June 2, 2025 • 22 mins
Feeling the pressure to “do it all” this summer while your routine gets flipped upside down? You’re not alone! In this episode of The Creative Bodega, I’m sharing my exact summer strategy for staying visible in your business—without the burnout. You’ll learn how to scale back without ghosting your audience, build a lighter content rhythm that still works, and prep for fall (without last-minute chaos). If you’re craving more white space, slower mornings, and less hustle while still moving your business forward, this one’s for you. Let’s make your summer work for you—not against you.
Check out the full show notes for this episode.
Things I cover inside the episode:
✨ How I shift my mindset to embrace seasonal slowdowns without guilt
✨ What my minimum viable presence looks like and how to find yours
✨ My simplified summer content rhythm (with fewer posts but more intention)
✨ The systems that keep me consistent without starting from scratch
✨ How I plan for fall launches without the frantic August scramble
Resources & Links Mentioned in this Episode:
🎁 Grab the 7-Day Instagram Starter Guide
🎙️ Listen to the Content Trifecta Episode
Connect with me:
🫶🏼 Follow me on Instagram for daily insights
🫶🏼 Join my 321 Create Newsletter for weekly content tips
🫶🏼 Check out The Content Coven Membership
Be sure to hit "Subscribe" or "Follow" so you never miss an episode!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
You are allowed to create asummer rhythm that works for
(00:03):
you.
You can rest but still show upand lead.
You can scale back, but still bevisible to your audience, and
you do not need to earn rest.
You just need to claim it foryour own.
Welcome to the Creative Bodega,a podcast about content
marketing, Instagram growth, andpersonal branding for female
(00:25):
service-based solopreneurs.
Who wanna grow their businesswithout letting it take over
their lives.
I'm your host, EM Connors, andeach week I'll share actionable
tips, expert advice, andunfiltered truths to help you
create engaging content, connectauthentically with your
audience, and turn followersinto loyal customers, all
without the burnout.
(00:46):
If you're ready to simplify yourcontent creation, navigate the
ever, ever-changing trends andbuild a business that works for
you while staying sane in thiscrazy season of life, then
you're in the right place.
Well, it was bound to happen andit just happened.
I just recorded this entireepisode.
(01:07):
Hit stop and the files knowwhere to be found.
It says zero minutes for episode18.
Uh, not stressful at all.
On top of that, I was about tohit record oh, an hour and a
half ago when the school nursestarted calling me.
And Mrs.
(01:28):
Burrows told me that my daughterfell and hurt her knee, and
while she normally is able to,you know, bounce back and head
back to class, she won't stopcrying.
So.
I said, do you, you want me tocome pick her up?
Like, I actually felt like I hadno choice.
I mean, what I wanted to belike, what, what am I gonna do
(01:50):
for her here at home that youcan't do there?
Like some ice and just maybesome Tylenol, like it's a knee.
There's no way she broke herknee or anything.
Crazy serious.
Oh my God.
I felt like such a bad mom.
And maybe you think I'm a badmom, but I, I know my daughter
and I, I know when, I mean, it'sjust very rare.
That it's something serious, butI had to go get her because Mrs.
(02:14):
Burrows wouldn't really let meoff the phone until that was the
resolution.
So.
Ah, everything's fine.
Everything's fine.
I wanna talk about my summerstrategy with you today, how I
scale back without losingmomentum, because I 1000000%
scale back in the summer, and mybusiness is built for that and
(02:36):
kind of built around that, and Ilove it.
It's one of the main reasons whyI started the Creative Bodega,
to have that flexibility and toscale back and pull back when I
wanted to and to ramp up when Iwanted to.
And I know that the summer canbe a stressful time of year for
a lot of us who are solopreneursworking from home and have kids
(02:59):
who are typically in schoolfrom, for my kids, they leave at
eight 30 and they get home at 345 and suddenly they're here.
A lot more, and I will send themto some camps.
I think they're doing four campsthis year, four week long camps.
But that means they're home andhere.
I mean, I haven't done the math,I don't know.
(03:21):
They're out of school from June18th until Labor Day after Labor
Day.
So they're home for a solid twoand a half months and.
Everything gets a little crazyin my house and there's really
beautiful things about it, likenot rushing out of bed and not
having to get dressed and getyour backpacks and we're gonna
miss the bus.
Like I kind of love the slowmornings.
(03:42):
I'd say that's what I love themost about summer break.
But then there's also the, oh myGod, everyone get out of the
house.
If I don't get something done orwork on my business, I'm gonna
like have a heart attack.
And honestly, I love working onmy business.
That's the thing, it, itactually brings me a lot of joy,
but I really love working on mybusiness when nobody's in my
house, and my daughter's heretoday and I told her, you're
(04:06):
gonna be on the couch.
I'm putting on a show.
You've got ice on your knee, youhave Tylenol, you have your
lunch, you have your water.
Give me 20 minutes upstairs.
Don't come upstairs unless it'semergency.
Wait for me to come down.
So anyways, listen, I get it.
Summer hits and our routineschange a lot.
And that can be really jarringfor a lot of people.
(04:26):
And if you built your businessaround your school hours, your
structured, structured schedule,because of the school hours, if
this shift can feel superchaotic and a lot of guilt can
set in, if you're not.
Working enough, right?
But I want to offer you areframe today.
