The Quiet Before the Sparkle: Finding Stillness Before the Festive Season

There’s a moment every year — usually sometime in early November — when I notice the subtle shift before the festive sparkle begins. The days shorten, the light softens, and everything starts to whisper of what’s to come. It’s beautiful, but also busy. The weeks ahead often hold more lists than pauses, more movement than stillness. And if we’re not careful, the quiet magic of this time can slip away before we even notice it.

Over the years, I’ve learned that this in-between space — the quiet before the sparkle — holds so much potential. It’s a chance to slow down, gather your thoughts, and create moments of peace before the season sweeps you along. It doesn’t call for grand gestures or hours of meditation because the magic of stillness can often be found in simple pauses that are already present in your day. 

Creating Micro-Moments of Calm

Start by finding one small ritual that helps you feel grounded. For me, it might be standing by the window in the morning, tea in hand, watching the light shift across the garden before the day properly begins. But it could also be lighting a candle before you open your laptop, or taking a few slow, deep breaths while the kettle boils. These moments may only last a minute or two, but they act as gentle anchors — reminding your body to soften and your mind to slow down. 

You might like to build a few of these moments into your day:

• Morning: Pause before the rush. Breathe deeply and set a small intention — perhaps something simple like, “Today I will talk kindly to myself”
  
  

• Afternoon: Step outside for a moment of air, no matter the weather. Let the light or the breeze touch your face.
  
  

• Evening: Create a short wind-down ritual — soft music, a warm drink, or lighting a candle to mark the shift from doing to resting.
  
  

Letting Go Before the Season Begins

The months ahead often bring joy, connection, and celebration — but they can also stir up old habits of overcommitting or overthinking. I like to take a few minutes to ask myself what I truly want to carry into the festive season, and what I can gently let go of.

You might try journaling a few questions like:

• What does peace look like for me this season?
  
  

• What helps me feel most present and joyful?
  
  

• What am I ready to release before the year ends?
  
  

Even a short reflection like this can help you enter the season with more ease and clarity.

Simple Rituals to Support Stillness

When I think of stillness, I often think of scent — how it can change a room, steady your breath, and shift your energy almost instantly. Our Peace Meditation Candle, with its soft notes of lavender, is one of my favourites to light as evening begins to settle. It’s gentle and soothing, perfect for quiet moments or meditation.

If you prefer something more active, burning White Sage or Palo Santo can help clear away lingering energy and invite a sense of renewal into your space. Or, for days when you need a lift, a few drops of our Shine essential oil blend added to your bath or an oil warmer can bring a light, happy brightness that feels like a dose of sunshine on darker days.

However you choose to create your moments of stillness, remember they don’t have to be perfect. It’s not about a long list of rituals or perfectly arranged spaces — it’s about using small moments of time to help you feel balanced and calm amid the busyness.

So, before the festive lights begin to sparkle and the pace of the season takes hold, give yourself permission to pause. Breathe in this moment of in-between — the quiet, reflective part of the year where you can rest and realign before the joy ahead.

Remember that stillness isn’t about stepping away from life; it’s about finding the calm that allows you to move through it with more ease and intention. And perhaps, when the sparkle does arrive, you’ll be able to meet it with a little more peace — and a deeper sense of yourself.

AUTHOR: LEANNA DOOLIN

Co – Founder of holistic skincare brand, Pure Thoughts and advocate for women finding pause in their day to breathe deeply, give thanks and reconnect to what matters. Loves early mornings, dogs and books that you can’t put down.