It’s not the full force of summer anymore.. but it’s not quite autumn either..

It’s the in-between.

The soft drift.A subtle tilt. A shift in the air.

🌧️ Today? It’s a soft, grey evening here.. The rain’s been doing its usual stop-start dance.. The kind that makes you want to light a candle, crack open the window just a little but the AC needs to be on !!

That dusky blue hour is lingering…

Not quite night, not quite day.

And this.. this is where August begins.

🎂 For Me, August Is The Candle-Lit Personal Month..

It’s not just another page in the calendar.. It’s our birthday month. Mine and my husband’s.

We’re both August-born, though on opposite ends of the month..

And now that we’re in our 40s, birthdays feel… different.Not about noise or numbers.

It’s not loud. It’s not curated.

Also, I’m currently on episode 4 of The Summer I Turned Pretty. Yes, I’m in my 40s. Yes, I’m watching teenage love triangles. No, I’m not ashamed.

I started as Team Jeremiah. Don’t judge me.. he had that golden retriever energy. Sun-kissed & Blue Eyes 🥰

But .. I’ve switched sides

Am Team Conrad !!

I like my fictional men with trauma, cheekbones, and a tendency to walk away mid-conversation.

Anyway, back to the to-do list

🕯️ What Slow Living Actually Looks Like

If you skip the filters and faux minimalism.

Slow living isn’t a beige lifestyle brand.. it’s a mindset.

It’s:

Saying no without a follow-up explanation.( which am still struggling )

Drinking tea while staring into the void.

Listening to your child talk about Minecraft or nowadays it’s Nintendo Switch game for 15 straight minutes..

It’s messy. Gentle. Honest.

It’s about noticing more, needing less.

And trusting that small, slow things are still worthy.

🌿 10 Intentional To Do List This August

🕯️ Light That Candle You Were Saving

No more waiting for the perfect moment. This evening is the perfect moment. Let it burn.

🌸 Wear the Perfume You Keep for ‘Some Day’

Because “some day” is actually just… now. Smell like luxury before bed .. or after shower

📦 Finally Use That Thing You Bought for a Better Version of Yourself

The sea-salt spray. The gratitude deck. That art supply you swore would change your life. It still can.. but only if used.

🎧 Create an “August State of Mind” Playlist

A soundtrack for your slow mornings, soft evenings, and in-between moods. Let August have a sound..

👗 Wear Something You Love Without Needing a Reason

The shirt that makes you feel like an artist. The dress that’s too dramatic for errands. Do it anyway.

📚 Create a Comfort Shelf

Stack it with low-stakes joy: a cosy novel, your go-to tea, an old photo, a hand cream, maybe a snack you hide from your family. This is your “I need a moment” corner.

🐚 Practice Micro Hibernation

Block a few hours off. No phone. No talking. Just blanket, rest, and no expectations. Disappear softly and return as needed.

💻 Clean Out Your Digital Aura

Archive or delete the chats. Delete screenshots that no longer mean anything. Unfollow what drains you. Your online space is still your space.

🫖 Create a Tiny Ritual With Zero Productivity Outcome

One quiet cup of tea. One song on repeat. One candle lit every evening. The ritual isn’t to achieve.. just to be.

🍃 Notice What’s Blooming (Yes, Literally)

Not metaphorically. Actually look around. The weird yellow flower on the roadside. The plant that didn’t die. Noticing is medicine.

Whether you’re sunburnt or stuck under monsoon skies, August offers one thing most months don’t and that is nothing really happens, but everything somehow matters..

Even if autumn never visits where you live, you can still invoke it.

🧦 Light the lemongrass or cinnamon candle.

🎃 Wear fuzzy socks with your shorts.

📱 Scroll autumn decor even as the AC hums.

✨Still candle-lit, slightly caffeinated,

Love, Dolly

In case you’re curious (or just nosy like me), the other monthly to-do lists are waiting for you over on the blog. Go give them a peek .. they’re not bossy either

🌿July To-Do List🌻