Time is one of the few things we can never earn back, yet we often spend it without thinking. The objects we surround ourselves with can shape not only how we pass our days, but how we experience them. Inspired by our editorial theme this month, Moving Slowly, this week’s Wish List brings together products that celebrate the simple pleasure of being able to take your time – reminding us just how much that’s worth.
The Enforced Time Out From Tech
We know we can delete our social media apps, but the urge to download them again or, ahem, override the screen time limits we’ve set ourselves remains. Brick is a physical device that takes willpower out of the equation – simply tap your phone against the Brick to block your chosen apps and move it to another room. To remove the block, you have to physically tap your phone to the Brick again, making the temptation to mindlessly scrolls that bit harder to give in to. $59, Brick
The Reminder To Look Inwards
Few activities remind us of the value of time quite like reading, and The Creative Act is a fitting companion. Written by music producer Rick Rubin, the book reflects on creativity as more just than the act of making something new – he suggests it is a way of connecting deeply with ourselves and the world around us. A reminder that some of the most valuable time we spend is that we devote to turning inwards. £18, Waterstones
The Scent To Keep You Grounded
There’s something about lighting incense that sees the mind and body settle into a gentler rhythm. The simple act of striking a match, watching the incense catch and taking in its scent creates a moment of pause, grounding you in your surroundings. Sometimes, valuing your time isn’t about doing more, but giving ordinary rituals the space they deserve. £40, Vyrao
The Daily Ritual You Can Actually Stick To
Across cultures and centuries, bathing has always offered something beyond hygiene: a chance to reset. 39BC’s silky oil cleanser brings the rituals of ancient bathing traditions to the few minutes we spend in the shower, leaving skin soft, nourished and hydrated, turning it from another task to tick off in a rush to a moment of reset. £39, 39BC
The Lesson From Nature
Planting something naturally brings you into alignment with nature’s slower pace – you can water it, care for it and give it the right conditions, but you can't hurry it along. This seed mix rewards that effort with beautiful flowers that are just as good for local pollinators as they are for your garden or balcony. All you have to do is wait for them to bloom. £3.75, Arthouse Unlimited
The Reminder That Delicious Things Take Time
Making bread asks us to be patient. You can’t rush proving or fermentation – and that’s exactly the point. Whether you’re starting your own sourdough culture (for UK-based readers, this one from Daylesford is sent right to your door) or finally investing in a proper cast iron bread oven to perfect your loaves, you’ll reap the benefits of your practice with every bite. £14, Daylesford
The Incentive To Get Creative
In a world where our fingers spend much of the day scrolling, making something with your hands is a balm for a flurried mind. I discovered Goose Glitters at a market stall last year and made collaged cards and can confirm getting lost in a creative moment is one of the richest ways to appreciate the passage of time. From £21, Goose Glitters
The Offline Equivalent To Streaming
Listening to music on a cassette player asks something of us that we’ve almost forgotten how to do: commit. Whether you unearth one second-hand (I found one for £8 at a car boot sale) or opt for a new model like this one from We Are Rewind, it encourages you to experience an album as the artist intended, from beginning to end (and free from notifications). £129, We Are Rewind at Selfridges
The Magazine Making Puzzling Cool
Playbook is a magazine built around the idea that adults need more opportunities to play offline. Alongside more than 60 puzzles, you’ll find space to doodle, drift and return whenever you like. It offers a fresh perspective on time: that every minute is precious but not every moment needs to be optimised. Sometimes, spending an hour absorbed in one puzzle is time well spent. £15, Playbook
The Gentle Start To A New Day
It feels fitting to end on a clock. Loftie was designed to replace your barrage of multiple iPhone alarms, offering a gentle two-phase rousing alongside white noise settings, guided meditations and sound baths to help you wind down just as thoughtfully as you wake up. Because how we begin and end each day matters just as much as everything we do in between. $169.99, Loftie
