Hi Reader,

It’s hard to believe that it's already back-to-school season! As we wrap up summer, I’ve been thinking a lot about a tradition Hazel and I celebrate during the warmer months: alternating Fridays off.

One week, I would check out a day early. The next week, Hazel did.

This extra day gave us both more time to hang out with family while school was out and just enjoy some summertime slowness in between all our goal-chasing.

I spent those Fridays doing lots of leisurely baking and cooking. It was the kind of experimental cooking I rarely have time for in the middle of a busy week.

I would go to the farmer’s market to collect local ingredients, carefully select a recipe, and ease into the process. I also spent many days baking sourdough bread (yes, I kept it up after the pandemic!), which worked perfectly with a 3-day timeline.

It's been lovely, but each year, it’s always a little tricky to settle into at first. It almost feels like I’m doing something I’m not “supposed” to.

For so many of us business owners, it feels like we can’t fully check out, whether it’s a random Friday off or a longer vacation. There’s always something we could do.

I get that everyone works differently, and we always have a lot to juggle. But also…what’s the point of “time off” if you’re not really off?

If you’re struggling to clock out, maybe try reframing it as a business strategy.

As I settled into my first couple of Fridays off, I quickly remembered that the long weekends didn’t just let me have fun and enjoy some delicious meals (which should be reason enough on its own, in my opinion!).

But turns out, rest is good for bread and business.

The weekend became more rejuvenating, which made the start of the next week more enjoyable and, yes, productive. Just a couple of extra days off per month, and I noticed myself feeling more energized and focused.

When I sat at my desk on Monday morning and bit into a fresh loaf of homemade sourdough bread, that confirmed I was doing exactly what I was supposed to do.

Did you take extra time off this summer? Did you find it hard to disconnect, or are you a pro? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I’m always taking recipe recommendations.

Rachel McFadden the left brain 1014 W. 36TH ST BALTIMORE, MD 410.635.0229 Read our Customer Reviews

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