It’s no secret I love to travel, each new place inspiring transformation within me. A softening, a noticing, an opening. Perhaps no trip is more sacred than an end of summer beach trip.
Our annual beach escapes are my favorite summer ritual. It’s a place my soul settles and resets, sensing that fall, back-to-school, a return to routine are just around the corner. The sound of the ocean, my toes in the sand, the season’s bounty at the local farmer’s market, nature walks, coastal wandering, rising with the sun ready for the day - it’s my most favorite adventure, my most needed salve.
This time each year allows me to shake up our schedule. To reflect a bit on the year behind us and clear space for months ahead.
Each year, when we return home to the rush of the last weeks of summer before school and schedules and joyful chaos fully kicks in, I imagine how to bring the best bits of beach living into our home and routine.
Here are five lessons I'm bringing home:
Sacred morning stillness - The beach reminds me of the gift of unhurried mornings. At home, I'm protecting that quiet space before the world wakes up - sipping coffee slowly, sitting in meditation, letting thoughts settle like sand after a wave. These moments of peace become my anchor, preparing me to meet whatever the day brings with presence rather than reactivity.
Capsule wardrobe clarity - Suitcase living reveals what I actually need versus what I think we need. Thoe carefully chosen pieces that served me well by the sea - the perfect linen shirt, the versatile sandals, the comfortable dress that worked from morning beach walks to evening dinners - these are my template. Time for a closet edit this fall, keeping only the workhorses I truly love and releasing the rest.
Intentional play and exploration - Our beach days remind me that joy lives in simple pleasures and new discoveries. I'm making space for board games and puzzles, weekend nature walks in unfamiliar neighborhoods, and saying yes to small adventures. There's so much beauty just outside my usual routes and routines waiting to be explored.
Following the sun's rhythm - The beach naturally pulls us into alignment with daylight. Early to rise with the morning glow, early to bed when darkness falls. This ancient rhythm feels right in my bones, trading late-night scrolling for (closer to - I’m not a super morning girl) sunrise possibilities, evening overwhelm for a calming wind-down.
Embracing the pause - Perhaps most importantly, beach living reminds me of the art of the pause. The moments between activities to simply sit and breathe, watching clouds drift or waves roll. At home, I'm learning to honor these spaces: the pause between the projects, the breath before responding, the stillness before rushing to the next thing.
Summer may soon be ending, but I'm taking these coastal lessons home with me. Welcome and gentle reminders of a slower, more intentional way of being.
"Embracing the pause." Yessss! Love.
slow living at its finest. love this. 💕