Sound is the part of home that most of us never consciously design. We choose the lamp, the linen and the glass, then let traffic, notifications and other people’s playlists decide the atmosphere for us. The room looks calm while the air keeps tugging at our attention.
When we asked our readers to share their burnout recovery stories, hundreds responded. This one, from Sarah, a 34-year-old marketing manager in London, stopped us in our tracks. What she describes isn’t dramatic. It’s ordinary. And that’s exactly why we’re sharing it.
You’ve never prioritised yourself before and every guide assumes knowledge you don’t have. Here’s where you begin when you’re genuinely starting from nothing.
Let’s make this season slower, warmer, and more intentional — not by doing more, but by paying attention to less. These seven candles set the tone, but it’s what you do around them that makes the ritual work.