The Last Days of Summer: How to Gently Ease Back Into Business After a Break

August hits differently when you’re a female micro business owner.

You’re halfway between beach days and back-to-school lists, juggling the last of the holidays while your brain starts whispering, “Shouldn’t you be doing more?”

The summer slowdown is real - but so is the pull to get going again. And if you’ve spent the past few weeks in mum-mode, travel-mode, or simply not-on-top-of-things mode, it’s completely normal to feel a bit off your game.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to launch yourself into September at full speed.

You can ease back in gently - and still feel clear, confident, and ready to move forward.

Here’s how.

1. Acknowledge the Shift (and Don’t Rush It)

August can feel like emotional whiplash. One minute you’re applying suncream, the next  you realise Autumn is looking a bit slow, your content calendar is non-existent and the to-do list is mounting. 

Pause.

Take a breath and remind yourself: this is a transition. It’s okay to feel out of sync. You’ve likely been in care mode, family mode, or rest mode - and switching back to business mode takes time.

There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re just human. Honour the shift.

2. Do a Gentle Brain Dump

Your mind is probably full of half-formed ideas, to-dos you meant to do in July, and back-to-school logistics. It’s noisy - and that makes it hard to focus.

Before you touch your inbox or open Instagram, do a big, messy brain dump. Everything that’s swirling in your head? Write it down. Don’t organise it yet. Don’t judge it. Just get it out.

Then highlight three things:

• What’s urgent

• What’s important

• What can absolutely wait

  
  

Now you’ve got a calm place to start, instead of trying to do it all at once.

3. Create a Soft Start Schedule

You don’t need to dive headfirst into 8-hour days and big projects.

Instead, plan a soft re-entry. Try:

• Working half days for the first week back

• Theme days (e.g. admin Mondays, creative Tuesdays)

• Creative-only mornings to ease into deeper work

• Setting a “log off” time so you don’t overdo it

  
  

The goal here isn’t to catch up. It’s to settle back in - with space to breathe.

4. Tidy Your Digital Space

Sometimes the fastest way to feel back in control is to clear your digital clutter. If everything feels overwhelming, this is a great place to start:

• Clean out your inbox

• Update your calendar with upcoming events, sessions, and deadlines

• Clear your desktop and downloads folder

• Archive finished client projects

• Review your social media scheduling tools (hello Metricool!) and get rid of anything that’s outdated or irrelevant

  
  

Physical and digital space = mental space. Don’t underestimate the power of a little tidy-up.

5. Set One Back to Business Mini Goal for September

Not five goals. Not a full launch plan. Just one thing you’d like to complete or focus on in the first few weeks back.

Maybe it’s refreshing your services.Maybe it’s scheduling three weeks of content.Maybe it’s booking a call with your business coach or finishing a half-done project.

Whatever it is, make it small, focused, and achievable. A quick win to rebuild momentum.

6. Reconnect With What You Actually Want

Before you let September drag you back into doing all the things, take a moment to ask:

• What do I want the rest of this year to feel like?

• What kind of work lights me up right now?

• What needs to change so I can grow sustainably?

  
  

This is your business. You don’t have to return to it the way you left it.

Use the clarity that often comes with summer distance to realign your goals, services, schedule, and support systems.

You’re allowed to ease back in. You don’t need to make up for anything.

The last days of summer aren’t a countdown to chaos - they’re a gentle bridge back into the rhythm of your business. And when you take the pressure off, you’ll find your flow faster than you think.

Need help getting back into gear?

Join The What She Said Collective for real-time support, strategy, and tools that help you ease in - without overloading yourself. You’ll also get access to our upcoming Grab & Grow sessions to help you reset with intention.