Happy summer! I know I say this at the start of just about every Coffee Break post but… This year is completely flying by. I feel like I blinked on New Year’s Day and Easter appeared. Then I blinked again and now the 4th of July is right around the corner.
Life… Please slow down!!
Do you feel like that too?
So to kick off the summer (just a teeny bit late!), I wanted to share news about something that’s going on behind the scenes… It’s been rolling around and growing bigger in my mind for a while, and it’s time to act on these little (now huge) nudges I’ve been feeling.
So grab an iced coffee (or iced tea or water, I don’t judge!) and pretend like we’re sitting across from each other at a coffee shop.
Ready?
Then here we go!
I’m taking all of July off from work.
But that’s not the big news…
The big news is why.
And before we get to that, don’t worry! I’ll still be here to answer any questions, comments, or emails that you send my way, whether here on the blog or on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!).
I’m just giving myself a break from new recipe development and photography. 🙂
So now that we’ve covered that (I promise I’ll still be around to help with your baking questions!), here’s why I’m taking July off…
In today’s society, I feel like there’s often an underlying pressure to do more. Work more. Achieve more. Be more.
I’ve seen and heard people, especially in my generation, living by the acronyms FOMO (fear of missing out) and YOLO (you only live once). Pushing themselves to keep going, keep working, keep forging forward, stay active, never miss out on any opportunity—work, play, or otherwise—that comes their way.
I’ve found myself falling into that trap… And forgetting how to get out.
I’ve found myself working 8-10 hours on Amy’s Healthy Baking every day of the week… And turning down many opportunities to spend time with my friends and family.
I’ve found myself stressing so much over the way my baked treats look in photos… And often forgetting to sit and fully enjoy every sweet bite once I finish.
I’ve found myself spending hours and hours planning and scheduling fresh new content for my blog and social media… And failing to schedule just as much time for fun in my own life.
I’ve found myself trying to put on everyone else’s oxygen masks first with my Amy’s Healthy Baking business… And neglecting to put on my own.
As my mom says… You have to refill your own teacup before you can refill someone else’s. And you have to recharge your own batteries before you can recharge someone else’s.
So I’m taking July off to put on my oxygen mask. To refill my teacup. To recharge my batteries.
To remember what it’s like to be Amy… Not just Amy’s Healthy Baking.
I’ve felt fairly drained over the past year. I’ve felt a little sense of dread nearly every time I walk into the kitchen to start testing a new recipe.
“Will people like it?” I ask myself. “Is this what they want? Or will this fall flat? Should I try something else? Maybe play it safe so there’s a better chance they’ll love it?”
I tried to be really intentional, carefully tracking which recipes you viewed and tried the most, making meticulous notes about what flavors and baked goodies you loved, consulting those notes before I started on each new recipe brainstorming and baking session.
And yet…
I still second-guessed nearly all of my recipe brainstorming and baking decisions.
And along the way…
I lost sight of why I started my blog way back in 2010.
I started Amy’s Healthy Baking as a way to encourage me to try new recipes and techniques. To learn. To grow. To experiment. And most importantly, to have fun.
No… I didn’t intend for it to become a business and my full-time job back then.
That just evolved, and I’m so truly grateful, especially for the role that you played in that. Your interest and support for Amy’s Healthy Baking is what allowed me to turn it into my full-time job. I feel so incredibly blessed and lucky because of what you’ve done.
Still… When I woke up on a recipe testing day, there was a pit in my stomach. My gut was tied up in knots. My shoulders were tense. My feet felt heavy. My mind spun in circles, like a dog constantly chasing her tail.
I was afraid to try new things.
I was afraid to branch out, to experiment with exotic flavor combinations, to play around with different varieties of homemade bread, to test my hand at making fancy pastries from scratch, to learn about piping buttercream onto tall layered cakes, to play around with painting sugar cookies with royal icing, to tweak and test and try improving new recipes over and over again…
I was actually afraid to learn. To get messy. To have fun in the kitchen.
