Light your fire with my Winter Solstice checklist

Some of us complain about the winter chill, but the season is No. 2 on my list, right behind fall.

I love my Scottish wool cape, the smell of “northlands” candles, and fires in the fireplace — the *coziness* during these short days, while the earth sleeps before spring. Scandanavians call this warm feeling “hygge” (pronounced “hoo-ga”) — and there’s an excellent book to learn how to do it better.

As you may know from my previous checklists, I’m always asking myself about my priorities for each season. Now’s the time to reflect on the past year — and to find YOUR fire for 2022. Especially during this time of holiday stress and family obligations.

As you light some candles or relax next to a fireplace, ask yourself:

What lights me up?

What do you really love?

This might help: What did you do for fun when you were in the 4th grade?

Then make more time for whatever ignites your soul in the new year.

Seasonal checklists help me stay focused on what matters most, so my first group of checkboxes reminds me to prioritize my fire.

The second part of my checklist — the housekeeping chores — might seem boring, but the pandemic has taught me to appreciate what I already have.

Valuing what I already own is an act of love. All of the routine maintenance and chores can be overwhelming, so checklists help me develop ritual habits of care.

I aspire to create a cozy, welcoming home — an island of peace and joy — and so I focus on comfortable gathering areas to help build relationships. For winter that means actually using our fireplace. It took us 10 years to finally get the chimney inspected, but I’m so glad we did — even burning a single fire log draws the family into a usually dormant living room.

This checklist is based on my situation — I live in a suburban, single-family home in southwest Virginia, so I’ve included blank spaces for you to create your own customized list.

It usually takes my family a week or two to complete most of the checkboxes, so don’t feel like you have to do it all in one day or weekend!

And if you like to use Google Docs, you’re in luck … because there’s a new “checklist” bullet option in the toolbar. As you check the items off the list, Google Docs strikes through the text … which is very exciting to this extreme nerd. Just copy and paste the list below into your own Google Doc to get started.

The Winter Solstice begins at 10:58 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021.

WINTER 2021

Dec. 21 – March 20

My 3 most important priorities for Winter 2021:

(A vision board might help.)

☐ _________________________________________

☐ _________________________________________

☐ _________________________________________

Seriously … focusing on your priorities can change your life.

Make time for your fire

☐ Schedule a DIY Creativity Retreat

☐ Get crafty! Knit … or make jewelry … or festoon an outdoor tree with edible decorations for animals (inspired by the children’s book, “Night Tree”).

☐ Plan a winter adventure — whatever that means to you.

☐ Pamper your body: Book a massage/manicure/pedicure (we’re vaccinated, right?).

☐ Kindle your relationships. Get your girlfriends together for brunch … or over Zoom, if you don’t live in the same place.

☐ Note all winter birthdays (and have cards ready to mail!).

☐ Cook or bake one new winter recipe … or try one new restaurant before spring.

☐ ________________________________________________

☐ ________________________________________________

☐ ________________________________________________

Housekeeping

☐ Walk a full circle around the inside and outside of your home (sage burning optional): What needs doing by the end of winter? Just pick one for each:

☐ Inside priority: ______________________________________

☐ Outside priority: _____________________________________

☐ Health checkup: What medical appointments should you schedule in the new year?

☐ Budget checkup: I like to review and edit my finances at the end of the calendar (tax) year.
Should you adjust debt payments or retirement contributions for 2022? Can you budget for one of your “fire” goals? I highly recommend creating automatic savings transfers, preferably to your local credit union or a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). These are essentially banks, but with community development as their primary mission (and my CDFI offers excellent cash-back perks on our checking account). You can find a CDFI near you on this website.

☐ Replace candles with the scents of winter (I love the evergreens: pine/fir/etc.)

☐ Refresh fireplace supplies (logs/lighters/hot chocolate)

☐ Be ready for snow: Do the kids have snow pants that fit? Boots? Water-proof gloves? I make sure we have a can of sweetened condensed milk in the pantry for “snow cream.”

☐ Archive refrigerator gallery art (make room for new!)

☐ Wash curtains / sofa upholsteries

☐ Wipe windows

☐ Steam-clean carpets and area rugs

☐ Wash shower curtains / replace shower liners

☐ Replace dish brushes/sponges 

☐ Clean out purse and wallet

☐ Purge drawers and closets of unwanted clothes

☐ Purge unwanted toys

☐ Donate unwanted clothes & toys

☐ What needs mending? Repairing?

☐ Deluxe car wash/vacuuming

☐ _______________________________________

☐ _______________________________________

☐ _______________________________________

Stay cozy, my friends!