If I could go back to the very beginning of my freelance business, I wouldn’t start with a website, a logo, or even a portfolio. I wouldn’t scramble to find clients or post on Instagram. I wouldn’t map out a launch plan or figure out my niche.
I’d rest.
And not just for a weekend. If I had known then what I know now, I would’ve taken something like a full three-month Sabbatical. No work. No pressure. Just a sacred pause to travel, play, heal, and hear God clearly. I would’ve used the savings I’d built up not to hustle harder—but to restore myself. I would’ve traveled somewhere fun and maybe planted myself there for a little while. I’d have wandered through museums. Hiked through nature. Drunk coffee slowly in cafés and watched the world go by without needing to document any of it. I would’ve read for hours and drawn just for fun. I would’ve taken a break not just from tasks—but from urgency.
Then—and only then—would I have begun building.
Slowly. Intentionally. Maybe with a part-time job to cover the essentials while I crafted my systems, clarified my values, and explored my voice as a creative entrepreneur. I would’ve carved out time for product development—starting with items that brought me joy. I would’ve let momentum grow organically, rather than force a breakthrough. And most importantly, I would’ve baked in rhythms that would protect my body, my mind, and my spirit from burnout.
Here are a few I now practice and would recommend to anyone starting out:
🕯️ Sabbath Rhythms to Build Into Your Week:
- Take at least 1 full day off, where your rule is: “Do ONLY fun. NO work allowed.” (If it feels like work, don’t do it.)
- A dedicated, phone-free Sabbath afternoon (start with 2 hours, then expand)
- A “Sabbath Box” for putting away work devices and to-dos
- Sunday night candle lighting + journaling ritual to reflect and re-center
- Solo dates once a month—no agenda, just joy (think walks/runs, parks, museums, or thrifted treasure hunts)
💛 Wellness Practices to Sustain Your Business:
- Morning stretches and breathwork before looking at your phone
- A regular strength or movement routine (mine is boxing or strength class + long walks)
- Meal prep for creative energy and hormone balance
- Monthly check-ins to evaluate: Am I building something I actually want to live inside of?
- Therapy, coaching, or spiritual direction as part of your business overhead
I used to think that rest was something you earned after working hard. But now I see it as what equips you to work well. Hustle might get you short-term results, but rest gives you long-term vision. Creativity doesn’t thrive under chronic pressure—it blooms in peace, in presence, in trust.
And that’s not just poetic—it’s practical. When I’m rested, I make better decisions. I recognize red flags in projects sooner. I hear the Holy Spirit more clearly. I get ideas for products or posts while doing the dishes. My nervous system stays regulated, which means I don’t spiral when I hit a slow season. I become the kind of creative who’s not just prolific—but sustainable.
Isaiah 58 says: “If you call the Sabbath a delight… then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land.”
Rest is not a delay to your destiny—it’s often the doorway.
If I could do it all over again, I’d start with rest. But you? You still can.
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