What if your summer slowdownwasn't actually a setback, but a
(04:48):
strategy for you?
So in this episode, I wannashare my exact plan to stay
visible without stressing out.
And we're gonna walk through howI scale back in the summer,
exactly what that looks like,the systems I use and have in
place, and what my weekly rhythmis gonna look like and how I
mentally prepare for this slowerpace without.
(05:11):
Any guilt.
Okay?
And it took me a while to notfeel that guilt because I can
honestly say that I have feltguilt in the past for not
working as hard in the summer.
But you guys, what you're gonnarealize is that.
No one's really hustling thathard in this summer, so I should
actually just throw this outthere.
I do have an internationalaudience, and summer for us is
(05:31):
really June, July, and August.
Uh, I, I know it's different forsome people and in different
parts of the United States,people get off at different
times.
Like I have friends whose kidsare outta elementary school in
like mid, like May, and I'mlike, what?
But they go back in earlyAugust.
We get out mid-June and go backafter Labor Day, which basically
(05:52):
is like the first week ofSeptember.
So I know it varies, but.
In general, the United States,it's, it's June, July, August,
some, some form of that, andit's wild.
I always think about theseparents who have these
traditional nine to fives.
What in the name of God are theysupposed to do?
Like how does that work forparents who both work full time
(06:14):
and don't have that flexibility?
It makes me feel like the wholesystem's is a little broken and,
and it really doesn't supportparents who have to work
full-time jobs outta the house.
It makes me really sad and itmakes me very thankful that I am
in the position that I am to beable to be around and home and
not.
Stress out.
And all my friends in theneighborhood who do have rigid
(06:35):
nine to fives, I'm always like,bring your kids here.
Or you know, like, I'm alwaysavailable, so drop'em off in the
morning, pick'em up later.
It helps me.
It keeps my kids occupied andnot fighting if there's other
little bodies running aroundhere.
So.
All right, so let's shift intothis.
Let's, let's talk about this.
I wanna talk about step one.
So step one is really to shiftyour mindset, and I think one of
(06:58):
the biggest shifts I've made inmy business is embracing that
seasonality.
My schedule isn't the same yearround, and it's not supposed to
be, if you look at my schedule,if I look at my schedule, I'm
hitting it pretty hard.
January, February, March, April,may, and then I'm scaling back.
A more quiet and not launchingthings June, July, August.
(07:20):
That's actually kind of a lie.
I do start ramping up aboutMidgut.
I'll start ramping up, and thenI'm back in it like September,
October, mid-November.
But then Thanksgiving hits forus here in the US and I am
absolutely scaling backmid-November through December.
I'm very quiet and that's how Ilike it to be.
(07:42):
I really do enjoy that schedule.
So.
One of the shifts is just yourmindset that your business is
seasonal, and that is okay.
And trust me when I tell you,things are gonna quiet down for
you in the summer as even as faras sales and engagement if it
hasn't already.
And that's also okay.
I will work.
Probably Monday throughThursday, three to four hours a
(08:03):
day, and I will take Fridaysoff.
And we joined a pool.
We got into a pool that all ofour friends go to this year.
We've been on the wait list.
This would've been our thirdyear, and we're so excited.
So I will definitely be takingthe kids to the pool on Fridays,
and I'm really, really excitedabout that.
And that's a big change for mytypical school year schedule,
you know, and, and yes, I willalso be skipping the entire full
(08:24):
week of our vacation.
I will not be batching ahead.
I will not be posting, I willnot be scrambling.
I will not send out anewsletter.
I will probably not do a podcastepisode.
I don't know, maybe I will.
But then, then that tricklesright Then.
I'm like, oh, well if I do apodcast episode, then I need to
promote it on social media, andso I gotta show up.
(08:45):
And so I, I don't know, I, I'dreally like to take the full
week off.
I, and I gotta ask my coach ifthat's okay, my podcast coach,
but.
Uh, I have worked throughvacations.
I worked through last year'svacation and I really, really
resented it.
And, uh, yeah, I batched aheadand, but guess what?
I messed up a ManyChatautomation.
(09:05):
So I'm on the dock with my kidsin the morning with my coffee
and it's peaceful and they'rejust, the sun is shining and
they're swimming already in thelake, and I'm getting these dms
like, your automation's notworking.
I commented and I just was like.
Oh my God.
Like why did I do this tomyself?
And so the WiFi's not good onthe dock.
So, okay, kids, I gotta go up tothe house, which is a little bit
(09:28):
of a hike and you all need tocome with me'cause I don't want
you near the lake without dad.
And let's go get dad and I gottago work.
And I was like, Emily, why didyou do this?
So I swore to myself after thatmoment, I am not posting on
vacation.
So big lesson learned for me.
But another big lesson is no onenotices your break as much as
you do.
(09:49):
Like do you notice when othercreators take a break?
Your audience probably feels thesame way.
Like what gives me a peace ofmind is just letting people
know, Hey, I am gonna be goingon vacation next week and you're
not gonna hear from me, and Idon't have the best time, and I
hope you have a glorious weekand I'll be back.
So don't worry.
And don't worry about me.
So I like to tell my audience.
(10:10):
I will warn them slash tell themin my newsletter the week
before, and I will remind themin stories.
And maybe I'll just make a post,like a final post.
See you in a week.
Honestly, I should take twoweeks.
I, I really should.
