Opening the Home: A Grounding Morning Routine for Winter
There's something profoundly grounding about the first few moments of morning. Before the to-do list unfurls, before the notifications start flooding your phone, and before the day officially begins, there's this tender pocket of time where you can set the tone for everything that follows.
I've been practicing what I call "opening the home," and it's become the most grounding ritual in my winter routine. It's not complicated. It doesn't require special tools or extensive time. But it has completely changed how I move through my mornings, especially in this season of new motherhood.
What is "Opening the Home"?
Opening the home is exactly what it sounds like: a deliberate, mindful act of waking up your space alongside yourself. It's telling your home, it's time to begin again. After the night’s slumber, I like to think of it as waking the home.
For me, this happens right after I've fed my five-month-old son, Taran, and gotten myself dressed. I head downstairs, and the ritual unfolds in three simple movements:
1. Let the light in. I open every curtain and blind, pulling back the fabric to invite whatever light the winter morning offers. Even on the dullest days, this act feels like permission to start the day, to be awake and alive in it.
2. Turn on the Christmas tree. During winter, I turn on our Christmas tree lights first thing. There's something about those twinkly, warm lights in the early morning that feels like a hug. It's soft. It's welcoming. It reminds me that magic can exist even in the mundane rhythm of daily life.
3. Take a few intentional breaths. Before I dive into anything else—before I start tidying, making tea, or checking my phone, I pause. I stand there in the soft glow, and I breathe. Three deep breaths. Sometimes more. It's my way of saying: I'm here. I'm present. This day matters.
Why This Morning Routine Works
I used to think morning routines had to be elaborate: meditation apps, journaling pages, green smoothies, the works. And while those things have their place, I've learned that the most sustainable rituals are the ones that feel natural, almost invisible in their simplicity.
Opening the home works because it's:
Sensory and immediate. You're engaging with light, space, and breath. There's nothing abstract about it. You can feel the shift happening.
Quick but intentional. This takes maybe five minutes, but the ripple effect lasts all day. You're not adding another overwhelming task to your morning—you're creating a gentle anchor.
Adaptable. No Christmas tree? Light a candle, diffuse essential oils, or light some incense instead. No curtains to open? Step outside for a moment. The specifics matter less than the intention: you're marking the beginning of your day with presence.
How Motherhood Deepened This Practice
Before becoming a mom, I had the luxury of slower mornings. I could linger over coffee, journal for twenty minutes, and ease into the day at my own pace.
Now, with a baby, mornings look different. They're softer in some ways—there's something deeply tender about those early feeds, the quiet intimacy of just the two of us awake in the house. But they're also more urgent. Time is no longer entirely my own.
That's why this ritual has become even more essential. It's a way of carving out just a few minutes of mindfulness before the day sweeps me up. It's a reminder that even in the midst of the beautiful chaos of motherhood, I can still create small pockets of calm.
And honestly? I think Taran feels it too. Babies are perceptive. When I'm grounded, when I'm breathing, when I'm moving through the morning with intention rather than frenzy—he seems calmer too.
Creating Your Own "Opening the Home" Routine
If you're craving a morning ritual that doesn't feel like another obligation, try this:
Start with light. Whether it's opening curtains, turning on a lamp, or lighting a candle—begin with illumination. Light is symbolic. It represents new beginnings, clarity, and hope.
Add one grounding element. This could be turning on Solfeggio frequencies, music, making your bed, watering a plant, or simply standing in your favorite room for a moment. Choose something that feels nurturing, not performative.
Breathe before doing. Give yourself permission to pause for 30 seconds, one minute, or even three minutes. Just breathe. You don't have to meditate. You don't have to clear your mind. Just notice that you're here, in this moment, in this home.
Make it seasonal. Let your ritual shift with the seasons. In winter, maybe it's turning on your tree lights. In spring, open windows to let in fresh air. Let your routine evolve naturally.
The Magic of Small Rituals
Here's what I've learned: you don't need a perfect morning routine. You don't need to wake at 5 a.m. or follow someone else's formula.
What you need are small, repeatable rituals that make you feel like you—that remind you of what matters, that help you show up for your day with a little more presence and a little more peace.
Opening the home has become that for me. It's my quiet way of saying: I'm ready. Let's begin.
Watch the full morning routine: If you want to see this ritual in action—along with cozy Christmas decor, journaling prompts, and tender new mom moments—watch my latest winter vlog here. I'd love for you to join me for a slow, intentional morning.
More slow living content: Subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly seasonal lifestyle vlogs, and follow along on the blog for reflections on mindful living, motherhood, and making ordinary days feel magical.
What's one small ritual that grounds your mornings? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below.
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