resources to renovate old rural homes together and move in for a life connected with nature; others open small cafes, studios or guesthouses in their hometowns, bringing their energy and modern creativity into local traditions. Often framed online as a search for "breathing space," these quiet returns reflect a broader desire to reclaim time and live in closer alignment with natural cycles.

This in turn aligns with broader TCM philosophy and practices.

In a world that rarely slows down, they offer something increasingly rare – permission to rest, to listen to our bodies and to live in rhythm with time. TCM offers not a cure-all, but a language for understanding imbalance, and a reminder that health, both physical and mental, is not always about doing more.

As winter reminds the body to conserve and recalibrate, ancient Chinese wisdom continues to resonate, not as a relic of the past, but as a quiet guide for navigating the present.

Disclaimer: This article reflects concepts from Traditional Chinese Medicine and is intended for cultural and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Dietary and lifestyle practices should be adapted to individual needs and circumstances.