I took two weeks last Augustafter working through a vacation
and really being mad at myselfand I should do it again.
So do me a favor, if you followme.
(10:31):
Just jump in my dms and say,Emily, take two weeks off.
Let's see how many people canactually do that.
And then if I get 20 of them,I'll do it.
But anyways, I'm, I'm justkidding.
So if you need a reminder,you're allowed to take breaks.
Your business is not gonna fallapart, and that is step number
one.
Step number two is I want you tofind your minimum viable
(10:52):
presence.
Okay.
A little complicated word there,but it's basically staying
visible without overextendingyourself.
It's finding your minimum,right?
So this summer, my contentrhythm.
Actually rewind.
My content rhythm right now isone podcast episode a week,
which are averaging 25 to 30minutes.
(11:14):
I keep saying get it down.
I wanted'em to be more like 20to 25.
We'll see if I can do it in thisone.
But one podcast episode perweek, I post six times on social
media.
I write one newsletter andthat's it.
Hm.
And that sounds like a lot.
In the summer.
I will scale back.
I will do one podcast episode,but I am gonna try to make them
(11:36):
shorter and punchier and moreaction oriented.
We'll see what happens.
It might be like a summer seriessituation where they're more
like 10 to 15 minute episodes.
I don't know.
Uh, and don't quote me on that,but that's sort of the thought
process.
But I will still put one out aweek.
Every week I'm gonna scale backto three to four Instagram
posts.
I, I've been feeling it in mygut to scale back anyways, just
(11:57):
three.
Like really great posts, like acarousel and two reels, or two
carousels and one reel orsomething like that.
Like more jam packed and seewhat happens.
'cause again, I'm showing uplike five to six days a week
right now and my engagement justseriously sucks.
So maybe I'll just scale backand see what happens.
And that's what I kind of loveabout summer.
(12:18):
Every, everything just feelslighter and I'm like, I feel
like there's just time to sortof step back and experiment.
And I love that feeling.
And then my newsletter, I willstill write it, but I'll
probably shorten it up a bit.
I will probably shorten up thethree ideas, and you could do
like a special version of yoursummer newsletter too, if you
wanted to.
So again, I'm skipping thatvacation week, but I'm finding
(12:40):
my minimum presence to stay topof mind for people and stay
consistent.
On my end, but it's not gonnacon, it's not gonna consume my
week, right?
So I want you to ask yourself,what's my minimum and what would
it look like to still feelpresent without overthinking
everything?
Okay?
So you don't need to pump outlong form content when your
(13:01):
brain is literally like beggingyou for sunshine.
You just need to be there, andyou need to be thoughtful and
real and present.
That's what I think.
Step number three, lean onsystems that streamline.
This is my jam.
This is my jam.
I wish I could figure out how toteach this because I know it is
a superpower of mine, but I'dreally have to sit down and
(13:23):
think about how do I do this?
'cause it comes so naturally andeasily to me, and it is what
allows me to get a lot done innot a lot of time.
If there's anything people havetold me over and over since I
became a solopreneur, it's like.
How do you get so much done?
And I'm like, I don't know.
Like I can bust out a course, Ican bust out a podcast, I don't
(13:44):
know.
And if I commit to it, I'm doingit like I am.
I really do not go back onthings I've committed to.
So anyways, so here's wherethings get easier, is my systems
like my systems are my lifebecause most of my marketing is
interconnected at this point.
I'm not starting from scratch oneach thing.
My podcast is related to mynewsletter.
My newsletter is.
(14:05):
Related to my social media postsfor that week.
So that feels really good.
And if you haven't listened tomy episode about my content
trifecta, about how I'm using AIand my podcast newsletter and
social media posts all together,you should go listen to that.
I will link that in the shownotes.
And in fact, let me just throwthis in there right now.
If you need any show notes fromtoday's episode, just go to the
(14:27):
creativebodega.com/blog/eighteen, or
there's a link in the show notesfor all of these juicy deets.
Okay.
The reason that my systems workis because I have these formats
and templates in place.
I'm not reinventing anything,okay?
I'm just really plugging in themessage that I wanna share that
week.
So if you haven't set up thosetypes of repeatable systems.
(14:51):
This is your time to start, andI would start with your most
consistent platform and kind ofwork backwards.
So what I'm starting with is mylongest form content, which is
my podcast, and workingbackwards from biggest to
smallest.
So longest to shortest, so.
Podcast longest, biggestnewsletter, medium.
Right?
(15:11):
And then social media posts,which is sort of small, faster
content to consume.
And I track everything in, whatis Max Sheet?
Is it Sheets?
What?
Like, I don't know what Oh,spreadsheets.
Yeah.
And sorry, I couldn't rememberwhat they were called.
So I track that in sheets.
And that's me.
Don't come at me with your, howdo you not use Notion or Asana?
(15:32):
And let me show you how I, Idon't wanna know.
I, I've seen it and it does notwork for my brain.
What works for my brain isreally simple spreadsheets where
I can check things off, and Isee everything at a glance, and
I love it.
So my system is not fancy, butit's very repeatable, and that's
all you need.
Step number four.
Show up less, but with a lotmore intention.
(15:54):
And that's kind of my plan withmy social media posts.
Like my engagement, like I said,it is just like blows chunks
right now.
It's so bad.
It, it's, it's, it's laughableactually, but it also makes me
kind of wanna cry.
