1. Choosing Light Over Bright

Winter light is already scarce, so I’m not fighting it with harsh overheads.

We’re turning on lamps earlier in the afternoon. Candles are lit whenever we can. The glow is warmer, slower, quieter. It sounds small, but it changes the entire feeling of our home.

There’s something comforting about letting the day end gently instead of forcing it to stay loud and bright.

2. Lowering the Bar (On Purpose)

Winter is historically not my most productive season and I’m finally letting that be okay.

Fewer expectations. Fewer extras. Fewer things on the calendar.

This season has reminded me that rest isn’t laziness….it’s wise. Some months are for growth, and some are for maintenance. Winter is allowed to be the latter.

3. Leaning Into Simple Comforts With the Kids

More read-alouds. More board games. More time under blankets. LOTS of blankets lately.

We’re not trying to fill every moment with activities or productivity. Sometimes the most meaningful connection comes from sitting close, sharing something warm, and letting the day unfold without rushing it.

Even our chickens are still giving us eggs right now, which feels like such a small miracle in the middle of winter. Gathering them each morning has been unexpectedly refreshing for my soul…a simple reminder that life keeps showing up, even when everything else feels frozen.

These are the moments that won’t make a highlight reel, but they’re the ones that last.

**4. Letting the House Look**
**Lived In**

Winter is long. Kids are inside more. Boots pile up. Coats lay everywhere. Laundry multiplies.
Now, I’m still cleaning up, don’t get me wrong, but the winter coats and boots laying out are getting a pass. I know they’ll be used again today.
Instead of fighting the mess constantly, I’m giving myself permission to let the house reflect the life happening inside it.
A lived-in home means people are here. Playing. Resting. Belonging.
Perfect can wait. Presence can’t.

5. Choosing Grace Over Productivity

There are days when the most productive thing I do is keep everyone fed and loved…and guess what? That is enough.

Winter has taught me that value isn’t measured by output. It’s measured by faithfulness. By showing up. By staying gentle when everything feels heavy.

Winter doesn’t need fixing.

It just needs softening.

And if this season feels hard for you, you’re not failing…you’re human. Take the pressure off. Light the candle. Sit down. Rest a little longer.

Spring will come. But for now, it’s okay to live slowly right where you are.