Finding presence through tactility by Sarah Robertson
All photos courtesy Sarah Robertson
We are increasingly living in a state of digital abstraction, consuming stories and making connections through the blue light of our screens.
Yet we often finish a session of scrolling feeling strangely detached, as if we’ve travelled miles without ever having moved. So how do we find our way back?
How do we ground ourselves when the digital world pulls us toward endless distraction or when the rhythms of our own lives feel chaotic and overwhelming?
For me, the answer lies in tactility.
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
— Seneca
Sensory rituals
I recently took my daughter on a creative pilgrimage to Robert Smail’s Printing Works, one of the few remaining Victorian letterpress printers in the UK. It’s a quiet place, filled with the scent of ink and the rhythmic clunk and whirr of cast-iron machines.
Watching the type being laid one character at a time, I was struck by how much patience and presence are required in the physical act of making. As my daughter made her own bookmark, it struck me that there’s a profound magic in things that have weight, texture and even scent
The feel of paper, the impression of a letterpress print, the resistance of a pen as we write — these aren't just aesthetic preferences. They’re sensory signals, acting as anchors, pulling our attention away from the infinite expanse of the internet and back into the immediate, physical moment.
Objects as anchors
When we engage with a physical object — be it a beautifully bound book, a ceramic mug held in both hands or a wellbeing journal like those created by If Lost Start Here or Saorsa Psychology — we engage in ritual. We’re choosing a medium that requires us to slow down.
I’ve come to realise that these sensory moments aren’t about productivity; they’re about protection. They create a soft space for our thoughts and ideas to arrive. In a busy world that asks us for polish and perfection, the tactile world offers us permission to be messy. There’s a grace in imperfect action…the scribbles, the ink stains, the sketches. These moments signal to our nervous system that it is safe to land, to be.
This sense of ritual is something I used to enjoy exploring through the concept of the "Artist Date", a weekly practice of seeking out sensory, playful experiences to refill our creative wells, popularised by The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Of course, it doesn't have to be an excursion to a printing works; it can be as simple as choosing a specific notebook for your morning reflections or finding joy in turning the pages of a new magazine.
Returning to self
The tools we use to care for ourselves matter. In seasons where our capacity feels limited, or life feels loud, these tactile anchors become even more vital.
For me, it’s a reminder that creativity and connection don't always require grandeur; they require mindfulness, maybe even playfulness. And I’ve learned that the value of these rituals isn't in the "finish line" or the end result. It’s in the returning; the decision to show up for ourselves and our curiosity, even when we feel uninspired.
By choosing the tactile, we choose the real. By choosing the moment, we choose to be here.
This love for the sensory is woven into the very fabric of my upcoming book, Shape Your Brand Story. This tactile companion for founders, makers and creatives is a beautifully crafted hardback — complete with gold foiling and accents — something to be held and enjoyed as you navigate the cycles of your branding and business journey.
Do you have a tactile ritual that helps you transition from the digital world into a more intentional space? Whether it’s the scratch of a fountain pen on paper or the ritual of opening a fresh journal, I’d love to know what helps you slow down enough to notice.
Sarah Robertson is the creator of the Brand Seasons® Method, a cyclical approach to branding and business that inspired the Brand Seasons® Playdeck and Playbook.
Through her storytelling studio, Fonn, she helps founders, makers and creatives define their vision, craft beautiful visuals and discover their voice. You can find more reflections on intentionality and creativity on her Substack publication, This Creative Life.
Sarah’s first book, Shape Your Brand Story, is being published with 91 Editions this autumn and is now available to pre-order.
