What the Pause Taught Me: Rebuilding with Intention
From burnout to rhythm-led branding
April didn’t go to plan.
I had big intentions for content, visibility, and momentum but life had other ideas.
And honestly? This isn’t the first time.
I’ve had my share of marketing highs and lows. I’ll create a beautiful content plan, map it all out, post consistently for a week or two… and then disappear for six months. Not because I don’t care but because life, business, and motherhood are a lot.
It became clear that I needed a rhythm and structure that worked with me, not against me.
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The Juggle Is Real (and So Is the Burnout)
Running a business around family life is no small feat. Being a present mum to three small humans is a full-time job in itself and then I add running a brand studio on top. I’m leading projects with strategy and heart, holding space for big visions, and trying to grow a business that truly fits our life.
We’ve all heard the saying: “It takes a village to raise a child.”
Well, in my case, the village is me, myself… and my husband.
I’m in the thick of it: school holidays, random inset days (we’ve had SEVEN this year?!), workshops, sports days, and those “can-you-drop-everything-for-this” requests. If you know, you know.
And look this isn’t a complaint. It’s a reality check.
The system we’re expected to build businesses in? Or hold down jobs in?
It’s not designed for parents or anyone whose life doesn’t run on a neat 9–5 rhythm.
Don’t even get me started on surviving on four hours of sleep and still showing up anyway.
Some weeks it flows. Others feel like wading through fog.
And in April, the fog hit hard.
The Power of a Pause
Instead of pushing through, I paused.
I stepped back and looked at what was working — and what absolutely wasn’t.
Yes, I still have a long way to go. But I’ve started building a weekly rhythm that actually works: CEO blocks, focused client work, low-pressure marketing, and room for my growing family.
And most importantly?
I stopped listening to what everyone else was telling me I should be doing.
In the early days of my business, I gave away too much power to business coaches and online experts. I trusted their frameworks more than my own instincts — and ended up doubting myself.
But I’ve grown a business while raising a family.
That alone is proof I’m doing something right.
What April Really Looked Like
April was chaos.
• My whole family got taken out by a wave of sickness
• Two full weeks of school holidays
• House renovations kicked off mid-projects
• Five client projects, all with different needs
• Kids in tow — entertaining, navigating, juggling it all
🚀 This isn’t the polished version of business.
This is the real stuff.
In the past few weeks, I’ve:
• Changed a full business name and domain for a client
• Built a launch-ready website (with 3 kids under 8 in tow)
• Crafted a full brand strategy for a rebrand-in-progress
• Set up backend CEO + marketing systems
• Designed new social templates
• Managed multiple projects across different stages
…and still questioned if I was doing enough.
This is what business really looks like sometimes.
No launch day. No spotlight. Just real, layered, creative work.
It’s the kind of progress that doesn’t always show up on Instagram but it builds things. Quietly. Steadily. Powerfully.
The pause gave me space:
To reset. To reflect. To ask better questions about how I want to show up.
I reconnected with my why. I remembered that strategy is progress. And that not everything has to be shared to matter.
Here’s what I’m learning:
• Every system, every email, every pause adds up
• Creative block isn’t failure, it’s feedback
• Building with heart takes time (and that’s okay)
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Brand Rhythm Starts with Life Rhythm
That pause? It recalibrated everything personally and professionally.
Because just like in life, branding without intention gets noisy and cluttered, fast.
We often jump straight to logos and visuals, forgetting to ask the deeper questions:
• What does this brand need to feel like?
• What’s the bigger story I’m building toward?
• What do I need it to give back to my life?
The truth is: the systems that support your brand need to be just as grounded as the visuals.
I’ve realised (again) that I’m not here to build pretty brands — I’m here to build true ones. Strategic, soulful, spacious brands with backbone and breathing room.
Just like I’m rebuilding my business to fit our real life, that’s the energy I bring to every project.
Ready to Build Something That Fits?
If you’ve been quietly sitting on a rebrand, waiting for the “right time”…
Maybe this is your moment.
I’ve got 1–2 spaces open for branding or website design projects starting in June.
✨ If you’re ready to build a brand that fits your rhythm, supports your vision, and actually feels like you I’d love to hear from you.