So I'm like, you know what?
I'm not gonna show up six days aweek if Instagram and my
followers don't want me to.
(16:14):
Uh, I'm gonna scale back tothree all summer and see what
happens.
But I'm gonna make them a lotmore intentional and I'm put
more time into them.
So instead of spreading my timeout across six posts, I'm going
to put my, all my time andeffort into three of them and
make them, you know, better andmore robust and more saveable.
That's my plan.
We'll see what happens, but Ireally think that everyone is
(16:37):
showing up less.
In the summer, onlineespecially, people are buying
less, they're online, less,they're busy, they're at the
pool, they're traveling, they'retaking a break.
So don't be afraid to shift yourcontent style during this time
or experiment.
Like I love that concept.
Like just dial it back, havesome fun, try new types of
(16:59):
content and see what happens.
So for me, again, maybe shorterpodcast episodes.
Uh, maybe more to the pointnewsletters, maybe a simpler
Instagram posting schedule.
And I'm looking forward to that,right?
I think we think that we have toshow up with fireworks to be
relevant, but sometimes it'shonestly just like the simple,
honest content that's gonna cutthrough the noise and get people
to stop scrolling.
(17:19):
So, be real, be brief, beconsistent.
I love that.
That should be on a t-shirt.
Be real, be brief, beconsistent.
So step number five is to prepfor the next season without the
rush.
So I know August is my time tostart ramping back up because I
do like to launch something inSeptember and I can't wait till
(17:39):
September to do that.
I need to start talking aboutit.
Organizing it, planning it, allof that in August.
So that's when I start to like,you know, get a little bit more
serious about my business.
And to be super honest with youguys, I don't know what I'm
launching this fall.
Is it the Insta Canvacollective?
Maybe.
(18:00):
Is it something brand new?
Maybe?
Is it like a workshop series?
Maybe?
Is it a mastermind with five orsix women?
Maybe.
I'm hoping that this, this timeand.
Space of kinda like steppingback in the summer and will
allow that clarity to come it,it usually does, to be honest.
So when I'm able to kind of stepaway from my business and have
(18:20):
some breathing space, that'swhen ideas start coming to me.
So.
Right now, I'm just letting mybrain rest and capturing the
sparks when they come.
I jot ideas down in my notesapp, or I literally voice memo
or I text myself all the time.
I don't know about you, but Ihave a pinned text to myself in
my phone.
I'm at the top, it's my face,and I text myself all the time.
(18:44):
Is that weird?
Um, so if you're planningsomething for fall, I would give
yourself the gift of.
Prepping towards August withoutthe pressure because I, again, I
wouldn't wanna save it tillSeptember.
So look ahead, see what you got,and then kind of work backwards.
And you don't have to know allthe details right now.
Just show up in a way that feelsreally doable for you.
(19:05):
So, some mistakes to avoid.
Here's what I don't want you todo.
I don't want you to disappearwithout telling your audience.
Okay?
I think that is, I don't know.
I, I just, I don't like that.
I like to let everyone know kindof what's going on and keep them
in the loop.
Mistake number two, to avoid,don't force yourself to match
someone else's hustle.
So if you see another creator.
(19:27):
Trying to sell something orlaunching something.
Don't let that make you feellike you need to.
And I've literally told myhusband and my VA do not let me
launch anything this summer.
Like if I say that I want totell me to shut up and remind me
that I promised myself that Iwould not do that this year.
Uh,'cause I actually did it inAugust of last year and I
regretted it.
(19:47):
So, and then mistake numberthree is, is overcommitting when
your energy is saying pause.
So my energy at this point inthe year after working.
Pretty darn hard.
January through early June isreally telling me to pause, to
take a breath, to take abreather, and I feel it in my
bones.
I need it.
(20:07):
I need the, the, I need to stepaway.
And summer's a really great timeto do that.
I.
And to simplify.
So final takeaways.
You are allowed to create asummer rhythm that works for
you.
You can rest but still show upand lead.
You can scale back, but still bevisible to your audience.
And you do not need to earnrest.
(20:29):
You just need to claim it foryour own.
Okay?
I'm, I'm gonna repeat that.
You don't need to earn yourrest, you just have to claim it.
Final takeaways.
You don't have to disappear.
You also don't have to hustle.
You just need to find thatmiddle ground that feels really
good to you.
Whether you're working threehours a day or taking a full
week off, just know that you'reallowed to make your business
(20:50):
fit your life.
Not the other way around.
So if you're needing helpcreating a content rhythm that
feels really good for you yearround, you could grab my seven
day Instagram starter guide.
I've got, uh, six post typesalong with Canva templates and
caption prompts.
Uh, and that is a schedule thatI pretty much stick to year
(21:13):
round.
Although this year I am sayingthat this summer I'm gonna try
something different becausehonestly.
Why not?
I'm gonna go down to three andput a little more sweat into
those particular posts.
So this week I want you to take20 minutes, map out your summer
business rhythm, and then lookahead to fall and reverse
engineer, which you actuallyneed to do.
(21:34):
I'm from the Creative Bodega.
If you haven't yet, it wouldmean the world to me.
If you went and rated andpossibly even reviewed my
podcast, it would help othersolopreneurs like you find it.
And I'm just loving this.
I'm loving podcasting, and Ihope you're really enjoying
listening to my episodes eachweek.
