Practice Ways with Sarah Robertson
Pockets of creativity, full of possibility
Practice Ways is a monthly feature on Balance Practice that shares notes from writers, makers, coaches, and creatives, offering perspectives on what balance looks like as real life is happening.
When I first came upon designer and mentor
’s work here on Substack I felt an instant connection. Not only do I long to step inside her gorgeous mood boards, I’m drawn toward her approach to embracing our cyclical nature. In her publication she offers practical inspiration for embracing seasonality as we move through our innate rhythms of sowing, blossoming, harvesting, and grounding.I was especially excited about her latest creation, the Brand Seasons® Playdeck, a pocket-sized source of brand wisdom and guidance, which creates entry points to aligned action. I’ve just received my deck and can say it’s an ever timely oracle that will be occupying a prominent spot on my desk! She also explores the themes of curiosity, creativity, and connection in her new mini zine This Creative Life. From the design to the words, the pair are just so beautifully crafted and truly inspiring.
Sarah shows up with intention, bringing gentle and nourishing guidance — leadership to be applied across all facets of life, from mothering to marketing. Now that we’re practically neighbors I had the honuor of catching up with her over a coffee and delicious carrot cake, and she’s generously shared her notes on balance and practice with all of us…
“Balance, for me, feels like a constant shifting and shaping, and in this season of life comes when I make space to nurture my head, my heart, and my hands.”
– Sarah Robertson
What’s feeling good to you in this season?
I’m currently drifting into a metaphorical winter, mirroring the letting go we've just seen in the outer world. I love the sense of exploration this fills me with because far from being idle, it feels like a time ripe for dreaming and playing.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on a decade of motherhood, which has undoubtedly been my greatest teacher, challenging and transforming me in ways I could never have imagined. As parents, we're always learning, growing, and changing, and every day carries a reminder to be patient or present. It can be messy, this mothering thing, but there's so much beauty and wonder in it, too. It gives me the courage to experiment.
Whether it’s printmaking with my daughter or making plans for future projects, these tiny pockets of creativity remind me that curiosity is vital and life is full of possibility.
What does balance look like for you right now?
I have an interesting relationship with the word balance — an aversion to it, almost! So this is a good opportunity for me to explore why that is. I mean, have we been programmed to think of balance in elusive ways? Such as the desire for work/life balance, which conjures up an image of work and life being perfectly weighted.
Balance, for me, feels like a constant shifting and shaping, and in this season of life comes when I make space to nurture my head, my heart and my hands.
For my head, it’s often stepping into nature. For my heart, it's rest, which can be active or creative. And for my hands, it’s spending time at play, either with the kids or at work.
What practices support your sense of balance?
Recently, I’ve been turning to list-making, which is unusual for me since I’m typically drawn to long-form journaling. It could reflect the slightly chaotic season I’ve been navigating — mothering two spirited kids, running two businesses (one solo, one in partnership) and launching a product and a publication. It’s been a whirlwind!
But side projects also hold me up. When life is too much, they can act as anchors — something tactile and grounding, where ideas can live without pressure. Escapism, I suppose. Even five minutes spent scribbling an idea or testing a new medium feels like it feeds a part of me that often gets overlooked in the busyness of life.
What’s one gesture toward centre you’d invite everyone reading to partake with you today?
Looking forward, as I head into the next season, I’m thinking about my capacity, and how to be gentle with myself as I navigate some health challenges.
So, I invite you to pay attention to your energy. Where is it moving? Get curious. Honour it, even if just for a moment, then choose to do something with your head, heart, or hands.
Step into nature, schedule a nap, or create something — even if it’s small, because there’s magic in those moments. They ripple into everything else.
Sarah Robertson is a designer and mentor, and writer at Brand Seasons. She collaborates with clients to define their vision, craft beautiful visuals and discover their voice via her studio These Are The Days. She also created the Brand Seasons® Playdeck, a pocket-sized source of brand wisdom and guidance, and recently published This Creative Life, a mini zine exploring the topics of curiosity, creativity and connection. Originally from Edinburgh, Sarah now works from her studio nestled in the Scottish Borders.
Appreciate the opportunity to respond to your thoughtful prompts, Erin. Thanks for having me! And it was lovely to see you for coffee and cake. Nothing beats real life connection 💛