A little luxury of calm

Life as a woman, mum, wife, daughter, friend, entrepreneur, and employee can feel like a never-ending juggling act. It’s a balancing act we know all too well. Between managing family life, building a business or working and carving out time for oneself, there’s often little room to indulge in the simple joys that once brought calm — like reading a good book.

Since becoming a mum, for the past years, reading has been on my bucket list. I’ve loved the idea of getting lost in a book again, the romantic notion of curling up with a page-turner. But in reality, my attempts to dive into a novel were few and far between after the arrival of children. The busy reality of juggling work, motherhood, catching up with “life admin”, hobbies (non existent) and entrepreneurial aspirations while working a fractional corporate career made reading a challenge. And as much as I wanted to carve out time to read, I couldn’t quite get into the rhythm of it (at all).

So, instead of forcing myself into a book I didn’t have the time for or let's say take the time for, I discovered the joy of magazines. Shorter, more digestible reads that I could pick up, enjoy, and put down when life called. A few pages at a time felt much more achievable than slogging through a long novel. By the time I usually got to reading the next few pages of a book (and I did try several times), my brain fog had already forgotten the previous chapter. But not just any magazine would do. I found myself drawn to those that gave me a bit of energy — not the glossy, ad-heavy magazines that sold overpriced products, but ones filled with thoughtful articles, relatable content, and real stories. I recall falling in love with Absolutely Mama during my children’s nursery years, and was pleasantly surprised to discover Good Housekeeping wasn’t just for older generations but offered content that resonated with me, too. There were others—The Simple Life, Red, and more - that I turned to when I needed a break from the digital world.

Now the price of these magazines is less exciting but on the flip side the lovely people pulling it all together need to be of course compensated for their great editorial work. It (still) does feel like a small luxury every month to put my hands on a new magazine. A subscription by the way proofed to be a great option. Digital subscriptions, I feel, didn’t quite cut it for me personally (for now). I am already staring at screens all day long, from school WhatsApp groups to work emails, and I have yearned for the tactile pleasure of holding a magazine in my hands. Little bit of lux is fine, right?

... and that’s the story of how the idea for the Mag Club was born.

Why not share the joy of magazines without the regular heavy price tag? What if I could swap magazines with friends, trade inspiring articles, and share the best bits with one another with a glass of something or cuppa in your hand? It wasn’t just about leveraging a bit of money here and there; it was about creating a more conscious, connected way of enjoying what magazines had to offer. The idea took off in my head for a long time, and finally the Mag Club was born - a space where women could exchange not only magazines but the ideas, tips, inspiration and also worries they found within the pages.

My vision for the Mag Club was simple: to make it easier for myself and for other busy mums and women to find moments of inspo, joy and frankly just some fun with more magazines. A way to connect over the topics that kept them up at night or share something new. Whether it’s talking about a fascinating article, swapping stories, or just enjoying a moment of calm with a quality read, the Mag Club hopes to bring a sense of community and creativity into the everyday chaos of life.

In a world where everything feels digital and fast-paced, The Mag Club offers a slower, more thoughtful way to engage with content we love - and maybe even rediscover the simple good feeling of holding a magazine in your hands again. For me, it’s a step toward a more balanced, connected life.

And that, as they say, is how the Mag Club came to be.

by Astrid, Founder of unpluckt