When winter comes, many of us feel like sleepy bears waiting for the Spring thaw. Our ancestors felt that way too. It turns out seasonal sloth is ancient and pervasive.

An Op-Ed piece in The New York Times says our long-deceased relatives shut themselves away as soon as the weather turned cold and practiced the forgotten art of doing nothing for months on end:

“At the first fall of snow the whole family gathers round the stove, lies down, ceases to wrestle with the problems of human existence, and quietly goes to sleep. Once a day every one wakes up to eat a piece of hard bread. … The members of the family take it in turn to watch and keep the fire alight. After six months of this reposeful existence the family wakes up, shakes itself” and “goes out to see if the grass is growing.”

Author Graham Robb suggests hibernation could save the planet by reducing energy consumption. If tax incentives were offered for hibernation, Robb theorizes, the long-term benefits of reduced energy consumption would counterbalance the economic loss.

In other words, there has never been a better time to stay in bed.