The Soft Week Menu: Building a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From

Hi Besties, Every now and then, I catch myself thinking, “I can’t wait until…” Until the weekend, until vacation, until things calm down, until this project is finished, or until life feels easier. It’s such an easy habit to fall into because there’s always something on the horizon we’re working toward. But lately I’ve been asking myself a different question: What if I stopped waiting for life to feel good and started building days that already do? Not perfect days or Instagram-worthy days. Just ordinary Tuesdays that include enough little moments of comfort that I don’t spend the entire week wishing it away. That’s what everyday soft living has slowly become for me. It’s not about escaping my life. It’s about creating one that already contains things I look forward to every single day. So this week’s Soft Week Menu isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about asking what tiny comforts could make this week feel a little easier. Your soft week starts here.

This Week’s Menu

Reading

A reread of The Outline Trilogy by Rachel Cusk

Hobby

Coloring pages, my new Cozy Reading coloring book, and a summer seascape jigsaw puzzle

This Week’s Focus

Building everyday comforts instead of waiting for special occasions

Ritual

Creating little moments to look forward to each day

Reset

Replacing “I’ll be happy when…” with “What can I enjoy today?”

Question to Carry

What would make this week feel easier?

Reading: Returning to a Book That Already Felt Like Home

I finally did it. I started rereading The Outline Trilogy by Rachel Cusk. And honestly? My first thought was… Why did I wait so long? It’s every bit as brilliant as I remembered. Sometimes we hesitate to reread because we’re worried the magic won’t still be there. But every now and then, a book reminds you why it became a favorite in the first place. This reread feels different because I’m different. I’ve read so many books since the summer of 2019 when I first discovered Rachel Cusk, but coming back to Outline feels like sitting down with an old friend. It’s familiar, comforting, thought-provoking, and exactly what I wanted this week. One thing I’ve realized through this series is that my best reading weeks aren’t necessarily the ones where I finish the most books. They’re the weeks where I genuinely enjoy the time I’m spending with them.

Hobby: Coloring, Puzzles, and Making Time to Play

If you’ve been following the Soft Week Menu for a while, you’ll know coloring has become a permanent menu item. At this point, I can’t imagine a week without it. This one feels especially fun because my coloring book collaboration, Cozy Reading, is finally out in the world. I’ve been filming coloring videos, which means I’ve been spending even more time with the pages the illustrator and I dreamed up together. It’s been such a full-circle experience. There is something incredibly satisfying about seeing an idea become something you can actually hold in your hands. I also finally started a jigsaw puzzle. Apparently, I spent weeks talking about starting one before actually opening the box. It’s a beautiful little summer seascape puzzle, and I’m already finding myself looking forward to sitting down with it for a few minutes each evening. I think that’s what I love most about puzzles. They don’t ask for hours. Just a few pieces at a time. If you’re looking for a screen-free hobby this week, consider pulling out a puzzle that’s been sitting in the cupboard or revisiting something you’ve been meaning to start. Sometimes the smallest hobbies end up making the biggest difference.

This Week’s Focus: Everyday Soft Living

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what soft living actually means. For me, it isn’t about avoiding responsibility or pretending life is always peaceful. It’s about making ordinary days feel kinder. I don’t want to spend my life constantly counting down to weekends or vacations. I want Tuesday afternoon to feel nice too. That’s where everyday soft living comes in. It’s the chapter before bed. The puzzle is waiting on the table. The coloring page that helps you unwind. The tea you actually sit down to drink while it’s still hot. The little things seem insignificant on their own. But together? They completely change how a week feels.

Ritual: Giving Every Day Something to Look Forward To

One ritual I’ve started without really meaning to is giving each day one small highlight. Some days it’s reading, some days it’s coloring, some days it’s working on my puzzle, and some days it’s simply sitting outside with a cup of tea. I’ve realized I don’t need every day to be exciting. I just need every day to contain something that’s mine. Something I genuinely look forward to. It’s amazing how much lighter a day feels when you know there’s a little pocket of joy waiting somewhere inside it.

Reset: Stop Saving Joy for Later

I think many of us accidentally save the good stuff. We save the fancy candles, the special books, the nice stationery, the “good” tea, or the beautiful notebooks. We tell ourselves we’ll use them when the timing is right. But what if ordinary days are the right time? This week, I’m reminding myself that everyday life deserves the good stuff too. Not because today is extraordinary. Because today is my life.

The Question We’re Carrying This Week

What would make this week feel easier?
Not next month, not after your to-do list is finished, but this week. Maybe your answer is reading for twenty minutes before bed. Maybe it’s finally starting that puzzle. Maybe it’s making time for a hobby you’ve missed. Maybe it’s simply slowing down enough to notice what’s already working. Whatever your answer is, give yourself permission to make room for it.

Final Thoughts

This week’s Soft Week Menu feels like a reminder that a good life isn’t built entirely from big milestones. It’s built from rereading books that still make you smile. Coloring pages that help you unwind. A puzzle waiting patiently on the table. Tiny rituals that give ordinary days something to look forward to. Those moments might seem small. But I’ve started to believe they’re actually the foundation of everyday soft living. Because the goal isn’t to escape our lives every weekend. It’s to build lives that already feel good to come home to. I’d love to know what’s on your Soft Week Menu this week. What’s one small comfort that makes an ordinary day feel just a little bit better? Let me know in the comments.