All right, cheers to a beautifulsummer, and I will see you guys
(21:56):
on the next episode.
Thanks so much for hanging outwith me on the Creative Bodega
Podcast.
If you love this episode, pleasebe sure to share it with a
fellow solopreneur who could usea little content creation
inspiration.
And hey, don't forget to checkout the show notes for any
resources I mentioned on theepisode.
To help you create content thatfeels easy and actually gets you
(22:20):
results.
If you want even more Canva andcontent tips, head over to my
website, the creativebodega.com, or find me on
Instagram under the same name.
Until next time, keep creating,keep showing up, and most
importantly, try and have alittle fun with your content.
I'll see you on the nextepisode.
You are allowed to create asummer rhythm that works for
(00:03):
you.
You can rest but still show upand lead.
You can scale back, but still bevisible to your audience, and
you do not need to earn rest.
You just need to claim it foryour own.
Welcome to the Creative Bodega,a podcast about content
marketing, Instagram growth, andpersonal branding for female
(00:25):
service-based solopreneurs.
Who wanna grow their businesswithout letting it take over
their lives.
I'm your host, EM Connors, andeach week I'll share actionable
tips, expert advice, andunfiltered truths to help you
create engaging content, connectauthentically with your
audience, and turn followersinto loyal customers, all
without the burnout.
(00:46):
If you're ready to simplify yourcontent creation, navigate the
ever, ever-changing trends andbuild a business that works for
you while staying sane in thiscrazy season of life, then
you're in the right place.
Well, it was bound to happen andit just happened.
I just recorded this entireepisode.
(01:07):
Hit stop and the files knowwhere to be found.
It says zero minutes for episode18.
Uh, not stressful at all.
On top of that, I was about tohit record oh, an hour and a
half ago when the school nursestarted calling me.
And Mrs.
(01:28):
Burrows told me that my daughterfell and hurt her knee, and
while she normally is able to,you know, bounce back and head
back to class, she won't stopcrying.
So.
I said, do you, you want me tocome pick her up?
Like, I actually felt like I hadno choice.
I mean, what I wanted to belike, what, what am I gonna do
(01:50):
for her here at home that youcan't do there?
Like some ice and just maybesome Tylenol, like it's a knee.
There's no way she broke herknee or anything.
Crazy serious.
Oh my God.
I felt like such a bad mom.
And maybe you think I'm a badmom, but I, I know my daughter
and I, I know when, I mean, it'sjust very rare.
That it's something serious, butI had to go get her because Mrs.
(02:14):
Burrows wouldn't really let meoff the phone until that was the
resolution.
So.
Ah, everything's fine.
Everything's fine.
I wanna talk about my summerstrategy with you today, how I
scale back without losingmomentum, because I 1000000%
scale back in the summer, and mybusiness is built for that and
(02:36):
kind of built around that, and Ilove it.
It's one of the main reasons whyI started the Creative Bodega,
to have that flexibility and toscale back and pull back when I
wanted to and to ramp up when Iwanted to.
And I know that the summer canbe a stressful time of year for
a lot of us who are solopreneursworking from home and have kids
(02:59):
who are typically in schoolfrom, for my kids, they leave at
eight 30 and they get home at 345 and suddenly they're here.
A lot more, and I will send themto some camps.
I think they're doing four campsthis year, four week long camps.
But that means they're home andhere.
I mean, I haven't done the math,I don't know.
(03:21):
They're out of school from June18th until Labor Day after Labor
Day.
So they're home for a solid twoand a half months and.
Everything gets a little crazyin my house and there's really
beautiful things about it, likenot rushing out of bed and not
having to get dressed and getyour backpacks and we're gonna
miss the bus.
Like I kind of love the slowmornings.
(03:42):
I'd say that's what I love themost about summer break.
But then there's also the, oh myGod, everyone get out of the
house.
If I don't get something done orwork on my business, I'm gonna
like have a heart attack.
And honestly, I love working onmy business.
That's the thing, it, itactually brings me a lot of joy,
but I really love working on mybusiness when nobody's in my
house, and my daughter's heretoday and I told her, you're
(04:06):
gonna be on the couch.
I'm putting on a show.
You've got ice on your knee, youhave Tylenol, you have your
lunch, you have your water.
Give me 20 minutes upstairs.
Don't come upstairs unless it'semergency.
Wait for me to come down.
So anyways, listen, I get it.
Summer hits and our routineschange a lot.
And that can be really jarringfor a lot of people.
(04:26):
And if you built your businessaround your school hours, your
structured, structured schedule,because of the school hours, if
this shift can feel superchaotic and a lot of guilt can
set in, if you're not.
Working enough, right?
But I want to offer you areframe today.
What if your summer slowdownwasn't actually a setback, but a
(04:48):
strategy for you?
So in this episode, I wannashare my exact plan to stay
visible without stressing out.
And we're gonna walk through howI scale back in the summer,
exactly what that looks like,the systems I use and have in
place, and what my weekly rhythmis gonna look like and how I
mentally prepare for this slowerpace without.
(05:11):
Any guilt.
Okay?
And it took me a while to notfeel that guilt because I can
honestly say that I have feltguilt in the past for not
working as hard in the summer.
But you guys, what you're gonnarealize is that.
No one's really hustling thathard in this summer, so I should
actually just throw this outthere.
I do have an internationalaudience, and summer for us is
(05:31):
really June, July, and August.
