What I Learned from Doing Less This Month

A Slow Living Summer Reset

Jul 11, 2025

If you've been following my journey at all, you know that I hit an extreme burnout at the end of last year. And somehow, I fell back into one this summer.

I began freelancing last year because I knew I was being furloughed at the beginning of this year. And we needed income. At first, it was slow to start, and it was a season of financial hardships, but the Lord provided for every bill. Then, in the spring, jobs started picking up. And we were very thankful.

Somehow, last month, I landed myself working six freelance jobs. Easily over 40 hours a week. And I hit another burnout. I felt that I was just a moment’s notice away from a panic attack. And I cried almost every day.

Nobody wants to live a life like that.

So, after talking with my dear husband, we reset some of my goals. And I need to remember that: goals are just goals, they're not deadlines. So, I began to cut back on some of the tasks that I had overcommitted to, and worked hard to finish some of those projects that I could finish well. Even though I overcommitted, I did not want to cause these other people to crash and burn because I quit on them. I wanted to finish well, which meant that I worked many nights until midnight.

I do not advise overworking. But I am thankful that I was able to have the opportunity to finish well and to relay information to the people I was working with. I'm a chronic people pleaser, and I'm learning how to say no.

Saying “No” Means Saying “Yes”

It has broken my heart how many times my daughter has asked me to stop working and to be with her. The whole reason I work from home is that I can be with my children. And this last month has made it very difficult to do both. I don't know how moms regularly work full-time jobs while staying home. You have a superpower that I do not possess.

And while I am a chronic people-pleaser, I focused on reworking my brain to remember that saying “no” to something someone wants me to do is actually saying “yes” to my family. And my family is so much more important than pleasing man.

Saying yes to my family not only means that we are happier, but also means that I am resetting my brain to remember that raising up my children and the nurture and admiration of the Lord is my most important job.

It's Okay to Change Your Mind

We are not immutable. Only God the Father is immutable. And praise the Lord that he is.

I set some very high expectations for myself, and I wanted to meet all of them. I struggled with over-promising and under-delivering, not because of a lack of trying. I had to remind myself that it's important to slow down and to be present. I would much rather move slowly through a project and produce good work than rush through something that I'm not happy with. And rushing through the serial novella that I announced is not God-honoring.

We are called to do good, hard work. And that means slowing down to do so.

Slow Down with Me

So, if you're reading this and disappointed that the novella I promised to write will not be coming out in October, I'm also upset. But I know it's the right thing to do. I need to focus on my family and restarting my author branding business. But that doesn't mean I've given up on writing.

I am still working through my next book, and I do have several ideas for the sub-series of novellas, and those are definitely coming. However, in the meantime, I'm introducing a new project for my paid subscribers. I'm announcing this to them on the 15th, and then I will announce it to all of you next week.

☀️ In the meantime, I invite you to reflect on areas where you feel overwhelmed. How can you slow down in this summer season? Get outside and enjoy the sunshine.

What I Learned from Doing Less This Month

A Slow Living Summer Reset

Saying “No” Means Saying “Yes”

It's Okay to Change Your Mind

Slow Down with Me

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