Starting 2026 at Human Speed

If you’re reading the blog for the first time, hello! I’m Shona. Interior designer, chronic over‑thinker, hopeless optimist, spiritual work‑in‑progress, and someone who has spent the better part of the last year feeling like my mind had too many tabs open at once. When the calendar flipped toward 2026, something in me said: enough already! Though it wasn’t some dramatic, burn‑it‑all‑down declaration. It was more of a quiet whisper.

“My soul is asking me to slow down.”

Over the holidays, I flew out to meet my brand new niece. She’s tiny, perfect, and already the star of my camera roll. I came home with a full heart… and a very full mind. And it wasn’t until I walked back through my own front door that I realized just how much stress had been quietly creeping into my psyche in the latter part of 2025. Not dramatic stress, though. Not crisis level, for sure. In a way, that would almost be easier to deal with. But I recognized I’ve been living with this low‑grade hum of discomfort, an anxious, edgy feeling I’ve been carrying for no specific reason. The kind you don’t notice until it’s turned off, then turned back on again.

So naturally, I did the most logical thing to cope with this realization: I started reorganizing my entire house.

And honestly? It felt amazing. There’s something deeply satisfying about looking at an item and declaring, with full conviction, “Nope, goodbye.” It was like shedding old layers. Physical ones, mental ones, emotional ones, all at once.

Once the house started breathing again, I realized that I wanted to breathe again too. I need a change. Not a drastic, life‑altering overhaul of a change. Just a gentle shift. A nudge towards something more satisfying. Realizing there’s no reason to allow this frantic, frenzied, unsettled feeling to continue, I made some commitments to myself:

Taking the dog the long way to the park.

Drinking water like it’s my part‑time job.

Eating less cheese (tragic, but necessary).

Actually taking my vitamins.

Doing a new skincare routine.

Ending the day with a short meditation so my brain remembers it has an “off” switch.

Nothing revolutionary. Just small, steady kindnesses to myself.

And because my life and my work are basically roommates who share a brain, all this clearing and softening spilled into Heartspace too. I’ve been rethinking my brand, refreshing my logo, playing with new colours, and asking myself what I actually want this business to feel like in 2026. The answer is beautifully simple, too. Less hustle. More heart. Less noise. More intention. Less “I have to do this.” More “I get to do this.”

Which brings me to the year ahead.

We’re stepping into the Year of the Fire Horse in Chinese astrology. It’s bold, energetic, and a little wild, but there’s clarity and direction woven in as well. And instead of sprinting into it, I’m choosing to walk in slowly, like someone entering a warm room after being out in the cold. I want this year to be purposeful. Grounded. Gentle. A year where I move with intention instead of urgency.

And honestly? I’m excited.

I already feel lighter.

I already feel steadier.

I feel like I’m finally giving myself permission to live at a human pace.

So if you’re also craving a gentler year, or if you’re decluttering, recalibrating, or just trying to remember where you left your water bottle, you’re in good company. We’re all figuring it out as we go. We might as well do it together.

If you feel like sharing what you’re letting go of, what you’re calling in, or what you’re learning about yourself as 2026 begins, I’d love to hear it. Leave a comment, send a note, whisper into the void… whatever feels right. Your story is welcome here.

Thanks for reading.