A Holistic Approach to Winter, Wellness, and Home
It’s that time of year when darkness settles in a little earlier, the air grows crisp, and we naturally turn inward. Winter invites us to reconnect with memories of past holidays and with those we love. My intention this season is simple – to celebrate winter as it is. To appreciate the architecture of our bare maple branches against an ice-blue sky. To welcome the quiet beauty of snowfall. To wrap myself in furry throws, light a candle at dusk, and settle in with my book club book. This is the Yin season, a time in Feng Shui and holistic design when softer energy encourages rest, reflection, and nourishment.
As the days shorten, I also find myself drawn to the principles of hygge, the Scandinavian practice of creating warmth, comfort, and connection. Hygge reminds us that a home doesn’t need to be perfect to be beautiful, it simply needs to support how we want to feel. Soft textures, warm lighting, natural materials, and simple rituals help create a sanctuary that enhances our winter well-being. These principles echo the heart of OM: living in harmony with nature, honoring our rhythms, and creating spaces that nurture mind, body, and spirit.
A More Mindful Holiday Season
Holiday décor has always carried a mix of nostalgia and expectation for memories of past celebrations and the hope of creating something meaningful for those I love. Yet over the years, I’ve noticed how easily decorating can become a source of pressure – too many boxes, too many decisions, too much visual noise for a season that is naturally soft and introspective. This year, when we brought everything down from the attic, I paused. Instead of filling every surface simply because I could, I leaned into the essence of a Yin season-associated with softness, quiet, restoration, and inward focus. And made mindful, hygge-inspired choices, warm light, soft textures, and a few beloved pieces that truly spoke to our hearts.
The rest stayed in their boxes. And for the first time in a long time, our home felt calmer, more intentional, and deeply aligned with the quiet beauty of winter. This is mindful design at its core – a curated environment that supports clarity, reduces stress, and aligns with your personal energy. For those searching for mindful holiday decorating tips, stress-free décor ideas, and holistic holiday design inspiration, the answer often begins with choosing less and choosing with intention.
A Winter Version of Forest Bathing
Part of slowing down this season has been reconnecting with the world outside our windows. Hygge isn’t only about cozy interiors; it’s also about finding comfort and joy in simple, nurturing rituals. One of ours is caring for the outdoor animals who share our landscape. Winter can be challenging for them, so we place seeds for the birds and scatter corn for the deer and turkeys. Watching them gather around what we’ve provided brings a quiet kind of happiness, a winter version of forest bathing that deepens connection to place.
Their presence reminds me that the season invites not just rest, but generosity and relationship with the natural world. These moments of biophilic connection, seeing cardinals flash red against a snowy backdrop, listening to the chickadees call, noticing tiny tracks across the yard from the bunnies and chipmunks, enhance my own winter wellness and bring the outdoors into the rhythm of my day.
Finding the OM in Winter
As we move deeper into the season, may your home become a sanctuary that supports your well-being. Choose décor that feels meaningful, soften your lighting, gather cozy textures, and allow your spaces to reflect the quieter energy of winter. Pause when you can. Breathe deeply. And notice the beauty just outside your door, because even in the coldest months, nature continues to offer warmth, wisdom, and connection.
This is the true essence of OM for the Holidays – a season shaped not by doing more, but by embracing what already nourishes you.
OM for the Holidays: A Closing Reflection
Winter is not a season to endure. It is a season to embrace. A season that invites us home, to ourselves, to our loved ones, and to the quiet wisdom that emerges when life slows down.
By aligning our homes, habits, and hearts with the rhythms of winter, we create environments that support peace, comfort, and mindful decision-making.
If you’re ready to bring more OM into your home this season, through design, Feng Shui, biophilic touchpoints, or intentional living, I would love to support you.
Wishing you a peaceful, restorative, and beautifully intentional holiday season.
About the Author
Sheree Vincent, Green AP, Feng Shui Master, Science in Design Certified
Sheree is the award-winning principal designer behind Fusion Designed, a Twin Cities–based interior design firm pioneering holistic design. With expertise spanning sustainable design, biophilic principles, Feng Shui, and neuroaesthetics, she creates sanctuaries that balance beauty, function, and well-being. Sheree’s mission is simple yet powerful: to design spaces that nurture mind, body, and spirit—while honoring the Earth.
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