Slow Spotlight: Sarah Robertson, Founder of These Are The Days & Brand Seasons®
So many people have inspired me on my own journey towards living a slower, simpler and more seasonal life, and I’d love you to be inspired too. The Slow Spotlights series shares with you some of their journeys, and I hope that by reading about these, you too may be inspired and encouraged.
A huge thank you to Sarah Robertson, founder of These Are The Days and Brand Seasons® for sharing more about her own journey towards a slower and simpler life below.
Thank you, David, for inviting me to share more about how I’m cultivating a seasonal approach to life and work.
I’m a brand designer and creative mentor approaching their 20th year in business. As the founder of design studio, These Are The Days, I collaborate with businesses and creatives to define their vision, craft their visuals, and discover their voice.
More recently, I launched the Brand Seasons® publication, where I explore the connection between creativity and seasonality. At the time of answering David’s thoughtful questions, my focus is on running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the Brand Seasons® Playdeck and This Creative Life, A Brand Seasons® Paper.
Originally from Edinburgh, I live with my partner and two children in the Scottish Borders and work from my wee Melrose studio.
What does living seasonally mean to you?
Tuning into the natural rhythms that guide us—the changing seasons, the rise and fall of creative energy, or the phases within our lives—is at the heart of living seasonally for me. As a mother of two young children and someone navigating their days with chronic illness, being mindful of my energy is a necessity, really, and has been a lesson in recognising that each season brings its challenges, opportunities and priorities.
I believe in stripping away the unnecessary, being present in the moment, and allowing things to unfold at their own pace. This way of living isn’t easy, or always possible, but when I choose pacing over rushing, my body always thanks me, and my family and business do, too.
In the work I’m doing on This Creative Life - A Brand Seasons® Paper, there is a focus on embracing a more intentional and seasonal approach to life and work. As well as exploring the themes of beauty, branding, and business, those involved each offer their perspective on creating with the seasons in mind. It’s a project that mirrors my own experience of trying to tune into the cycles that shape both my creativity and the everyday.
How has living in this way had a positive impact on your life?
Living seasonally has helped me to choose ease, however ironically difficult that may be, and to appreciate moments of stillness just as much as the seasons of action. As a mother, the chaos of a weekday morning can often feel overwhelming, but slowing down, paying attention and noticing what's within my capacity enables me to get clear on what's possible. There’s been a real letting go of the pressure to “do” and instead embrace the opportunity to sometimes “be”—a useful quality when you feel that push and pull of family life blended with the up and down nature of business.
You could even say it influenced the creation of Brand Seasons® and has brought greater focus to my work, helping me connect more deeply with my clients and community. I now approach each project with a sense of purpose, knowing that every season—whether one of sowing ideas or grounding myself—has its own value.
Are there elements of living in this way which challenge you?
Oh yes, especially when it comes to counterbalancing chronic illness with the demands of having a family and running a business. It can be hard to stay centred, and it feels quite radical to choose ease in a world that favours speed.
But I’ve found that when I do pause and focus on what truly matters—whether that’s spending time with my children or taking a step back from work to prioritise rest—I always return with more clarity and creativity.
How do you embrace this approach within your business?
I launched These Are The Days at the end of 2020, following a fallow period in my life and work. This stretch allowed me to recognise that I couldn’t keep living and working the way I had been before the pandemic.
Soon after, the concept for Brand Seasons® formed, and I now use the natural cycles—sowing, blossoming, grounding, and harvesting—as a framework for clients and projects, and these seasons also influenced the card deck. For instance, the spring phase of ‘sowing’ is about laying the foundation for a project, gathering inspiration and ideas, before moving into a more focused summer of ‘blossoming’ which might require more energy and visibility. By aligning my business with these rhythms, I can bring more intentionality to my days, weeks and months.
What is one piece of advice you would give to others looking to embrace a slower, simpler and more seasonal approach to life.
Seasonality, for me, is about recognising that not everything needs to happen all at once—there’s a time for everything. In business, that might mean allowing space for ideas to grow before rushing to execution or taking time to reflect on past work before moving forward.
Embracing seasonality is about working mindfully and letting things evolve naturally.
It’s also about accepting the quieter times and trusting that they are just as important as periods of productivity.
If you could choose one word, phrase, or quote which sums up your approach to life, what would it be?
“Everything has its season.” This phrase captures the essence of living with intention and trusting that every phase—whether it’s one of rest, rising or reflection—has its own value. It acts as a reminder to honour who and where we are and accept that we are constantly shifting and shaping.
Consider supporting Sarah’s Kickstarter campaign to fund the Brand Seasons® Playdeck, a card deck with 48 prompts and practices to help businesses and creatives craft a brand strategy, style, and story with substance.
Alongside the card deck, Sarah is producing This Creative Life ~ A Brand Seasons® Paper, which celebrates creativity, and seasonality, and gives voice to various artists, designers, makers, photographers and writers.
