This week, I’m on vacation. My out-of-office is on. The inbox is taking a breather, and so am I. And honestly? I know it’s the right move.

Summer has a way of reminding us that rest is necessary. When you’re holding your team or community together on just caffeine and sheer will power, there comes a time when the most productive thing you can do… is pause.

I know that there’s a constant push to stay visible. Keep showing up. Stay top of mind. Post regularly, send consistently, push content, drive traffic, chase numbers. Ah. But what if every moment isn’t meant to be filled with something?

Some weeks, like this one, it’s better to hit pause than hit send just for the sake of it. 

If you’ve ever sent an email out of guilt because “it’s been too long,” or posted on social media with zero inspiration just to keep the algorithm happy, you know what I mean. It’s exhausting. It’s also ineffective. People can feel when you’re just phoning it in. Instead, I challenge you (and myself) to ask:

Am I sharing something that serves my audience or just something that fills a gap?

Is this message rooted in purpose, or pressure? 

Do I need to speak today… or would listening serve better?

The answers can shift depending on the season. Right now? We’re in a season where attention spans are short, people are checked out, and inboxes are already overflowing. Sometimes, less communication done well beats constant messaging that lands flat.

This doesn’t mean we disappear. It means we get intentional.

We listen more closely. We observe what’s working. We prepare to come back stronger, with clarity and something valuable to say. Then, when it is time to hit send? That message will carry more weight because it wasn’t just thrown together. It was chosen.

If you’re feeling the summer slowdown too, give yourself permission to breathe. To pause. To put your own out-of-office on, even if it’s just for an afternoon.When you come back ready to communicate, do it with purpose. Your audience will feel the difference.

Want more thoughtful takes like this? This type of content is just a taste of what you can expect in each week’s Fresh Look Friday blog! It’s written for business owners like you who are building something meaningful.

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