Learning Corner: Winter Fatigue, Habits, and Learning That Holds

By February, winter has a way of wearing people down. 

Shorter days. Cold mornings. Slippery roads. Long stretches of focus with fewer natural breaks. Fatigue builds quietly, and when it does, attention narrows and reaction times slow.

The problem isn’t that people don’t know what to do. It’s that under fatigue and pressure, the brain relies on habit.

That’s why learning that supports winter safety needs to feel familiar, simple, and repeatable. Instead of adding more content, effective programs reinforce small behaviors that hold up when energy is low:

• Pausing before a lane change
• Taking a brief movement break during long shifts
• Doing a quick mental check-in when conditions change
• Slowing down decisions that usually feel automatic

These moments don’t take long, but they add up. When learning reinforces habits instead of just information, it’s more likely to show up on the road, in the yard, or in the warehouse, especially during the toughest months of the year.

How Trainers Can Apply This Right Now

You don’t need to redesign your program to support winter fatigue. Start small:

• Add one habit-based refresher to an existing eNugget® instead of launching something new.
• Pair content with a single reflection prompt, such as: “Where does fatigue show up for you most right now?”
• Use a discussion board or short check-in to let learners share what helps them stay focused in winter conditions.
• Revisit familiar safety topics with a new angle, a different scenario, a question, or a peer insight.

Small, consistent learning moments are what carry people through high-pressure seasons. February is the perfect time to reinforce them!