Why we're reclaiming our seasonal rhythms of work and rest

In this video excerpt, Temporal (De)Colonization and Our Seasonal Work Cycle, we explore how colonial structures have shaped our sense of time and productivity and why it’s time to rethink and reclaim these cycles. If you’ve ever felt out of sync with the demands of modern work culture, this is your invitation to explore a more intentional and grounded way of being.

Many of our ancestors didn’t move with the same energy all year round. They worked in harmony with the land, recognizing how the Earth shifts our needs, energy, and demands with each season.

This wisdom is embedded in our bloodlines, yet modern work structures often demand relentless productivity, ignoring the natural cycles of rest, renewal, and reflection.

Honouring seasonal rhythms, using Equinoxes and Solstices as guides, is an opportunity to reorient both our personal and organizational cycles. It’s a call to embrace a way of working that aligns with nature rather than resisting it.

Temporal (De)Colonization and our Seasonal Rhthyms

This is an interview excerpt from Trailblazing the Stampede: Hear the untold stories of Calgary's black entrepreneurs in this captivating documentary. Unveiling their journeys, challenges, and aspirations, as they pave the way in a burgeoning hub of innovation and culture.

Colonialism has left a deep imprint on how we perceive time. Many of us are taught to prioritize productivity over rest, linear growth over cyclical renewal, and uniformity over diversity.

Temporal (de)colonization is about breaking free from these patterns and reconnecting with natural cycles that better align with our well-being and the needs of the planet.

In the video, Temporal (De)Colonization and Our Seasonal Work Cycle, our Founder, Larissa Crawford, shares how this approach informs our work at Future Ancestors Services:

Instead of pushing for constant growth, we embrace the ebb and flow of the seasons. Our work cycle reflects periods of intense activity followed by moments of rest and reflection.
Indigenous cultures have long understood the importance of seasonal cycles, whether it’s planting, harvesting, or storytelling in winter. By honoring these rhythms, we connect more deeply to our ancestral teachings.
Temporal (de)colonization invites us to resist the pressure to be endlessly productive. It’s a radical act of self-care and community care to prioritize rest and renewal.

Being Adaptive and Letting Go of Seasonal Certainty

For Indigenous peoples around the world, work and rest have long been guided by seasonal cycles. This knowledge, rooted in reciprocity with the land, recognizes that productivity is not constant, it ebbs and flows in harmony with nature.

Elder Wilfred Buck describes this approach as being deeply rooted in the land’s teachings: “The land tells us when to move, when to rest, when to prepare. We don’t force a schedule onto it; we listen.” This cyclical approach ensured survival, sustainability, and well-being. Instead of rigid schedules, work adapted to what the land provided, balancing effort with restoration.

In Australia, many Aboriginal communities practiced firestick farming, using controlled burns to clear land, promote biodiversity, and prevent destructive wildfires (source). These burns were not done at fixed times but followed seasonal indicators, such as plant growth cycles, animal migrations, and climate patterns, ensuring they aligned with the land’s natural rhythms.

Victor Steffensen, an Indigenous fire practitioner, explains: “We don’t burn because it’s a date on the calendar. We burn when the land tells us it is ready. That’s the difference between working with nature and working against it.” Rather than forcing productivity on a set calendar, these communities adapted their work to environmental cues, reinforcing a relationship with the Earth based on stewardship, not extraction.

There is a degree of humilty that's required when honouring a seasonal rhthym that requires us to be iterative, fluid, and adaptive.

Seasonal Work Cycle Planning

Our energy, health, and capacity change throughout the year. Understanding these shifts allows us to work with them instead of against them, like we seek to do with Earth's seasons.

Take a moment to reflect: What do you need and how do your demands change in each season? How can you plan work and rest in accordance with your needs and demands for each season?

One of our key approaches to embedding temporal (de)colonization into how we exist is through Seasonal Work Cycle Planning, which is where we explore these inquiries. Instead of structuring our work around financial quarters, we anchor it in nature’s rhythms.

This approach acknowledges that:

Our energy, needs, and capacity fluctuate throughout the year.
We should plan for both work and rest.
Our resources shift with the seasons, requiring adaptability.
A sustainable cycle supports both our wellbeing and long-term success.

By structuring workflows with the seasons in mind, we can create flexible and sustainable structures that honour both our individual and collective well-being.

We do our best to ensure the principles of temporal (de)colonization are central to the work we do. We embed them directly into our services and strategic consulting, guiding clients to rethink colonial frameworks of time, productivity, and growth. If you're interested in exploring Seasonal Work Cycle Planning for your organization, send an email to info@futureancestors.ca and explore our in-house services.