As someone who works for themselves, I know how tempting it is to always be on. Whether it’s responding to emails at odd hours, batching content on weekends, or scheduling back-to-back client calls, the hustle never truly stops when you run your own business. And while I’m incredibly grateful for the flexibility and freedom entrepreneurship brings, I’ve also learned that one of the most radical forms of self-care is giving yourself permission to take time off…without the guilt.
Despite a particularly busy week, I decided to do just that the other day (after I got a jump start on client work and made sure everything was in a good place, of course).
With August in full swing and the reality of summer slowly slipping away, I carved out a beach day for myself—and took a quick trip out to Montauk (with no events to attend or client work to do) to soak in the slower pace and salty air. It was exactly what I needed. No agenda, no deadlines, no notifications pulling me in a million directions. Just me, the ocean breeze, and a much-needed reminder that rest is part of the process, too.
Too often, when you’re your own boss, stepping away can feel like you’re slacking off. But here’s the truth: creativity needs breathing room. Perspective comes when you pause. And burnout? That happens when you ignore warning signs that your mind and body need a break. At the start of the week, I was working on a project for a client, and it took way longer than expected. There was a lot of back and forth with a vendor, then edits were needed, and—well, you get the idea.
I seriously considered canceling my beach day. My workload felt overwhelming, and I thought that just hunkering down might be the best option. But then, after a very long day, the project finally wrapped up—and instead of feeling exhausted, I felt energized. Energized enough to keep working and power through my to-do list so I could fully enjoy a day off.
So, if you’ve been pushing yourself nonstop, let this be your reminder: it’s okay to hit pause. To be meaningful, not everything has to be productive. In fact, those unstructured, carefree days might just be where your next big idea finds you.
Summer may be winding down, but I’m making it a point to savor every last drop—and I hope you’ll find a moment to do the same.