From Notifications to Peace

Lately, my phone feels a little too close.
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube—one push notification after another.
"Don’t miss this!" "Watch now!"
I click, meaning to watch for just a minute, and suddenly 30 minutes are gone.

I’ve tried to cut back.
I’ve told myself, not today.
But still, I find my hand reaching for it again.

So instead of fighting it, I tried something different:
What if I filled that space with something I love even more?

Now, before I reach for my phone,
I reach for a warm cup of coffee.
A book I’ve been saving.
I set aside a little time, a quiet place.
And slowly, the phone feels a little further away.

But it’s not just phones.
Even when I’m working, I’m surrounded by subtle nudges—
emails announcing flash sales, banners promising last chances,
messages from brands I didn’t realize I’d signed up for.

And as someone who runs a brand myself, I think about this all the time. Should we be louder? More frequent? Should we send more emails, run more deals, do what others are doing just to keep up?

The truth is—yes, more emails often mean more sales. I’ve seen it firsthand. But here’s the thing:

I didn’t start Tidalove to be part of the noise. I started it to make space—for better things, quieter things.

So I constantly have to ask myself:
Can we grow without adding pressure to people’s day?
Can we show up meaningfully, even if it's not constantly?

I believe we can. And I’d rather take the slow.

That mindset has shaped more than just my work. It’s changed how I shop, too.

I’ve caught myself buying things I didn’t need.
A gift “just in case.” A top on sale “just because.” And slowly, quietly, my home filled up with things that didn’t really reflect who I was or how I wanted to live.

So now, before I buy something, I pause.
Before I add to my cart, I ask: Do I actually need this? Do I truly want it? Or am I just responding to noise?

Sometimes, I still buy it. But more often, I don’t.

And when I feel the urge to fill space or time with something—
I try going outside instead.

A short walk.
My kids’ laughter in the background.
Stretching. Breathing. Moving.

It brings me back to myself. And from that place, the decision to add something new—into my home, my day, my inbox—becomes much clearer.

It’s not about never buying. It’s about buying when it matters. Not more, just better.

So if you’ve noticed that we don’t send many emails from Tidalove, now you know why. We’re not trying to be absent. We’re just trying to be intentional. We want our messages to feel like a gentle pause, not another item on your to-do list.

When we do reach out, it’s because we have something worth saying—and we hope it makes your day just a little better.

With love,
Penny
Founder of Tidalove 🌊

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