And that had spilled over into other areas of my life too.
I was afraid to take time off from work to get outside of my comfort zone. To plan coffee dates and dinners out, to schedule down time and vacations, to watch a movie or work on a puzzle with no other goals than to simply enjoy the moment.
I was afraid that doing any of those would cause me to fall behind… to produce horrible and terrible work… to offend you with taking too long to respond to comments and emails… to lose income.
And I’m ready for a break from fear.
Despite taking a vacation for the whole month, I only have two trips planned for July. One to Hawaii (I’m tagging along on my mom’s business trip!) and one back home. I’m planning on spending the rest of my month-long vacation at home. Resting. Relaxing. Reading. Starting and finishing a few jigsaw puzzles. Playing with our family’s dogs. Exploring the still-new-to-me city I now live in.
To quote one of my all-time favorite people…
I’m cooling my jets.
Somehow, I’m guessing I’m not the only one who has felt exhausted. Drained. In desperate need of a break.
Maybe you feel the same way. Hopefully not quite as intensely as what I felt in the past year… But maybe there’s still some part of your life that’s been tugging on your heartstrings, weighing on your mind, or nagging for your attention.
Give yourself permission to take a break from it. Whatever it is that’s causing you stress or sadness or frustration or exhaustion…
Find the courage to let it go for a while.
It’s like slipping a bookmark in between the pages of a novel. It doesn’t mean you’re putting down the book forever… It just means you’re taking a break—maybe to grab a glass of water, maybe to take a nap, maybe to head off on a vacation—but you can still come back and find your place in that book, exactly where you left off.
So that’s what I’m doing. I’m slipping a bookmark into Amy’s Healthy Baking, pausing to rest my eyes and my brain, taking some time to savor the other things my life wants to offer instead of frantically rushing through work every day.
I hope you’re able to find a bookmark and a break of your own. Because you deserve it. You deserve a break from the constant go-go-going and stressors in your life.
Maybe it feels a little scary to you to try taking a break… Or to even admit you might need one.
I get it. It took me over a year to finally find the courage to admit that I needed a break. And it took me another month of debating whether that was actually a good idea to act on my realization.
If you’re feeling a little nervous or hesitant… If you’re feeling a little doubtful or worried… If you’re terrified your whole life will shatter like a wine glass dropped on the kitchen floor if you pause and take a break for one month, one week, one day, one moment…
Then I’m inviting you to join my special group here.
With my special group, I’m sharing what I’ve learned throughout the past year about doubt, fear, and burnout… And what helped me find the courage I needed to take a break. To put my oxygen mask on first. To replace the exhaustion and dread I felt in the mornings and throughout the days with peace and joy.
You truly deserve the peace, self-love, and rest that usually comes from taking a moment, however brief or long it may be, to pause. To breathe. To remember who you are.
So find your bookmark. Take your break. And, if you’re willing, join my special group here. I’d love for you to be a part of this journey with me and to hear what happens in your life when you take a break too. ♡
Amy, you’re so brave to share this! I hope you truly get the time to rest and recharge. & I’m just a little bit jealous of your trip to Hawaii – I can’t wait to see the pictures. You deserve this break – enjoy! 🙂
Hi Amy! I think it’s wonderful that you came to this “realization” that you need a break! We literally need to “stop and smell the roses” sometimes! It’s fortunate that you are so young and able to realize this now, rather than at my age! (I’m 55!) It took me some serious soul searching to reduce my work hours by “half”, take care of my health, and learn to enjoy the little things in life that I was missing daily. I’m grateful for all my blessings in life, and I’m especially gratefully for the “peace” I’ve found along my journey. I wish you a beautiful, restful break! Enjoy your family, friends, and beautiful dogs! Happy Summer to you too! Xoxoxo
Thank you so much for sharing Nancy! I’m incredibly proud of you for making that decision to reduce your work hours and take care of your health. That isn’t an easy thing to do, especially when you’ve been working and creating those habits for such a long time! Good for you! ♡ I’m definitely looking forward to this break — and yes, including stopping to smell the roses! (Although perhaps they’ll be plumerias in Hawaii instead!)
