Creative Living : The big Autumn reset

Every year I write a big Autumn re-set post. I have just re-read them and they follow a few key themes. Cleaning the house, looking after myself and finding routine. This year is no different in some ways but very different in others.

2023 – How to re-rest after the summer holidays

2024 – Seasonal Thoughts – a September sit down

2025 – Softening into September, an annual Autumn re-set

I feel like have been re-setting all year both physically and mentally. There have been some hefty projects happening at home. Springtime saw our kitchen being re-done. After months of set-backs and waiting patiently. A set of new cupboards, an extra durable worktop and most importantly a working tap, were installed. This gave me opportunity to separate work and life within the kitchen area. For those of you who are new, I run my business from the kitchen. Having a space that works smoothly is vital. Sure, its still very messy but everything has a place out of sight. I can’t tell you the difference this had made to mental calmness.

The second big job was having our windows replaced. Everyone told us what a nightmare it would be, apart from the cost, it really made us stall for longer than we should have.

The last few winters have been SO cold. Living by the sea, the wind whips up off the estuary and straight through our windows. Its only when we stayed somewhere warm we realised how bad they were. Of all the jobs, and we have done many, the windows turned out to be the easiest of all. What they did, was set off was a total reorganisation of upstairs.

My son, moved into the room in the roof which was holding all the ‘stuff’. My daughter wanted her room repainted. I thought I just did it but that was nine years ago when I was pregnant with her! As a result I have ‘Stacey Solomoned’ the storage in the eaves, cupboards and bedrooms.

No bag or box of stuff has been left unturned. I have been to the tip weekly and whilst my body aches my brain is feeling less overwhelmed. There is only one chest of drawers left to assemble and cupboard to move and I’ll be done. Phew!

Sorting the house, comes under my job description with in the home and its a lonely boring job. I have been getting both my children to help as a) its their stuff and b) they need to learn how to take care of their space. After initial reluctance, they have been great. They have chosen their own paint colours, decided what goes where and really taken care of their rooms ever since.

New rooms have given them both an additional sense of confidence and self assurance. Not just them but me too.

I shed a small tear when the last window was fitted. Not only can I now freely open and close the windows, that big unfinished to do list that has sat in my brain for 13 years is now complete. It’s given me some much needed brain space, this year my mental hard drive has been at its max!

With this in mind, one of my resets for the Autumn is ‘closing a few tabs’.

During the summer we had a wonderful adventure in Malaysia. It was so good. My best thing was it’s simplicity, no stupid QR codes, no stupid websites. We did one thing in the morning, one thing in the afternoon, that’s it. I want to carry this on throughout the year, keeping life simple with less.

It can look different in different in weeks, I aim to focus on the job in hand. This could be birthday’s, weddings or workshops but not letting everything else seep in at the same time. Not all problems belong to us, Whatsapp groups, social media, your mum’s neighbour’s cat all bring in unnecessary drama. You don’t have to take them all in.

Since my social media spring clean my relationship with social media has vastly improved. I took six whole weeks off in the summer and have been much more intentional with it ever since.

I have been taking some great (free courses) this summer relating to business and creativity. Its made me view it differently and I can see how it fits in with the direction I want to take Lotts and Lots in going forward.

Coming back to the feeling of confidence and being self-assured. There is a real feeling of ‘coming home’ as we head into Autumn. Confidence and self belief is something I have struggled with my whole life. Along with old toys, I have chucked a lot of my outdated beliefs about myself in the bin too!

Looking back at projects and posts has made me realise, I wasn’t that bad. You’ll be seeing old projects re-presented with fresh eyes going forward. Yesterday I planned my Christmas themes and the amount there was to work with was amazing. I am so proud of old Lotts for all the work she’s done.

Contributing to the new version of me, is being intentional with taking care of myself. I try really hard to say nice things and praise myself when I have done something well, and give myself some grace when I’m not so great. This is mainly swearing in the car!

Last year I started to take a weekly yoga class, I still go. Its my treat at the end the week . I’ve now added five minutes under a red light to soothe my achy joints on the way home. Life is busy but giving time to pause even once a week is enough to keep me topped up and feeling good. I have also started using this body lotion, its changed me for the best 😉 !

The garden is always a great teacher. In this year of extremes, its shown me what’s to come. There is a struggle between motherhood and ambition that sits within me. I want to do both mothering and building my business to 100% of my capability but it rarely works that way. One always seems to have to give way to the other.

I have cried a lot this year, as at times I’ve felt my little business slip away. It hasn’t and I’ve worked where I can . When I have, I have worked to the best of my ability. There wasa video Erin at Floret posted about reaching a cross-roads five years into a flower growing business. She was spot on (as always) there does come a point where you have to work out where to go.

The environment and economy are having a huge influence but my garden is telling me not to worry. My whole late crop failed to establish in the heat, meaning the season came to close much earlier than usual.

I thought this would have a negative effect on how people perceived workshops and weddings. Turns out no-one was bothered that I hadn’t grown every single stem and bought in extra flowers. They enjoyed the environment and the atmosphere I created both at my table and for their wedding day.

Of course I still used all British blooms and lost a bit of money but learnt I am enough.

When everything is in flower, there is an element of panic to get it all sold. That leads to more time online which leads to more distractions and overwhelm. Without the pressure, there has been time to look and plan what comes next. There have been notes, moodboards and a few calls to get the new plan in place. Meanwhile the garden is fading into its gentle winter slumber. Grateful, I suspect, for a little rest. I am now on a research mission to find plants that take the load off and flower regardless.

For this Autumn reset I feel more assured than I have in a while. I’m stepping into a new season with an organised home, a plan for my business, confidence and kindness. And yes, I am still very much lighting a candle at the start of everyday.  The path to growth starts with a tiny seed.

Sending you all lots of love. xx