We are in the last few weeks of winter, and this is an excellent time to make sure we nurture ourselves before the change of seasons is upon us. Having grown up in Europe I know about cold weather and about waking up when everything is cold and dark - although complaining is nice, after a while though, the best thing to do; is to accept it, for what it is and make the best of it. Recently I have worked on several rituals (also known as habits or routines) to make life more comfortable.

Hot chocolate, a candle and book next to an inviting window sill

Being an early bird, you’ll find me stumbling out of bed anytime between 5 - 6 am. Is this nice? Not necessarily, but it can frame the rest of my day. I put on the heather one, switch on a soft light, and make a cup of tea. After several days of doing this, you can coach yourself to go from one comfort zone (your bed) to another. The first 30 minutes of semi-wakefulness are used for several things; properly waking up, reading a chapter in my current book, and thinking (aka; staring into space). This is such a wonderful way to start the day. Nearing the end of the 30 minutes, I normally know my plan of action for the morning and feel awake (sometimes even excited about starting a new day).

Other things that are done to nurture my home and my family are one load of washing, folding each day, and running the dishwasher regularly. Doing weekly grocery shopping allows us to have nice pre-planned meals, as well as healthy lunches and snacks throughout the week. And finally, there are regular small bursts of cleaning making our home feel welcoming and a place where we can relax when coming back from a day in the outside world.

This week ask yourself the question:

How could I incorporate little habits and routines that nurture and support me in my day-to-day life?