Thank you SO much, Megan!! You have no idea how much your sweet comment means to me. I’m truly grateful!! ❤️???????? And you know me… I’ll probably take a thousand photos while I’m in Hawaii! ????
Amy
Enjoy, rest and recharge indeed! Congratulations for learning this lesson so early in life….it will serve you well in the years to come : )
Thank you so much Kimberly! This is something I’m hoping to internalize and remember for the rest of my life. 🙂
I feel the same way… you are not alone! Thank you for sharing this journey with us!
You’re so sweet Stephanie — it’s my pleasure! I’ve come to realize that sometimes, even though it’s hard to admit we’re feeling exhausted or burned out, the best thing to do is to share it… And then realize there are other people out there experiencing the same thing. There’s a sort of reassurance and relief in knowing that we’re not alone! ♡
Amy,
Enjoy every moment. We certainly enjoy your creations. You deserve the recharge.
Time goes by too fast!
Joyce
Thank you so much Joyce! That truly means the world to me that you’re enjoying my recipes. I’m so honored! ♡ I’m really excited to hear what you pick to try next! And I’ll certainly do my best to enjoy every moment of this break, too! 🙂
Amy, im in the place where you were just beforw the month of debating on how to get some rest. Its been a long recovery from hurricane Ike to then be hit by Harvey which displaced us up until 3 months or so ago. Im so exhausted and afraid in ways I never knew existed to become exhausted and afraid….so I get it…..and am so proud you can take this time to rejuvenate. This is where your blog and recipes are becoming so important to me. I use to love to be in the kitchen. Its my love language. The kitchen and I have become distant friends for reasons to most will just sound silly but its not to me. Enjoy this time. Soak up every drop. Sending you many Texas sized hugs your way ♡
Thank you so much for sharing Jenny! You’re truly brave and so courageous to share your story, and even more so to continue putting one foot in front of the other in your own recovery. I can’t imagine how difficult and exhausting that must be, to endure Ike and Harvey and try to pick up the pieces from the aftermath. Sending so much love and peace your way! ♡ Baking is definitely a love language for me, so I can understand what you’re saying about the kitchen too. And once you’re able to get back in the kitchen and start reconnecting with that incredibly important part of you, I’d love to hear what you think about any of my recipes that you decide to try!
Good for you!! Enjoy your break and your trips.
Thank you so much Charlotte! 🙂
Hi Amy, I think it’s great you are giving yourself what you need and taking care of yourself. I found the importance of doing this earlier this year. I retired earlier than I ever expected I would, but after 18 months of migraines and not sleeping the opportunity to retire was there and I did it. Now I no longer have 24-7 migraines and am slowly learning to sleep. This tells me I did the right thing for me. I hope your July gives you the respite you need! Enjoy your month off.
Good for you, Robin!! That’s absolutely incredible that you stopped experiencing constant migraines and are getting better sleep after retiring. It’s so interesting how our bodies try to send us signals about what’s “right” for us, even when our minds tell us we need to keep working and working and working. I’m so proud of you for putting yourself and your well-being first! Thank you for sharing!
Great idea! Enjoy -you deserve it because we never know how long in this life we have. I say Good for You!! And, thank you for being brave enough to share.
Thank you so much, Janet! I debated about sharing all of this for a little bit, but I realized that there are many people out there who are probably experiencing something similar and would find comfort in knowing that they’re not alone. It means the world to me that you appreciate what I’ve shared! ♡
Amy,
I am new to your site, and have been putting you wonderful recipes in a special file that I refer to now a great deal.
I have a few comments about your needing to take a break.
