Embracing the Quiet Season: Finding Renewal and Creativity in Autumn’s Embrace

As the winds howl through the streets of Aberdeen, they bring with them a sense of cleansing—a sweeping away of the old, the stagnant, the remnants of what no longer serves. The hum of combine harvesters marks the arrival of autumn, while leaves turn to golden embers, dancing in the crisp air. I open my windows and allow the first whispers of a new season to flow through the house, carrying with them a quiet promise of change.

For me, this time of year has always been a signal of renewal. I’ve often said that October is my New Year’s, and there’s a certain magic to the way I retreat into the shadows as a business ghost, making unseen shifts in the night. It’s in this season of cosiness—of working beside a crackling fire, welcoming the early evenings—that I find myself most productive, most reflective. I shift my working hours to winter’s rhythm, a privilege I deeply appreciate, so that I can savour the morning light. Over the years, I’ve discovered I do my best work when the world outside is cloaked in grey, and the day slowly fades into night.

This is when I feel most alive, most creative—almost as if the winds, the rain, and the ever-changing skies fuel my imagination. Ideas that once simmered beneath the surface in the long light of spring and summer now begin to take shape, both in my work and in my home. The way my surroundings shift during these months has a profound impact on my day. As winter draws near, the breadmaker earns its permanent place on the kitchen counter, glass jars emerge for refilling, and my sourdough starter springs to life with renewed vigour. There’s a tangible warmth and simplicity to these rituals, and they seem to invite creativity, allowing storytelling to flow more freely.

If I were a season, I would be this one.

All of this is to say, I hope you find a way to embrace the darker days ahead and discover what brings you both joy and inspiration. As the view outside your window transforms, may you also find the changes within that make running your business a little lighter, a little brighter.