The year is almost over, and honestly, I can feel it in my bones.
The kind of tired that isn’t just physical, but the deep, soul-level kind that comes from doing so much for so long.
Every December, I tell myself I’ll slow down.
That I’ll switch off, be more present, enjoy the little moments.
And then the rush of Christmas, family, and “one more thing before the new year” hits, and it all starts spinning again.
But this year, I’m trying something different.
I used to think slowing down meant quitting something.
But I’ve learned it’s really about being in the moment that’s already happening.
It’s taking a deep breath before the next task instead of racing to finish it.
It’s letting the dishes sit for a bit longer so I can play a board game with the boys.
It’s watching the sunset from the backyard with a drink in hand, even when my mind tells me to get back to work.
It’s not about doing less.
It’s about noticing more.
This time of year always reminds me how fast everything moves.
The school years, the seasons, the milestones all of it blending into this blur that’s equal parts beautiful and exhausting.
So maybe slowing down isn’t about changing the world around us.
Maybe it’s about changing the way we move through it.
Noticing the sunlight instead of the mess.
Choosing laughter over lists.
Letting stillness be enough, even for a minute.
🩵 From one always-rushing mum to another:
As we head into a brand new year, give yourself permission to pause.
You don’t have to start over or do more.
You just have to be here right now, where life is actually happening.
Ash x
Founder, Sand + Salt Kids
Clothes made for calm, chaos and everything in between.