Uh, I, I know it's different forsome people and in different
parts of the United States,people get off at different
times.
Like I have friends whose kidsare outta elementary school in
like mid, like May, and I'mlike, what?
But they go back in earlyAugust.
We get out mid-June and go backafter Labor Day, which basically
(05:52):
is like the first week ofSeptember.
So I know it varies, but.
In general, the United States,it's, it's June, July, August,
some, some form of that, andit's wild.
I always think about theseparents who have these
traditional nine to fives.
What in the name of God are theysupposed to do?
Like how does that work forparents who both work full time
(06:14):
and don't have that flexibility?
It makes me feel like the wholesystem's is a little broken and,
and it really doesn't supportparents who have to work
full-time jobs outta the house.
It makes me really sad and itmakes me very thankful that I am
in the position that I am to beable to be around and home and
not.
Stress out.
And all my friends in theneighborhood who do have rigid
(06:35):
nine to fives, I'm always like,bring your kids here.
Or you know, like, I'm alwaysavailable, so drop'em off in the
morning, pick'em up later.
It helps me.
It keeps my kids occupied andnot fighting if there's other
little bodies running aroundhere.
So.
All right, so let's shift intothis.
Let's, let's talk about this.
I wanna talk about step one.
So step one is really to shiftyour mindset, and I think one of
(06:58):
the biggest shifts I've made inmy business is embracing that
seasonality.
My schedule isn't the same yearround, and it's not supposed to
be, if you look at my schedule,if I look at my schedule, I'm
hitting it pretty hard.
January, February, March, April,may, and then I'm scaling back.
A more quiet and not launchingthings June, July, August.
(07:20):
That's actually kind of a lie.
I do start ramping up aboutMidgut.
I'll start ramping up, and thenI'm back in it like September,
October, mid-November.
But then Thanksgiving hits forus here in the US and I am
absolutely scaling backmid-November through December.
I'm very quiet and that's how Ilike it to be.
(07:42):
I really do enjoy that schedule.
So.
One of the shifts is just yourmindset that your business is
seasonal, and that is okay.
And trust me when I tell you,things are gonna quiet down for
you in the summer as even as faras sales and engagement if it
hasn't already.
And that's also okay.
I will work.
Probably Monday throughThursday, three to four hours a
(08:03):
day, and I will take Fridaysoff.
And we joined a pool.
We got into a pool that all ofour friends go to this year.
We've been on the wait list.
This would've been our thirdyear, and we're so excited.
So I will definitely be takingthe kids to the pool on Fridays,
and I'm really, really excitedabout that.
And that's a big change for mytypical school year schedule,
you know, and, and yes, I willalso be skipping the entire full
(08:24):
week of our vacation.
I will not be batching ahead.
I will not be posting, I willnot be scrambling.
I will not send out anewsletter.
I will probably not do a podcastepisode.
I don't know, maybe I will.
But then, then that tricklesright Then.
I'm like, oh, well if I do apodcast episode, then I need to
promote it on social media, andso I gotta show up.
(08:45):
And so I, I don't know, I, I'dreally like to take the full
week off.
I, and I gotta ask my coach ifthat's okay, my podcast coach,
but.
Uh, I have worked throughvacations.
I worked through last year'svacation and I really, really
resented it.
And, uh, yeah, I batched aheadand, but guess what?
I messed up a ManyChatautomation.
(09:05):
So I'm on the dock with my kidsin the morning with my coffee
and it's peaceful and they'rejust, the sun is shining and
they're swimming already in thelake, and I'm getting these dms
like, your automation's notworking.
I commented and I just was like.
Oh my God.
Like why did I do this tomyself?
And so the WiFi's not good onthe dock.
So, okay, kids, I gotta go up tothe house, which is a little bit
(09:28):
of a hike and you all need tocome with me'cause I don't want
you near the lake without dad.
And let's go get dad and I gottago work.
And I was like, Emily, why didyou do this?
So I swore to myself after thatmoment, I am not posting on
vacation.
So big lesson learned for me.
But another big lesson is no onenotices your break as much as
you do.
(09:49):
Like do you notice when othercreators take a break?
Your audience probably feels thesame way.
Like what gives me a peace ofmind is just letting people
know, Hey, I am gonna be goingon vacation next week and you're
not gonna hear from me, and Idon't have the best time, and I
hope you have a glorious weekand I'll be back.
So don't worry.
And don't worry about me.
So I like to tell my audience.
(10:10):
I will warn them slash tell themin my newsletter the week
before, and I will remind themin stories.
And maybe I'll just make a post,like a final post.
See you in a week.
Honestly, I should take twoweeks.
I, I really should.
I took two weeks last Augustafter working through a vacation
and really being mad at myselfand I should do it again.
So do me a favor, if you followme.
(10:31):
Just jump in my dms and say,Emily, take two weeks off.
Let's see how many people canactually do that.
And then if I get 20 of them,I'll do it.
But anyways, I'm, I'm justkidding.
So if you need a reminder,you're allowed to take breaks.
Your business is not gonna fallapart, and that is step number
one.
Step number two is I want you tofind your minimum viable
(10:52):
presence.
Okay.
A little complicated word there,but it's basically staying
visible without overextendingyourself.
It's finding your minimum,right?
So this summer, my contentrhythm.
Actually rewind.
