Each year around my birthday, I start to plan and dream for the upcoming year. Doing it around my birthday has always felt more natural to me than doing it in January. It often works out that the dreaming part happens in September and then in January I do the practical parts of putting it into my calendar, adding reminders etc.
About two years ago, as I was dreaming up my year to come, I saw that one of my favorite Life Coaches, Shirin Eskandani posted that she would be taking the summer off. She was clear about her time line, communicated what was happening and when she would be back.
And it was like someone had handed me a golden ticket.
I could do this...for MYSELF?? Wouldn't taking prime time off make me a failure?
For years July shoots were my least favorite (no shade to my clients who booked me in July). July in Tennessee has become even more BRUTAL in recent years. Everyone would be drenched in sweat, my photo lenses were fogging, the bugs were everywhere etc. I would spend hours editing out sweat stains and shining faces.
I also realized that July is really my final hurrah of summer with Lucy June. Growing up, I didn't go back to school until late August so August was often the time we went to the beach or took a final family trip. But schools where we live often start back the first week of August. June is an equally busy month for photography and usually a socially busy month for our family. So July has started naturally feeling like the month we want to take trips and explore.
So last year was the first year I did it. And the truth is *|FNAME|*, is instead of making me feel like a failure, it made everything better.
4 Unexpected Benefits to Taking a Break
I felt more creative AND more confident because I had allowed my mind a break and aligned myself with what is important for MY business.
I felt more balanced because I had specific intentional time with my family and myself.
I felt proud that I had rested as a form of resistance to hustle and burn out culture.
I felt inspired to create more and had new energy to connect with this community.
Sometimes we have to do what is not the "norm" but what we know in our gut is right for us. And our feelings will often betray us because it feels wrong to stop, to go against societal expectation....to say no.
But, for me, that little voice inside that says, "This isn't right for me" or "This isn't working for me" is one I can trust. It's about getting curious about that voice and asking, "what would work better?" or "how can I do this differently?" and THAT is where the magic happens.