No one puts “career pause” on their five-year plan. Whether it's burnout, a layoff, caregiving, illness, or just the deep, undeniable knowing that something needs to change—when life hits pause, it rarely feels like progress. But here’s the twist: it often is.

I used to think that if I could just get my home right, everything else would fall into place. You know—matching rugs, curated color palettes, open shelving with exactly three ceramic vases and a trailing plant that never drooped. I devoured design blogs like bedtime stories and scrolled Pinterest like my life depended on it. But instead of feeling inspired, I often felt behind.