I broke one of my own big rules this summer. For the last few weeks, I've been kicking myself, saying, how could I do this? I know better. I wrote a book called Free Time, after all!

Well, as I say in the introduction, business stress is a systems problem. Listen in for more on the mistake I made, and the systems and reminders I set up to ensure I have ample free time next summer.

📆 Upcoming Event: Substack Q&A on September 7

I'm falling deeper in love with Substack every day—there are so many wonderful elements that are refreshing my creative energy for all things newsletters and writing. I haven’t been this excited about software since encountering Notion in early 2020, and that completely changed my life and transformed my business!

In addition to my new paid Substack Rolling in D🤦🏻‍♀️h: Divine Disaster Diaries from a Breadwinning Business Owner Living in New York City, I’m now in the process of migrating my two main lists for Pivot and Free Time.

Linda Lebrun from Substack’s writer partnerships team graciously agreed to do a Q&A with the BFF community on September 7 at 12pm ET. She’ll share:

Substack’s goals as a company, and the types of writers and creators they are most interested in working with
Monetization strategies that are working best
Ideas to leverage their network and community to grow your platform
. . . and anything else you can think to ask!

Learn more and join us here »

If you’re listening in the future and this date has passed, you can still join to get instant access to our entire archive of bonus workshops and monthly private podcast episodes.

🌟 3 Key Takeaways

Europeans have been taking a full month off (typically in July or August) since the 1920s; this is common practice for them.
Your clients will be enjoying their summer too, wishing they were away from their computers splashing in pools or ocean waves.
New business will likely be in a lull while others are on vacation. You’ll want to enter the fourth quarter of the year with enthusiasm.

📝 Permission: Claim your big free time blocks for next summer now. Take notice, future self!

✅ Do (or Delegate) This Next: Set a daily recurring Do Not Schedule (DNS) block now for next August. Do not let yourself schedule any work commitments over it! Bonus: Take this time to also block off mid-December through mid-January if you haven’t already.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

Articles: JSTOR Daily—Why Europeans Have Such Long Summer Vacations, NYT—[Heat Singes the Mind, Not Just the Body](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/10/health/heat-mental-health.html#:~:text=“Extreme heat is an external,are experiencing homelessness%2C she added.)
Apps: TripIt Pro, HotelTonight (use promo code JBLAKE9)

📚 Books Mentioned

🎧 Related Episodes

Free Time: 166: Crashing into Quiet Time 🏝️, 126: Creating Time Buffer—7 Strategies for Spacious Scheduling
Pivot: 250: Staycation in the City, 77: 21+ Travel Tips, Tools and Apps

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✍️ Check out my new Substack, Rolling in D🤦🏻‍♀️h: Divine Disaster Diaries

❤️ Join our private BFF community for Heart-Based Business owners

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The 2024 Race: "It's Showtime, Folks!" (TEASER)