Word of the Week: Percolate

Every time I hear the word percolate, my brain immediately blasts “IT’S TIME FOR DA PERCULATOR” by Cajmere.

Immediately. No questions asked.

Is this the vibe winter usually calls for? Not really. But is it the vibe I need? Absolutely.

Because winter is a strange mix: equal parts cozy hibernation and oh right, I still have responsibilities, deadlines, people to support, and a whole life to run.

The song in my head might be unhinged, but the message fits: things are still moving… even when we feel slow.

That’s exactly why percolate is our Word of the Week.

The meaning of the word percolate: To develop, simmer, or take shape gradually, growing at a slow, steady, nourishing pace.

Percolating is the opposite of hustle. It’s the soft bubbling of ideas, motivation, and energy returning in tiny drops. It reminds us that winter doesn’t require a full stop, it asks for a gentler pace.

In other words: yes, you can be wrapped in a blanket like a human burrito and still technically be moving forward.

Winter growth is real, it just happens under the surface.

Winter Is Cozy… But Life Doesn’t Stop

Despite our collective love affair with soft blankets, soup, and calling it “self-care,” winter does not grant us a sabbatical from:

• work

• parenting

• caregiving

• meal planning

• emotional processing

• supporting our communities

• trying to keep our plants alive
  

We’re still needed. Things still matter. And yet… the energy we have in January is not the same energy we had in September.

So what do we do?

We percolate. We allow slow growth. We let ideas brew instead of boil.

Creative Ways to Percolate in Winter

This is not a productivity list. It's a supportive winter survival guide sprinkled with realism.

1. Warm Start Ritual

You cannot launch into your day cold. Begin with:

• something warm to drink

• a heated blanket

• a mug you hold like a Victorian heroine recovering from fainting

• a shower you never want to leave
  

Warmth = activation.

2. Light Yourself Up (Literally)

We treat light like medicine in winter. Infuse it where you can:

• turn on lamps earlier

• open blinds wider

• place a candle by your workspace

• add twinkle lights because yes, they still count
  

Light helps your brain remember you’re alive.

3. The One-Minute Outside Rule

Walk outside for exactly one minute. No more, no less. Let the cold air tap you lovingly across the face. It’s the winter equivalent of a computer reboot.

4. A Gentle Lift Playlist

Not hype music. Just songs that softly nudge your nervous system awake. A gradual resurfacing of your neurons, thoughts, and emotions.

5. The 2% Rule

Ask yourself: “What would make this next moment 2% easier?”

A snack? A stretch? Delegating something? Moving your laptop to the couch?

Small increases in ease → increases in capacity.

6. Creative Percolation Moments

Let your ideas simmer instead of sprinting after them:

• scribble thoughts in a notebook

• let an idea marinate for a week

• allow slow creative burn instead of urgency
  

Creativity thrives in the simmer.

7. Sensory Wake-Ups

Aromatherapy, lotion, warm socks, a textured mug, anything tactile can cue alertness without forcing energy.

Percolating reminds us that you don’t have to bloom in big, dramatic ways to be making progress. You don’t need a burst of motivation or a sudden surge of energy to show up for your life. In winter, the gradual pump-up, the slow warming, the tiny steps, the quiet simmering that gets you from

“I can’t” to “Okay, maybe I can” is just as powerful.

Because life is still happening. People still need us. Deadlines still exist.

And moving at a gentle, sustainable pace doesn’t make you less productive; it makes you human.

Winter growth is interior growth: steady, meaningful, and absolutely valid.

It may not be “time for da percolator” energy yet, but you are lighting a flame to get that simmer going, and that counts.

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About the Author:

Elizabeth Rago is a storyteller, media strategist, and community builder who’s equally at home writing compelling content or navigating teenage chaos with tea in hand.

A seasoned writer with 20+ years of experience across industries from mental health and design to insurance and advocacy, she’s also the founder of MDW (The Modern Domestic Woman), a no-fluff resource hub for women in transition.

Whether she’s ghostwriting for execs or spotlighting small-town gems, Elizabeth brings heart, humor, and a fierce belief in the power of connection.

Learn more at MDWcares.com or find her on Instagram and LinkedIn.