Because slowing down is the real luxury.

Every year, when the evenings start arriving early during the start of November and my tea starts tasting extra comforting.. I know it’s my favourite month 🥰

Lately, I’ve been enjoying these small, ordinary evenings with my son .. we’ve started going to the park every day at 6:30 p.m. It’s become our quiet ritual, just the two of us, walking while the world hurries somewhere else.. These little moments feel like slow living in motion.

Between school drop-offs, writing, and trying (unsuccessfully) not to shop online, I’ve realised slowing down isn’t laziness .. it’s maintenance. Our minds, our bodies, even our moods .. they all need a seasonal tune-up.

So here’s my personal list of slow-living habits I’m following this autumn and winter .. messy, cosy, and completely realistic.

1. Prioritise Rest — But Not the Couch Potato Kind 💤

Do: Sleep early, stretch in the morning, listen to your body when it says “enough.”

Don’t: Confuse “rest” with scrolling on the sofa until midnight. I’ve done it .. it’s not rest, it’s self-sabotage with Wi-Fi.

Make sure: You step outside daily, even if it’s just a small walk with your cup of caffeine.. Your body will thank you later.

✨ Real rest feels like peace, not guilt.

2. Step Outside Every Day 🌤️

Do: Walk, breathe, feel the air .. even if it’s chilly.

Don’t: Wait for perfect weather; it’s not coming.

Make sure: You keep showing up for your own rhythm. Those 6:30 p.m. park walks with my son have quietly become the best part of my day.

🌿 Five minutes outdoors can reset your entire day.

3. Dress for Comfort & Warmth 🧣

Do: Layer up and love it. I recently bought new trousers from H&M .. soft, flattering, and definitely going to be my uniform till February.

Don’t: Freeze for fashion. Pretty isn’t worth pneumonia.

Make sure: You have a few good coats..

🧥 Comfort is the new luxury, so own it.

4. Eat Seasonally, Eat Warm 🥣

Do: Cook slow, eat fresh. My kitchen smells of roasted vegetables and masala chai or freshly coffee lately.

Don’t: Snack mindlessly while watching shows (guilty again).

Make sure: You eat what fuels, not what fills.

🥕 Warm food heals more than hunger.

5. Move, But Kindly 💪

Do: Move daily .. a walk, stretches, or treadmill time. My treadmill skills are finally improving .. I can walk on incline without holding the handles now (small win!) and yes, it’s always with Taylor Swift in my ears.

Don’t: Force intense workouts you’ll abandon in a week.

Make sure: You move enough to feel light, not drained.

💫 Movement is gratitude, not punishment.

6.Reflect More Often ✍️

Do: Journal your thoughts .. even if they’re messy..

Don’t: Avoid feelings; they have a sneaky way of catching up later.

Make sure: You reflect without being harsh on yourself.

🕯️ Your journal doesn’t need grammar, just honesty.

7. Strengthen Your Roots 🌱

Do: Eat better, rest deeper, build quiet strength.

Don’t: Think growth only happens in public.

Make sure: You nurture what no one sees ..?your peace, your discipline, your joy.

🌷 Invisible work grows visible peace.

8. Put Down the Phone 📵

Do: Disconnect on purpose. I’ve stopped touching my phone after 8:30 p.m. not even for “just one last check.” The peace that comes after that quiet hour is unreal.

Don’t: Lose entire evenings to reels.

Make sure: You give your brain silence daily.

📚 The world can wait but your peace can’t.

9. Rediscover Your Hobbies 🎨

Do: Create just for the joy of it. Bake, paint, write. I’ve been experimenting with slow-roasted veggies lately & my son wasn’t impressed, but I was.

Don’t: Wait for perfection.

Make sure: You lose yourself in something real, even for 20 minutes.

🧡 When your hands are busy, your mind rests.

10. Build Comforting Rituals 🕯️

Do: Romanticise your everyday. My favourite ritual? Tea from my floral teapot, a cinnamon-scented candle flickering nearby, and total silence for five whole minutes.

Don’t: Wait for big occasions to feel joy.

Make sure: You plan small, soulful moments like dessert day at home with your son on a Sunday, a cosy dinner with your husband, or just lighting your favourite candle after a long day.

💫 When you turn the ordinary into ritual, life turns into art.

11. Prioritise Yourself (Without Guilt) 💗

Do: Rest, eat, move, breathe … because you matter too.

Don’t: Feel bad for needing alone time.

Make sure: You remember .. when you’re nourished, your family feels it too.

🌸 When you refill your cup, love overflows naturally.

A Little Confession… 🛍️

I’ve bought new trousers from H&M, ordered the dreamiest winter coats, and stocked up on candles again. Oh, and last week I somehow ended up with seven new black gym shirts .. all from H&M too. I’m already regretting it… but honestly, also not. The comfort is unreal, and maybe part of me just needed a little “new season, new me” motivation.

I keep saying I’ll stop shopping, but then I see something soft, neutral, and slightly oversized .. and well… here we are again. Still, I can’t help it. I love this house, and I love how it smells when everything’s softly glowing and scented with vanilla. Maybe that’s my kind of therapy.

Slow living isn’t escaping life.. it’s actually living it.

So make your tea, light that candle, hug your people, and trust that stillness isn’t wasted .. it’s quietly doing its work. 🌿

Love and hugs,

Dolly