8-Hour Summer Work Week Strategy: How I Scale Back Without Losing Momentum

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When Life Interrupts—and Why That’s Okay

It was one of those days. The school nurse calls, your daughter’s knee is bruised, your scheduled podcast recording disappears into the tech abyss—and summer hasn’t even officially started yet. If you’re a service-based solopreneur juggling content, clients, and kiddos, you know exactly what I mean.

And that’s why today’s blog post is so important: because you deserve a summer strategy that doesn’t burn you out—or your business down. In this blog post, I’m breaking down how I scale back for summer, stay visible online, and still protect my peace.

We’ll walk through:

• 🌞 How to mentally and strategically prepare for the seasonal slowdown

• 📅 The exact systems I use to simplify summer content creation

• 💬 My minimum viable content rhythm (and how you can find yours)

• 🧠 How to prep for fall without rushing or panicking

• 🙅‍♀️ Mistakes to avoid (so you don’t repeat my automation fiasco!)

Let’s dive in.

Reframe the Summer Slowdown—It’s Not a Setback, It’s a Strategy

If you’ve ever felt guilty for not working hard enough in the summer, you’re not alone. But here's the truth: seasonality is part of running a sustainable business. Most of us hit it hard January through May, and again in the fall. Summer? That’s your chance to breathe.

Whether you’re juggling camp drop-offs or slow mornings with coffee on the deck, your rhythm is going to shift. That doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. It means you’re adapting—and that’s smart.

💡 Quick mindset reframe:

You don’t need to earn rest. You just need to claim it.

Define Your Minimum Viable Presence

Summer doesn’t mean ghosting your audience. It just means getting strategic with your visibility. Your goal? Show up just enough to stay top of mind, without draining your energy.

Here’s my summer content plan:

• 🎙️ One podcast episode per week (shorter, action-packed)

• 📲 3–4 Instagram posts weekly (more intention, less frequency)

• 💌 One weekly email newsletter (a simplified version)

Ask yourself: What’s the minimum I can do that still feels aligned?

And remember—no one notices your breaks as much as you do. Communicate clearly (through stories or email), take your time off, and come back refreshed.

Lean on Repeatable Systems (Not Hustle)

This is where I thrive—and where so many solopreneurs struggle. You need systems that do the heavy lifting for you. But that doesn’t mean fancy software.

Here’s what my weekly system looks like:

1. Podcast is the content hub – Everything else flows from it.

2. Newsletter supports the episode – 3 ideas from the podcast.

3. Instagram content breaks it down – 2 carousels + 1 reel, or vice versa.

I track it all in a simple Google Sheet. I’ve tried Notion. I’ve tried Asana. They don’t work for my brain. But that’s the point: Find what does work and stick to it.

You don't need a fancy system. You just need something that's repeatable!

Read the blog post: The Content Trifecta: How I Use My Podcast, Instagram & Email Together to Save Time and Show Up Consistently

Show Up Less, With Way More Intention

Let’s be honest—Instagram engagement in summer often tanks. People are outside, they’re traveling, they’re not scrolling like they do in January. So instead of fighting it, lean into it.

This summer, I’m posting 3 high-quality posts per week, with:

• Deeper value (saveable content)

• Stronger storytelling

• More strategy behind the scenes

Instead of six half-baked posts, create three that actually connect.

Experiment. Try a mini series. Record shorter videos. Make your captions more conversational. And for the love of sanity—stop chasing trends that don’t feel like you.

Prepare for Fall Without the Freakout

This one’s crucial.

Come mid-August, I like to start quietly ramping up for fall launches. That might mean sketching out content ideas, creating launch visuals, or mapping out a new offer (even if I don’t know what it is yet).

I let my brain rest during summer—but I always keep a notes app or pinned text to myself for those mid-pool day bursts of inspiration.

Start by asking:

• What do I want to launch or focus on in the Fall?

• What assets would I need to prep for that?

• Can I reverse-engineer a gentle ramp-up starting in August?

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Disappearing without telling your audience
   → Just give them a heads up and they’ll totally understand.

2. Comparing your summer rhythm to someone else's hustle
   → Stay in your lane. You don’t need to launch just because they are.

3. Overcommitting when your energy says ‘pause’
   → Listen to your body. You’re running a marathon, not a sprint.

✅ Final Takeaways

• You’re allowed to slow down.

• You’re allowed to still show up and serve.

• You’re allowed to be visible without burning out.

Remember: “You don’t need to earn your rest. You just need to claim it.”

So whether you’re working 3 hours a day or taking a full week off at the lake—your business will be okay. In fact, it might even thrive more because you are thriving.

📥 Ready to Build Your Summer Content Rhythm?

Grab my 7-Day Instagram Starter Guide with 6 post types, Canva templates, and caption prompts that help you stay visible, strategic, and aligned—no matter the season.

Resources & Links Mentioned in this Episode:
🎁 Grab the 7-Day Instagram Starter Guide
🎙️ Listen to the Content Trifecta Episode