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How To Create Calm and Intentional Living in the Busiest Seasons of Motherhood… Fall and Winter
When Fall Hits Like…. A Pile of Pumpkins
Every year fall sneaks up on me. One day we’re outside barefoot, kids eating watermelon on the deck, and then suddenly the air smells like woodsmoke, I’m wearing my wool cardigans… and my house is filled with stuff. I don’t even mean just the regular clutter, I mean decorations in every corner, bins of Christmas gifts already stashed in random closets, extra groceries and baking ingredients spilling onto the counter, and let’s be honest, the toys that never seem to leave the floor.
Was it there all summer and I just didn’t notice? Who knows. It’s cozy, yes, but it can also feel like chaos.
My shoulders creep up to my ears when I look around and realize there’s more stuff everywhere. Add in the mess of constant baking, the emotional load of holidays, and kids bouncing off the walls because it’s cold outside… and sanity starts to feel like a luxury.
But here’s the thing: I don’t want to just survive the season, I want to Glow in it. I want to feel grounded in my rhythms, present with my kids, and intentional in our home—even when closets are crammed and cookies are cooling on every surface.
Over the past few years, especially in most recent years when I’ve adopted a more non-toxic lifestyle, I’ve learned a few simple homemaking rhythms that help me find peace in the fall and winter seasons (as a Canadian who literally detests the snow… Can I please move to Florida or Mexico? Thanks!).
My First Pick: Diffuse Essential Oils (because stink = stress)
This might sound dramatic, but I swear if something smells off in my home, I am instantly irritated (having pets definitely makes life hard for me 😅). It’s like my whole body can’t relax until the air feels fresh again. That’s why I’m obsessed with diffusing essential oils.
My favourite fall blend is this Healer’s blend by The Olfactory Shop (a Canadian business!) It’s this cozy mix of clove bud, sicilian lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus radiata and rosemary essential oils. It smells like autumn in a bottle, and bonus—it supports immune health, which is exactly what I want during cold and flu season. I even add a few drops to my DIY cleaning spray or mop water (read more about some non-toxic cleaning tips here!). It sanitizes, smells incredible, and makes me actually enjoy cleaning.
There’s something about walking into a room that smells warm and clean that shifts the entire atmosphere. Suddenly, I feel calm again, and my kids aren’t breathing in anything toxic. This is one of the simplest homemaking rhythms that keeps me sane when life feels like a jumble of flour dust and wrapping paper.
On the topic of cleaning, check out my 26 week (6 month) week-at-a-glance cleaning schedule here! Perfected over years of trial and error, I am finally sharing my doable routine!
Next Step for Fall Homemaking… Declutter Ahead of the Season
Fall always reminds me that clutter isn’t just about physical stuff, it’s about mental load too. If I’m tripping over toy trucks while trying to dig out the Christmas bins, I feel ten times more stressed. Even after countless trips to the thrift store, I swear more piles appear every single day.
So every September or October, before the holidays hit full swing, I take some time to declutter. I walk through the house with a basket (or a garbage bag…) and gather anything we don’t use—old toys, clothes the boys have outgrown, random kitchen gadgets that seemed like a good idea. Out it goes.
The less stuff laying around, the easier it is to keep the house tidy, and the calmer my mind feels. My kids notice too. When there’s less visual noise, they play more creatively and fight less. That’s Montessori, right? 😅
Decluttering isn’t just cleaning, it’s creating space for Glow.
The Final Tip for Fall Homemakig… Meal Prep for Sanity and Less Mess
Here’s my theory: kitchens feel ten times messier in fall and winter. Maybe it’s because we’re indoors more, or maybe it’s because baking becomes a daily thing. Either way, the kitchen quickly becomes the epicenter of crumbs, spills, and chaos.
That’s why meal prepping has become my saving grace. I don’t go overboard, but I like to take one day to prep snacks, breakfasts, and sometimes even a dinner or two or lunches for my husband. Muffins, egg bites, chopped fruits or veggies, overnight oats, oatmeal energy bites (check out my favourite, easy recipes here!) — it doesn’t have to be fancy. But it means my kids aren’t begging me for snacks every twenty minutes, and I’m not standing in a messy kitchen at 4 p.m. wondering what to cook.
I describe more of my meal prepping routine and the non-toxic tools I use for it here!
Is this all genius, or just common sense? Who knows. Either way, it keeps the mess contained and my sanity intact. Plus, there’s something grounding about opening the fridge and seeing healthy, homemade food ready to go. It’s like a little love note to my future self.
What It Means to Glow in the Busy Seasons (Like Fall!)
At the end of the day, these homemaking rhythms aren’t about perfection. My closets still end up hiding a few Christmas presents, my kids still manage to scatter toys, and my kitchen (definitely) isn’t spotless. But these rhythms help me feel rooted instead of frazzled.
For me, Glow isn’t about spotless countertops (there is flour all over it as we speak). It’s about creating an atmosphere of peace, wellness, and intentional living that my family can breathe in and feel safe in.
That looks like diffusing oils that make the air feel fresh, letting go of clutter that weighs me down, and preparing food that nourishes us and saves me from stress.
Motherhood in Canada during the long fall and winter months can feel heavy (read about how to feel happier and boost immunity in the fall here!), but when we approach it with rhythms of wellness and homemaking, it turns into something cozy and sacred.
Want More Cozy Homemaking Rhythms?
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Plus A Warm Fall Encouragement
Your home doesn’t have to look like a Pinterest board to be a place of peace. Mine definitely doesn’t.
Small rhythms matter more than perfect systems. Light the diffuser, tidy one corner, prep a few snacks, and then give yourself permission to enjoy your family with a warm cup of tea (or a Tizzy!). That’s where the real Glow is found.
Read, share, or comment below—what’s your favourite cozy homemaking rhythm in fall and winter?
