Dear friend,

 

I hope this finds you well and thriving and, if it’s summer in your part of the world, that you’re savouring some sunshine or looking forward to a well-earned break.

 

Some of you will have heard me mention my goal of ‘taking August off’. This year, I’m committing to it whole-heartedly. It feels important to say that out loud.

 

In the past, I’ve approached this idea more half-heartedly, keeping it as a kind of guilty secret. I worried that taking a full month away from work might make me seem unprofessional, unresponsive, even lazy or uncaring. Unsurprisingly, this lack of clarity often led to a string of small incursions: ‘just one meeting’, ‘just this one project’. The result? An unsatisfying halfway house - not fully at work, not fully off - that left me feeling uncertain, even a little unstable.

 

This year, something feels different. My resolve has solidified.

 

When I first left my corporate role, I naively imagined taking extended breaks as a regular part of life, combining a satisfying portfolio career with time to travel, to have adventures. The reality of running a business quickly kicked in, of course. But every now and again, I remind myself that freedom and independence are still choices I can make.

 

I take inspiration from others. Rangan Chatterjee, the doctor-turned-podcaster, has long taken summers off to be with his family. I even saw a marketing email recently from a company following suit and proudly name-checking him as their role model! On LinkedIn, a post caught my eye from a woman who started taking summers off when her children were small and still does now that they’re grown, because it continues to nourish her.

 

So why share all this?

 

First, making a public declaration helps hold me to account. Second - and more importantly - I hope it might help you reflect, especially if you’re torn between craving some summer breathing space and the pressure to maintain momentum.

For me, this is not just about taking time off. It’s about living with integrity - being brave enough to say what I need, and creating the conditions to support that. As my supervisor always reminds me: I am the instrument of my work. And that instrument needs mindful care and attention in order to remain resourced, replenished and energised.

 

So I’m leaning into the promise of spaciousness. My intention is to savour it.

Yes, I have a long list of summer projects. But I’m treating it like a menu, not a to-do list. I’ll pick what I fancy. Some days it might be a three-course meal; others, a few tasty snacks. And some days, I might not feel hungry at all.

 

 

Whatever you’re doing, be kind to yourself. I’ll be back in the new school year.