Welcome to Your Cottagecore Era: Romanticize Your Life with Rustic Intention

Cottagecore is a heart posture.

Have you ever dreamed of a life that feels like it was plucked from the pages of a well-worn novel? A life where time slows down, where fresh bread bakes in the oven as linen curtains flutter in the breeze, and where even the simplest tasks feel like rituals of self-love?

Welcome to cottagecore—an aesthetic and lifestyle rooted in nostalgia, nature, and intentional living. But more than just a pretty Pinterest board, cottagecore is a gentle rebellion against hustle culture. It invites you to slow down, tune in, and infuse beauty into your everyday routine.

Contrary to what Instagram might suggest, you don’t need to move to the countryside or wear puff-sleeved dresses every day to live the cottagecore dream (though we certainly support these cottagecore activities). You can start exactly where you are, right now. Whether you're in a tiny studio apartment or a suburban home, the essence of cottagecore is about how you live, not where you live.

Here’s how to add cottagecore elements to your life—beautifully, purposefully, and sustainably.

1. Romanticize Your Routines

Doing the dishes can be a cottagecore activity.

Cottagecore living begins with intention. It's not just what you do, but how you do it. Whether you’re brewing tea or sweeping the floor, try slowing down. Light a candle before journaling. Turn on instrumental music while doing the dishes. Let daily tasks become quiet rituals.

 Try this: Each morning, write a few lines in your Journal or Vision Keeper Workbook while sipping something warm. Use it to reflect, slow your thoughts, and start the day with clarity.

2. Connect to Nature (Even if You Live in the City)

A windowsill garden.

Nature is at the heart of cottagecore. It reminds us to honor the seasons, notice tiny details, and appreciate beauty in simplicity. If you can’t hike through a meadow, bring the meadow to you.

 Try this: Keep a windowsill herb garden, hang dried flowers, or go for intentional walks to gather leaves, feathers, or stones. Add your observations to your Textile Reverie Journal as seasonal moodboards or written reflections.

3. Learn a Slower Skill

Plant a garden.

Cottagecore values traditional, hands-on crafts—baking, sewing, gardening, journaling, even snail mail. These skills foster patience and pride, especially in a world where instant gratification reigns.

Try this: Choose one “slow” hobby to explore this season. Crochet a scarf, write hand-penned letters, or try your hand at baking sourdough. Document your progress and musings in A “Creative Habits” section of your Textile Reverie Journal.

4. Curate a Cozy, Soulful Space

Create cozy moments.

Your environment shapes your mindset. Cottagecore interiors are warm, textured, and full of story—think weathered wood, soft linens, thrifted finds, and a dash of wild whimsy.

Try this: Pick one nook in your home to transform—a reading corner, kitchen shelf, or your bedside table. Add a candle, a vintage mug, a foraged bouquet, or a handmade item. Let it become your sanctuary for reflection or journaling.

5. Embrace Seasonal Living

Bake with seasonal fruit.

Cottagecore honors the rhythm of the seasons. That means swapping iced lavender lemonade for spiced cider in fall, and shifting your wardrobe and activities to match the weather and your energy levels.

Try this: Each month, set seasonal goals in your Vision Keeper Workbook. Include small, meaningful changes—like visiting a local farm stand, baking with seasonal fruits, or adjusting your skincare routine to the weather.

6. Cultivate Mindful Creativity

Let your creativity run free.

Creativity is not just for artists—it’s a mindset. The cottagecore life thrives when you give yourself permission to create, play, and imagine freely—without pressure or perfectionism.

Try this: Keep a creative journal, moodboard your dream garden, sketch your outfits, or write short nature-inspired poems. The Vision Keeper Workbook includes dedicated pages to brainstorm ideas, track habits, and celebrate progress.

7. Prioritize Presence Over Productivity

Take a walk in nature.

Perhaps the most radical part of cottagecore is this: your worth is not tied to your output. Life is not an endless to-do list. Make space for rest, daydreams, and long walks with no destination.

Try this: Start a “slow morning” ritual once a week. Avoid your phone. Stretch, write, sip tea, and let your mind wander. Use the Vision Keeper Workbook’s prompts to help you reflect on your values and reframe your relationship with productivity.

A Lifestyle, Not a Look

Adding cottagecore elements to your life doesn’t mean throwing out your modern life—it means infusing it with softness, self-trust, and meaning. It’s about choosing beauty on purpose and letting your days feel like a love letter to yourself and the world around you.

With the right mindset (and tools), even goal-setting can feel romantic. That’s why the Vision Keeper Workbook was designed for creatives like you: to help you reconnect with your purpose, organize your dreams, and make space for meaningful progress—at your own pace.

The Vision Keeper System

You don’t need a cottage to live a cottagecore life.
You just need the courage to slow down and see the magic in what you already have. The rest? You’ll create it, one teacup and journal entry at a time.

🌿Ready to step into your softer, more intentional era? Explore the Vision Keeper Workbook—your companion for crafting a beautiful, meaningful life.