Winter Blues
A new year is here. The festive energy, holiday décor and the unmistakable magic are over. For many, January is a tough month — the empty feeling your home has after the holiday decorations are packed away leave this weird feeling in us. It’s a low after a high; yin energy after so much yang.
This darker period of stillness and the long, cold days can be uncomfortable for us. It can be unsettling when energies shift so quickly. We must find our footings again and re- balance.
Traditionally, this time of year was a time of settling in and quieting down for the winter. If we recognize this as part of the energy and cycle of the year and lean into it, we can better embrace the slow down after the busyness of the holidays and honour the three Rs (rest, restore and reflect).
So, with the decorations down and packed away, the house feeling a little bare and empty, much like how many feels as well, let’s bring some joy back into the home to beat back those winter blues.
Let in the Light!
With shorter and less bright, sunny days, summer is feeling so far away. But we can look inside our home to help. In Feng Shui, lighting can work wonders. The right lighting nurtures, calms and warms a space. Make sure you have several layers of lighting throughout your home. If you have a fireplace, use it — fire increases the yang energy to help balance the winter yin energy. Using a fireplace or candles helps to create the warmth and comfort we crave in the winter. Keep the drapes or blinds open during the day as well to let the sunshine in. Brightening up your lights can help as well. There are lots of specialty bulbs out now that emit natural daylight — balanced colour (5500K) gives a crisp, bright light. Your indoor plants will love it too.
Declutter and Reorganize
Start with a clean slate. Your home should be an oasis, not a cluttered island. The link between the overwhelm and heaviness of a messy cluttered space are well documented. So now that the decorations are away and the house is looking a little empty, it’s the perfect time to declutter and organize the pantry, the fridge and closets. You’ll feel better starting the new year off clean and organized.
Decorate with Intention
With your new clean, organized slate, it’s time to fill it with things you love. Photos or your favourite people, places or memories. Art that inspires you and makes you smile. Add some pops of colour — always use colours you love and make you feel great. According to psychology, for maximum mood boosting, use energizing and cheerful warm colours, like reds and oranges. Just a little splash of these colours can go a long way, so little touches will do. These warm colours evoke feeling of enthusiasm and vitality, bringing in that yang energy that’s lacking during this yin season.
Cozy it Up
Create warm and cozy feeling to your spaces with intention by adding layers of texture. Adding extra blankets, pillows, rugs and floor cushions to spaces like living rooms and bedrooms brings in layers of comfort and will keep you warm. Chunky knit blankets, faux furs, pom-pom and plush velvets add cozy touches to inspire those good, warm feelings in you as well. There is nothing better than curling up in a warm, soft blanket, plush pillows and fuzzy slipper and enjoying a with a warm drink and good book.
Bring Outdoors Inside
Now that all the holiday greenery is gone, don’t just leave it that way. Replace these natural elements with some new ones. Plants improve mood, indoor air quality and minimize airborne allergens. All while connecting you more to nature. So, while I completely urge you to get outside and explore the trails, bringing plants, herbs, indoor gardens, winter inspired arrangement will brighten your space and have a positive impact on your physical and mental health.
