I’m officially putting my business into summer mode for June through August of 2026, and I am SO EXCITED.
Since I started my business, I’ve made no secret of the fact that Hello and Co is, and probably always will be, a part-time endeavor for me, despite the fact that I give my full attention to client projects when I am working.
At the time I’m writing this, my sons are 4 and 5, and taking time off to be with them in the summer is a huge priority of mine. Plus, it keeps me from burning out along the way.
WTF Is “Summer Mode?”
Summer Mode is, unsurprisingly, something I made up — it’s essentially where I close my books, limit my custom copywriting projects and spend as much time offline as possible.
I make a big deal out of putting my business into summer mode because, frankly, I’m not the best with saying no. If my website and social media do it for me, it’s easier — and the ~balance~ of it all is something I know resonates with my clients, so sharing it feels natural and right.
How I Prepared For Summer Mode EARLY
I started talking about summer mode way back in February, and people thought I was crazy — but this is a priority to me EVERY YEAR, and I have a good rhythm for how to get ready.
I also think it’s worth mentioning that I have a spouse with a 9-to-5, minimal childcare expenses over the summer (I pay our babysitters well, but only need them a few hours a week, and have two retired grandparents who help regularly), and consistently set aside income in my “Profit & Emergency” bank account so I can still pay myself as scheduled throughout the summer.
There’s a lot of privilege and preparation that go into Summer Mode, and I don’t want to pretend otherwise or EVER contribute to comparison mindset.
My Summer Work Schedule
I actually laughed typing this because to call my summer “scheduled” would be…generous. Things change month by month, so each month has a “theme.”
The June Plan
My 5 year old will be going to “kindergarten camp” (hold me) most mornings this month, leaving me to hang with Mr. 4.
During this month, I’m also:
- Wrapping up a May project that will run over into the first week(ish) of June
- Writing one website for a new client
- Writing one sales email sequence for an existing client
- Prepping for a trip we’re taking as a family!
My plan is entirely to do what I can, when I can — so I’ll be moving my workouts from the afternoon to mornings (my gym has child watch), otherwise taking mornings “off” from work to spend some dedicated time with my 4 y/o, and hiring a babysitter for ~2 afternoons per week.
It’s also worth mentioning that as my kids have gotten older, they’ve gotten a lot better at entertaining themselves. I no longer have a baby dependent on my body for food, a taby who’s PISSED that he can’t express himself, or toddlers who need to be watched for every single second — I try to fill up my kids’ cups in the morning with attention and adventure and we naturally transition back to our house for quiet time, outdoor play, or a movie (all of which I can work during).
The July Plan
July and August have no formal childcare scheduled, and VERY minimal projects to match.
I’m dubbing July “adventure month,” because we can do whatever we want! I’m in the process of making a summer bucket list to cross off with fun things to visit around St. Louis, and we’ll probably throw together a weekly schedule that designates when we want to hit up the library, go on bigger adventures, do the pool, etc.
My one website copywriting project this month is for a longtime client who’s rebranding and needs all-new website copy + messaging to go with it, so this project feels a little more relaxed (and I have an entire month dedicated to it).
The August Plan
August is for focusing on kindergarten prep (logistically, with back-to-school shopping, and emotionally/mentally)! I have one medium-sized copywriting project this month, and will be carving out some dedicated time to prep new offers and promotions for the fall and spring.
How I Manage My To-Do’s
At the time I’m writing this, I just wrapped up a huge systems glow-up with Ashley of Solution Integrators (15/10, highly recommend) — so thankfully, I’m doing almost ZERO admin work at this point in my business!
I mention my approach to work sprints in this episode of The Ordinary Business Podcast, but in my brain, there are two kinds of tasks:
- Can do with kids around
- Need to curate focused vibes
Internal work and little things are the former, while client work is the latter.
If I have a few spare minutes to work and do what my friend Sara calls “tiny tasks,” I grab something off of the running to-do list I keep in ClickUp (affiliate link) — and otherwise, I structure my work sprints around what the childcare situation is.
What I’m Working On For MY Business
Because I have a little more margin in the summer (fewer projects + occasional unexpected pockets of time if we find a movie or my kids are playing nicely), I do have a laundry list of things I’d like to do for my own business, like:
- Writing and publishing more blog posts. My goal is to add 24 SEO-focused posts to my blog before 9/1, so DM me if you have requests!
- Sending out my monthly newsletter, The Rough Draft
- Finalizing deliverables, sales pages, and emails for some new offers coming in the fall
Quick note on goals: I find writing blogs and optimizing for SEO to be pretty easy at this point, because I’ve had a lot of practice and literally do this for website copywriting clients. I’ve also already sat down and mapped out the topics and keywords for most of these posts, so the entire thing is feeling pretty simple (plus, I know “24 blog posts” is a made-up number and no one will die if I don’t reach it).
Above all, I’m prioritizing my sanity this summer, so:
- Client projects come first.
- Internal work is nice to do, but not essential.
- Spending time outside is a must.
My Summer Marketing Plan
I’m currently booked out through early September, so I actually feel really calm (for the first time ever) heading into a summer of light marketing! I’m 99% sure I’m launching a new website copy offer in the fall, so I’ll be pushing that and my signature copy/messaging offer more in August — but for now, I’ll be:
- Focusing on long-form written content (like my blog)
- Making a note of anything that would be a good podcast episode or video in the future (I will NOT be recording/filming with kids home)
- Posting to my Instagram feed probably 1x/week
- Posting to IG stories & Threads when I want!
- Sending my newsletter monthly, and other sales emails for templates and Cook Your Copy weekly-ish
What I’m Doing About Inquiries
I got this question on Threads and immediately thought “VALID!” I know some service providers who open and close their books in a very structured way throughout the year, so I did consider just doing a waitlist for fall — but honestly, no one likes a ~circle back~ (in my opinion), so here’s what I’m doing:
- My Contact page (where people inquire) includes my next availability for website copywriting
- I’m writing this post to link out in my typical inquiry reply email, to give more context to potential clients on why I’m less available (and worth waiting for, of course)
- I’m staying available for discovery calls and allowing clients to book their projects in advance with a deposit if they’re willing to wait until fall
- Sharing this post as much as possible
- Directing people who need website copy NOW to my copy templates & Cook Your Copy
How To Work With Me In Summer 2026
If you’re looking for help with your website copy this summer, I’m still here & ready!
Your options:
- Buy a website copy template (which comes with tutorial videos & bonus resources to help you write)
- Join Cook Your Copy, where you’ll still get a website copy template — but you’ll also get advanced tutorials, messaging lessons, and 6 weeks of dedicated Slack support from me for questions, ideas, and edits
…or if you’re planning a sales page or website copy refresh this fall, inquire here!
