You may have noticed that this summer has been a little quieter around these parts. Fewer blog posts were published, my social media calendar took a little vacation, and I shifted all of my attention to my current clients as opposed to bringing in new ones. In the midst of a creative climate that’s always glorifying a constant state of busy, my heart craved something quieter, slower and more simple. And, for the first time in our marriage, my sweet husband had an entire summer free from full-time work or classes! How in the world was I not going to give myself the gift of a slower summer to be fully present in this once-in-a-lifetime season?

What I expected to experience as I scaled back my office hours, spent less and less time in my inbox and spent days off of Instagram entirely was a renewed sense of freedom, creativity and a much-needed period of rest. But what I discovered instead is still rocking my world as I dive back into a busier fall schedule, and it’s been too transformative not to share!

Perhaps you’re coming down from a hectic season of busyness. Maybe you’re gearing up for a manic fall season and you’re already overwhelmed just thinking about your to-do list! Or, just maybe you’re aching deep within your heart to implement simple strategies that help you live a life that isn’t dictated by the ebb and flow of your business. Despite my best intentions, my most immutable boundaries, and my tried and true systems, I found myself in a similar mental and emotional space, friend! And although I don’t claim to have all the answers, I do know what worked well for me and what I believe has helped me enter into my fall season with a renewed sense of perspective, refresh and sustainability.

Through tiny mindset shifts, truly practical ideas and a dedicated sense of commitment, I’ve been able to dramatically cut down my working hours without sacrificing the quality or quantity of my work, reset my focus on living a life that’s blessed by my business, and most of all, I’ve been able to give myself the permission to create a life and business that doesn’t look like what everyone else on the internet is doing. Because as unique creatives and tenacious individuals, we deserve to create a rhythm of work and life that represents our values, hearts and goals! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing the simple steps, systems and concepts that I implemented over the summer to build a way of working that truly works for me, and not against me. And I’d love to have you join me, friend!

Check back next week for the next installment in this thoughtful series designed to help you regain control from your hectic schedule.