My content rhythm right now isone podcast episode a week,
which are averaging 25 to 30minutes.
(11:14):
I keep saying get it down.
I wanted'em to be more like 20to 25.
We'll see if I can do it in thisone.
But one podcast episode perweek, I post six times on social
media.
I write one newsletter andthat's it.
Hm.
And that sounds like a lot.
In the summer.
I will scale back.
I will do one podcast episode,but I am gonna try to make them
(11:36):
shorter and punchier and moreaction oriented.
We'll see what happens.
It might be like a summer seriessituation where they're more
like 10 to 15 minute episodes.
I don't know.
Uh, and don't quote me on that,but that's sort of the thought
process.
But I will still put one out aweek.
Every week I'm gonna scale backto three to four Instagram
posts.
I, I've been feeling it in mygut to scale back anyways, just
(11:57):
three.
Like really great posts, like acarousel and two reels, or two
carousels and one reel orsomething like that.
Like more jam packed and seewhat happens.
'cause again, I'm showing uplike five to six days a week
right now and my engagement justseriously sucks.
So maybe I'll just scale backand see what happens.
And that's what I kind of loveabout summer.
(12:18):
Every, everything just feelslighter and I'm like, I feel
like there's just time to sortof step back and experiment.
And I love that feeling.
And then my newsletter, I willstill write it, but I'll
probably shorten it up a bit.
I will probably shorten up thethree ideas, and you could do
like a special version of yoursummer newsletter too, if you
wanted to.
So again, I'm skipping thatvacation week, but I'm finding
(12:40):
my minimum presence to stay topof mind for people and stay
consistent.
On my end, but it's not gonnacon, it's not gonna consume my
week, right?
So I want you to ask yourself,what's my minimum and what would
it look like to still feelpresent without overthinking
everything?
Okay?
So you don't need to pump outlong form content when your
(13:01):
brain is literally like beggingyou for sunshine.
You just need to be there, andyou need to be thoughtful and
real and present.
That's what I think.
Step number three, lean onsystems that streamline.
This is my jam.
This is my jam.
I wish I could figure out how toteach this because I know it is
a superpower of mine, but I'dreally have to sit down and
(13:23):
think about how do I do this?
'cause it comes so naturally andeasily to me, and it is what
allows me to get a lot done innot a lot of time.
If there's anything people havetold me over and over since I
became a solopreneur, it's like.
How do you get so much done?
And I'm like, I don't know.
Like I can bust out a course, Ican bust out a podcast, I don't
(13:44):
know.
And if I commit to it, I'm doingit like I am.
I really do not go back onthings I've committed to.
So anyways, so here's wherethings get easier, is my systems
like my systems are my lifebecause most of my marketing is
interconnected at this point.
I'm not starting from scratch oneach thing.
My podcast is related to mynewsletter.
My newsletter is.
(14:05):
Related to my social media postsfor that week.
So that feels really good.
And if you haven't listened tomy episode about my content
trifecta, about how I'm using AIand my podcast newsletter and
social media posts all together,you should go listen to that.
I will link that in the shownotes.
And in fact, let me just throwthis in there right now.
If you need any show notes fromtoday's episode, just go to the
(14:27):
creativebodega.com/blog/eighteen, or
there's a link in the show notesfor all of these juicy deets.
Okay.
The reason that my systems workis because I have these formats
and templates in place.
I'm not reinventing anything,okay?
I'm just really plugging in themessage that I wanna share that
week.
So if you haven't set up thosetypes of repeatable systems.
(14:51):
This is your time to start, andI would start with your most
consistent platform and kind ofwork backwards.
So what I'm starting with is mylongest form content, which is
my podcast, and workingbackwards from biggest to
smallest.
So longest to shortest, so.
Podcast longest, biggestnewsletter, medium.
Right?
(15:11):
And then social media posts,which is sort of small, faster
content to consume.
And I track everything in, whatis Max Sheet?
Is it Sheets?
What?
Like, I don't know what Oh,spreadsheets.
Yeah.
And sorry, I couldn't rememberwhat they were called.
So I track that in sheets.
And that's me.
Don't come at me with your, howdo you not use Notion or Asana?
(15:32):
And let me show you how I, Idon't wanna know.
I, I've seen it and it does notwork for my brain.
What works for my brain isreally simple spreadsheets where
I can check things off, and Isee everything at a glance, and
I love it.
So my system is not fancy, butit's very repeatable, and that's
all you need.
Step number four.
Show up less, but with a lotmore intention.
(15:54):
And that's kind of my plan withmy social media posts.
Like my engagement, like I said,it is just like blows chunks
right now.
It's so bad.
It, it's, it's, it's laughableactually, but it also makes me
kind of wanna cry.
So I'm like, you know what?
I'm not gonna show up six days aweek if Instagram and my
followers don't want me to.
(16:14):
Uh, I'm gonna scale back tothree all summer and see what
happens.
But I'm gonna make them a lotmore intentional and I'm put
more time into them.
So instead of spreading my timeout across six posts, I'm going
to put my, all my time andeffort into three of them and
make them, you know, better andmore robust and more saveable.
That's my plan.
We'll see what happens, but Ireally think that everyone is
(16:37):
showing up less.
In the summer, onlineespecially, people are buying
less, they're online, less,they're busy, they're at the
pool, they're traveling, they'retaking a break.
