We’re almost at the end of another year — and that makes the end of October feel a little different. It’s like we’re somewhere in the middle, just trying to catch our breath. This in-between time — not quite done, not quite starting fresh — always feels like a quiet pause.

Lately, I’ve been noticing this gentle shift too. A small reminder to slow down and check in with myself. Like a soft voice asking, “Hey, how are you really doing?”

Maybe this is the season to pause for a bit — to see what’s been taking our time and what’s been giving us joy.
What have you been caring for lately?
What have you been putting off?
And what can you finally let go of before the new year begins?

The Distraction Detox

Lately, I’ve noticed how easily small distractions can pile up. Half-read books, notifications I forget to mute, “five minutes” of scrolling that somehow turns into an hour — they all quietly eat away at my focus. They’re not bad things on their own, but together, they drain the space I need for what really matters.

So I’ve been trying a little distraction detox. My new rule: phone goes grayscale after 7 PM. It sounds simple, almost silly, but it works. Without all the bright colors, the screen suddenly feels less tempting — and I find myself reaching for real life instead. Sometimes that means taking a walk with someone I love, having a slow conversation, or simply cuddling and just being human for a while.

Life Lately & The Power of the Pen

What’s been on my mind lately?
I’ve been juggling a few too many projects — exciting, yes, but also completely draining. (More on that soon!) Somewhere along the way, I realized how much it scattered my focus.

So, I’ve been practicing a new mantra: one thing at a time. It’s meant saying “no” to a handful of little things so I can give a big, wholehearted “yes” to one that truly matters.
Terrifying? Absolutely. But also strangely freeing.

And that shift led me back to my secret weapon: journaling.

My Two-Minute Journaling Rule

Forget the picture-perfect, leather notebook and fancy pens — that’s not what this is about. For me, authenticity begins on the messy page. I don’t write anything poetic; I just let it all spill out. My rule is simple: write for two minutes, non-stop.

It’s surprising how fast those two minutes clear away the mental clutter and reveal what’s really going on — what’s been bothering me, or what I’m genuinely excited about. It’s the space where I can be completely real — no filters, no polish, just me. Somehow, it helps everything make more sense — the life updates, the small shifts, the changing season — they all find their place on the page.

Journaling, to me, is a way of coming home. It reminds me that I don’t have to perform healing; I just have to notice it. That authenticity isn’t a brand — it’s a quiet practice of returning to myself, again and again, no matter how many times I drift away.

So if you feel the energy shift too — don’t rush to define it.
Let it wash over you. Let it rearrange you gently.
Maybe this isn’t the season for more, but for meaning.

And maybe that’s enough. Click here for the journal prompt.