A Quiet Winter Reset

Dear Abiding Homemakers,

For many years I struggled through winter with discontentment over the short cold days, grey skies, and muddy yard. But in the last few years I’ve changed my perspective. I’ve started to see the beauty and purpose in the season of winter, and I’ve started using it as a time to reflect and reset.

Maybe this post will encourage you to do the same. ☕️📖🧺❄️

As the last leaves fall and the chill of winter settles in, there’s a stillness that invites us to reflect. Winter, in its quiet way, reminds us to slow down, reset, and realign our hearts and homes.

For many of us, homemaking in this season feels different. The days are shorter, but the to-do lists aren’t. The home is filled with heavier coats, muddy boots by the door, and the restlessness of children missing their warm weather outdoor play. It’s easy to let the clutter—both physical and emotional—pile up.

But what if winter could be a season of quiet renewal instead?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Winter is a season with its own purpose, one of rest, reflection, and preparation for what lies ahead. Just as the earth pauses to rest in winter, we too can find peace in stepping back from the hustle of life and letting our hearts and homes reset. The world outside may look barren, but winter can be fertile ground for growth and renewal.

Resetting the Heart

•What am I clinging to that I need to surrender? Like the trees shedding their leaves, we too are called to let go. Perhaps it’s resentment, guilt, or the constant pressure to “do more.”

•Am I abiding in Christ? John 15:4 reminds us to “Abide in Me, and I in you.” Winter is a beautiful time to renew your commitment to prayer, Scripture reading, and rest in God’s presence.

•Am I using my time wisely? There’s a balance between rest and diligence (Proverbs 31:27). Winter offers a chance to steward both with care.

As Amy Carmichael once said, “Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace.” Winter invites us to slow down and experience peace that comes from resting in God.

Resetting the Home

•Simplify: Start with one drawer, one corner, or one shelf. Decluttering doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Use this extra indoors time to simplify.

•Cozy Up: Embrace the beauty of winter by making your home a haven—soft blankets, light some candles, set a pot of soup simmering on the stove, and fill the home with the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven.

•Deep Clean by Zones: I personally love working through Fly Lady’s zone cleaning lists. In the winter we are inside more and it’s refreshing to have a clean and orderly environment.

A Quiet Reset

A winter reset isn’t about adding more to your plate; it’s about clearing space for what truly matters.

As homemakers and keepers of our homes, we have the privilege of setting the tone. Let’s lean into the stillness, trusting that even in the quiet, God is working in us and through us.

As you sip your tea or fold laundry by the candlelight, remember this: Winter is a gift, a season of rest and renewal. And when we pause to reset—our hearts anchored in Christ and our homes made ready for His glory—we are planting seeds for the seasons to come.

Elisabeth Elliot beautifully reminds us: “A quiet heart is content with what God gives. It is enough. All is grace.” Let winter be the season where we find grace in stillness and contentment in God’s perfect plan.