So don't be afraid to shift yourcontent style during this time
or experiment.
Like I love that concept.
Like just dial it back, havesome fun, try new types of
(16:59):
content and see what happens.
So for me, again, maybe shorterpodcast episodes.
Uh, maybe more to the pointnewsletters, maybe a simpler
Instagram posting schedule.
And I'm looking forward to that,right?
I think we think that we have toshow up with fireworks to be
relevant, but sometimes it'shonestly just like the simple,
honest content that's gonna cutthrough the noise and get people
to stop scrolling.
(17:19):
So, be real, be brief, beconsistent.
I love that.
That should be on a t-shirt.
Be real, be brief, beconsistent.
So step number five is to prepfor the next season without the
rush.
So I know August is my time tostart ramping back up because I
do like to launch something inSeptember and I can't wait till
(17:39):
September to do that.
I need to start talking aboutit.
Organizing it, planning it, allof that in August.
So that's when I start to like,you know, get a little bit more
serious about my business.
And to be super honest with youguys, I don't know what I'm
launching this fall.
Is it the Insta Canvacollective?
Maybe.
(18:00):
Is it something brand new?
Maybe?
Is it like a workshop series?
Maybe?
Is it a mastermind with five orsix women?
Maybe.
I'm hoping that this, this timeand.
Space of kinda like steppingback in the summer and will
allow that clarity to come it,it usually does, to be honest.
So when I'm able to kind of stepaway from my business and have
(18:20):
some breathing space, that'swhen ideas start coming to me.
So.
Right now, I'm just letting mybrain rest and capturing the
sparks when they come.
I jot ideas down in my notesapp, or I literally voice memo
or I text myself all the time.
I don't know about you, but Ihave a pinned text to myself in
my phone.
I'm at the top, it's my face,and I text myself all the time.
(18:44):
Is that weird?
Um, so if you're planningsomething for fall, I would give
yourself the gift of.
Prepping towards August withoutthe pressure because I, again, I
wouldn't wanna save it tillSeptember.
So look ahead, see what you got,and then kind of work backwards.
And you don't have to know allthe details right now.
Just show up in a way that feelsreally doable for you.
(19:05):
So, some mistakes to avoid.
Here's what I don't want you todo.
I don't want you to disappearwithout telling your audience.
Okay?
I think that is, I don't know.
I, I just, I don't like that.
I like to let everyone know kindof what's going on and keep them
in the loop.
Mistake number two, to avoid,don't force yourself to match
someone else's hustle.
So if you see another creator.
(19:27):
Trying to sell something orlaunching something.
Don't let that make you feellike you need to.
And I've literally told myhusband and my VA do not let me
launch anything this summer.
Like if I say that I want totell me to shut up and remind me
that I promised myself that Iwould not do that this year.
Uh,'cause I actually did it inAugust of last year and I
regretted it.
(19:47):
So, and then mistake numberthree is, is overcommitting when
your energy is saying pause.
So my energy at this point inthe year after working.
Pretty darn hard.
January through early June isreally telling me to pause, to
take a breath, to take abreather, and I feel it in my
bones.
I need it.
(20:07):
I need the, the, I need to stepaway.
And summer's a really great timeto do that.
I.
And to simplify.
So final takeaways.
You are allowed to create asummer rhythm that works for
you.
You can rest but still show upand lead.
You can scale back, but still bevisible to your audience.
And you do not need to earnrest.
(20:29):
You just need to claim it foryour own.
Okay?
I'm, I'm gonna repeat that.
You don't need to earn yourrest, you just have to claim it.
Final takeaways.
You don't have to disappear.
You also don't have to hustle.
You just need to find thatmiddle ground that feels really
good to you.
Whether you're working threehours a day or taking a full
week off, just know that you'reallowed to make your business
(20:50):
fit your life.
Not the other way around.
So if you're needing helpcreating a content rhythm that
feels really good for you yearround, you could grab my seven
day Instagram starter guide.
I've got, uh, six post typesalong with Canva templates and
caption prompts.
Uh, and that is a schedule thatI pretty much stick to year
(21:13):
round.
Although this year I am sayingthat this summer I'm gonna try
something different becausehonestly.
Why not?
I'm gonna go down to three andput a little more sweat into
those particular posts.
So this week I want you to take20 minutes, map out your summer
business rhythm, and then lookahead to fall and reverse
engineer, which you actuallyneed to do.
(21:34):
I'm from the Creative Bodega.
If you haven't yet, it wouldmean the world to me.
If you went and rated andpossibly even reviewed my
podcast, it would help othersolopreneurs like you find it.
And I'm just loving this.
I'm loving podcasting, and Ihope you're really enjoying
listening to my episodes eachweek.
All right, cheers to a beautifulsummer, and I will see you guys
(21:56):
on the next episode.
Thanks so much for hanging outwith me on the Creative Bodega
Podcast.
If you love this episode, pleasebe sure to share it with a
fellow solopreneur who could usea little content creation
inspiration.
And hey, don't forget to checkout the show notes for any
resources I mentioned on theepisode.
To help you create content thatfeels easy and actually gets you
(22:20):
results.
If you want even more Canva andcontent tips, head over to my
website, the creativebodega.com, or find me on
Instagram under the same name.
Until next time, keep creating,keep showing up, and most
importantly, try and have alittle fun with your content.
I'll see you on the nextepisode.
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