August is My Reset Month

How I'm getting back to myself after almost burning out

Aug 21, 2025

Hi! I'm Tracy from The Femme Foundry. Your weekly dose of real talk about creative life. Design insights, honest stories, and practical advice that actually helps - in a space where you can drop the act and just be yourself.

Last month was absolutely insane and I almost burnt myself out. Again.

Remember that article I wrote about not being able to say no? Well, I actually listened to my own advice this time.

August has been different though. Quieter. I said no to a whole bunch of stuff - masterclasses, networking events, client calls that could wait. I needed this more than I realized.

Client work slowed down too, probably because of holidays. When things are slow like this, it's the perfect opportunity to work ON my business instead of just IN it.

But mostly, I've been focused on reconnecting with myself.

What I've been doing differently

Getting outside into nature again. I'm back to daily walks or runs, actually getting outside instead of being glued to my desk all day. Touching grass, looking at trees, remembering there's a world beyond my screen. This is so important for me and something I completely abandoned the last two months. I really felt the effects of not doing this.

The exercise is great, but it's more about the mental benefits. I need it to help with anxiety, to clear my head, get the creative juices flowing. When I don't move my body, my brain feels foggy and everything becomes harder than it needs to be.

Fixing my eating habits. I've been working on my nutrition and gut health because I've been so busy that I just ate whatever was convenient. A lot of stressed snacking happened. I still snack - I'm human - but I'm trying to get some balance back.

Being more present. Actually spending quality time with Bubble instead of being physically there but distracted by my phone or thinking about work. Being present with my husband and family. This is the number one priority for me, and I'd lost sight of that.

Scheduling ME time. I've been taking actual time off to read my "fairy smut" and drool over some "shadow daddies." I've gotten out of my 10-year reading slump, and now I make sure to read at least an hour before bed so I don't dream about brand guidelines and client presentations.

Working on the business stuff I never have time for. I've been fixing my content calendar, trying to be more organised, updating some of my processes, working on my website redesign. All those things that are important but never urgent, so they never get done.

Why August works as a reset month

Everyone talks about January being the time for fresh starts, but August makes more sense to me. Most of my clients are on holiday or winding down. The pressure is off.

Instead of panicking about the quieter pace, I'm leaning into it. Using this time to fix everything I've been neglecting.

There's still this voice in my head that says I should be hustling harder when things are quiet. That I should be out there networking and creating content and chasing new clients.

But that voice is an idiot. The same voice that told me to work until 4am for no good reason.

You can't pour from an empty cup. I know that's such a cliché, but it's true. When you're running on fumes, everything suffers.

Taking time to refill doesn't make you weak or lazy or less committed. It makes you human.

I'm not saying August has to be your reset month. But find one. Find the time that works for you to step back, breathe, and remember who you are outside of your business.

What does your reset look like?