Happy September!Thank you for being so supportive of my break. Sometimes we need to pause to reset, care for ourselves, and create space to let the answers come.In the meantime, I’m trying to do my best to honor my capacity, take breaks when I need them, and figure out where I may need more ease in my life.As side hustlers, we often have a high risk of burnout because of all that we juggle. And the constant #hustleculture-focused messages that bombard us on social media pressure us to keep going, even when we could use a break.Learning to ignore those messages and tuning into our inner voices and needs more will not change overnight. But, like anything else, I’m hoping it’s something we can continually strengthen. Baby steps, right?Over the past few weeks, here are a few things I’ve found helpful in feeling less heavy:Creating a calendar reminder at 8 pm every night asking, “What made you smile today?” and answering the question each time I get the reminder.Decluttering. Both digital and physical. Doing even a little bit of this process already makes me feel lighter. Eating comfort food. I fully accept that I’m an emotional eater, so I’m indulging in that right now. Bring on the chips, pasta, cheese, and ice cream. And did I mention cheese? 🧀Saying yes to play and friends. That led to happy hours, socializing with a new puppy, a speedboat ride, a walk, and a ballgame, to name a few, and all were so fun and great for my mood.Stretching. I feel much better if I can do a few yoga poses, most times right before bed. If you feel heavy/overwhelmed, please pause, check in with yourself and see what you need. Then, list things you have the capacity for right now and postpone the rest.Create time and space to relax. You have already earned it. 💖On to the picks!