by Sophie Gillet Castro

Year round, our homes need to feel like a welcoming and cozy sanctuary. In the winter, this sense of refuge becomes even more important, as we often find ourselves home bound during this long gray season.
Yet, there might be times when it is no longer possible to be home and relax because clutter and piles have taken over. This is where winter becomes an ally – how about using some of this hibernation time and take a good look at the inside of our homes? How about easefully restoring some order?

Clutter adds stress to our environment. Besides increasing the risk of falls and the spread of germs, too much stuff everywhere creates a visual congestion. Ultimately, it can become like a low-grade infection that drains our vital energy.

I would like to share a simple visualization exercise that often helps me. Take a deep breath. Think of the words ‘order’, and ‘orderly’. Take another breath, and think of the words ‘chaos’, and ‘messy’.

Did you notice a change in your breathing? Now think of your home and of these words: ‘calm, relaxed, practical order’ – wouldn’t that be nice?

Ancient systems such as Feng Shui and Vaastu argue that keeping the energy flow unobstructed in the places we live in sustains our physical and emotional health. For instance, the area where one eats directly impacts one’s digestive system and one’s ability to be nurtured by food eaten.

Who would not enjoy a clutter-free home, where everything is cleaned, picked up, organized, and labeled? In reality, life itself overwhelms the system of order we may have initially put into place.

This is unavoidable, to a certain extent. But when our sanctuary ceases to be nurturing, it is time to take steps.

As spring reminds us of our yearly cleaning, winter invites us to take the time to re-evaluate: what can be simplified, reduced, recycled, stored away, given away, or thrown away?
As long as we are prepared to hold this vision of calm, relaxed, practical order in the forefront of our consciousness, it is only going to take minimal efforts. Here is how.

One good way to start the process is to write a plan: create a list of projects and break them down into tasks that will realistically fit into your schedule. No need to make this endeavor overwhelming, like blocking out your entire weekends from now through April   in order to complete your project list.
So, one project may be the re-organization of the kitchen. And the various tasks to achieve this could be organizing the cleaning supply cabinet under the sink / sorting out the drawer’s content / downsizing the food pantry.
It is about doing one small area at a time, and finishing it before starting the next. This will provide a soothing sense of completion.

The tranquil and silent qualities of winter give us a chance to go a step deeper. As you go about your re-organizing, take the time to do it thoroughly. So that every time you will open that medicine cabinet, its practical order will remind you of balance. Because the information you will be looking for in your desk drawers or your file cabinet will be right there, easy to find, clarity of mind will ensue.

Sometimes it helps to imagine someone else searching for something in your closets. You may want to label shelves and boxes, create content lists for trunks, etc.
    

Lastly, since winter is a time to enjoy comfort and coziness, apply these to your selection process: give away shoes that hurt your feet, and the clothes that don’t fit and are too tight or the color you dislike. Throughout your house, only keep those items that are truly practical and uplifting.

A sanctuary refers to the sacredness of a particular place (it originally identified the area around an altar.) It is also a place of safety, a shelter, a retreat. It is comforting to relate to our homes in this way. So once organized, let us keep on top of it, with the intention to maintain our surroundings beautiful and nurturing…. Until spring comes!

“Every winter, When the great sun has turned his face away, The earth goes down into a vale of grief, And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables, Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay…“
Charles Kingsley (1819 - 1875), Saint's Tragedy (act III, sc. 1)

Feeling the gloom and the boredom of the season? Feeling cold, frustrated, discontented?
Yet the experience of winter does not have to be disheartening. Those few chilly months are an invitation to make our homes cozier and more comfortable. Following nature’s lead, this is a time when it feels good to be home, slow down, and enjoy.
Here are some suggestions to inspire you to create a supportive and warm interior for yourself and your loved ones.  Four uplifting words to remember for a warmth-filled winter!

    1- Comfort
Being housebound for a while calls for comfortable sitting. Make your sitting area inviting at any time of day or evening.
Bring in additional throw pillows if you need. Choose warmer and brighter colors (oranges, terracota, reds, fuschia, golds, teal, chocolate browns…) Select soft textures you can snuggle in. Have sufficient matching throws and blankets around.
Re-arrange the furniture a little so that several people can cozy up together while sharing a hot chocolate or tea. Maybe bring in one ottoman or two, so that everyone can lean back and put their feet up.
When the sun goes down, and it is time to wind down, dim the main lights and light candles (and conserve electricity). If you have a fireplace, use it – make it dance and sing!

    2- Warmth
Are there any drafts that make it feel cold when lying on the couch, sitting  on the floor or reading in bed? Locate and fix them. Not only do they keep you from relaxing in your home, they are also drain energy.
Keep your feet warm at all times. Take off your shoes as soon as you come in and get into comfy thick socks or slippers. Warm up your bare floors with area rugs. You can also use floor pillows, great to rest your feet on if you’re watching TV or working at the computer.
There is nothing like the warmth of a wood stove or a fireplace. Create a wood stock-up area easy to reach, have all the supplies handy (matches, fire starter, etc.) so that lighting a fire is effortless.

    3- Serenity
In winter, your home becomes a refuge. Make it so that there is a place for you personally, where you can curl up with a book, sit quietly to reflect and do journal writing, or take a nap. It could be a comfy armchair, a soft bean bag chair, or an area on the floor where you can sit among cushions. Keep a book of uplifting quotes and wisdom nearby. Slow down.
Change into warm casual clothes, play relaxing music in the background and light candles. Take time regularly this winter to tune in with nature’s cycle. It’s not about feeling trapped or depressed, but about embracing a slow down phase and doing internal reflective work before the renewal of spring. It’s a gift to yourself!

    4- Energy
No question that these long winter weeks of decreased sunlight can affect our moral. Although it is a time for inner hibernation, it’s also a great opportunity to be productive around the house.
Make a list of all those things that have been on your mind and need completing in an ideal world: closet organizing, sewing, filing, photo album arranging, toys sorting, etc. How about those Christmas decorations? Are they boxed and labeled properly, easy to find next year? Maybe consider hiring a professional organizer to help you.
Take the time to get to know what you have collected in your own house. Downsize if necessary, and organize, so that you can enjoy what you surround yourself with. Remember that your living space is a reflection of who you are.
Bring in additional plants and fresh cut flowers to brighten your home. Make sure to air out regularly also.
Feeling subdued and blue? Snap out of it! Let the snow fall and play some energizing music – perhaps some new tunes you’ve never heard before: Cape Verdean music, Puerto Rican salsa, Bahiana samba…Dance and gradually lighten your home. Spring will be here soon!