In this day and time we are changing how we do business, or in your case developing new recipes, and that is, no one measures a workweek anymore by 8 hrs a day 7 days a week, especially if you are the one person owner. Figure out how many hrs you want to work a day, a week, a month, and just do it. The world will not come to an end, your business I will guess will not likely even suffer, and you will be developing a new way of doing business with your business, and it will make it better in every way.
Having been exactly in your shoes emotionally, I learned that it was my own emotions that filled up so much time, and having to do less with what I needed to do for the business. Wanting to be perfect with everything I did, I mistakenly thought was the formula, and it is the formula in the beginning. You do, most times, need to work hard to get to where you, but you have likely have been for awhile. You then you reach a point in time where you truly need to let go of the worry angst that has been driving you, and that no longer works for you, and realize you can now move into the time frames you need to maintain the quality you can bring to your business. I learned this the hard way, I had an illness that required me to cut my business in half to heal, and in forcing me to do that, I found my first lessons of how to truly be in business. I found that even cutting hours in half, I still was able to see the exact same number of people a day. I had become so expert at what I did, I no longer needed the extra time I had built in, from one hour to a half hour, and I still do that even today, I work half days and it changed nothing in my business.
You also are likely underestimating your clients who follow you online and other places. You are more loved than you realize! That was another OH WOW thing I learned. I began the change of time by apologizing and the feed back from everyone was the same and wonderful! I heard things like, this does not bother me at all, to I love to come see you and this changes nothing for me.
And one last thing, you must address how you feel about your compensation. You will not work happily, things will become a drudge, even for something you love to do, if you do not feel inside your are paid what you feel you deserve. Eventually you will walk away from it if you do not address this part of it.
One of the greatest things I was able to do with the extra time created in the new model of my business was, I began another side business of taking people to Paris for a trip of a lifetime. So I am able to do two things I love to do, and because I made the changes in my life, everything going froward from that moment on created amazing fulfillment in business, for me personally, and what I can give back now to everything, and it feels like a miracle!
So cut back your hrs., work half days, three days a week, take off every holiday, and don’t work at all in the summer. Let go of worries, do not allow yourself to think up worries, and throw caution to the wind with the successful tools you bring with you from your business so far, and you will see that the time it has been taking you to worry, is time that now gives you energy to love your business in every way. Your master skills no longer need checks in place to worry about things falling through cracks. You will learn that extreme hard work no longer is needed, in fact it is now an established deterrent. Ask for, or establish the amount of income you need to feel the work is worth it, and even consider what else makes your heart happy, because you will actually have to time to do that too!
And lastly, I am a follower who loves what you have done to give me and your other readers, wonderful recipes!
Kathleen, thank you SO much for all that you shared! It’s always refreshing and inspiring to hear other people’s stories, especially ones like yours about how you were able to find a way to continue doing what you loved and take care of yourself and your well-being in the process. It’s not an easy path to navigate, especially in the beginning when our emotions try to get the best of us, so good for you for finding that new balance of work, rest, and fun!
I also loved what you shared about starting a side business of taking people to Paris. That sounds like it would be so magical and rewarding at the same time! Paris has been one of my all-time favorite travel destinations, and I can only imagine how special it must be to share the city with other people who might not have the courage to travel there on their own. So happy for you!
Again, I truly appreciate everything that you’ve shared! Just like what you’ve done with my recipes, I’ve saved what you shared here. 🙂 And if you do decide to try any of my recipes, I’d absolutely love to hear what you think of them!
Amy,
I’m a new follower, but I’ve been so thrilled to find healthier alternatives to some of my favorite recipes! What you do is hard work; enjoy your break, find your inspiration again, and allow that to drive you toward whatever the next step is. If you decide to return, we’ll all still be excited to see your creativity shine and benefit from that creativity!
Good luck to you! (And maybe visit some more baseball stadiums! ????)
You’re so sweet — thank you!! Your kind comment means so much to me. I’m so grateful! 🙂 I actually have at least one baseball game on the horizon in July, which I’m really looking forward to! 😉 And I’d absolutely love to hear what you think about any of my recipes you decide to try!