For small and medium businesses, August usually goes one of two ways; either everything slows to a crawl, or you find yourself racing to clear the decks before autumn…leaving you burnt out. When things quieten down, the temptation is often to power through and use the time to catch up. But it can be one of the best times of the year to intentionally hit pause because running a business or managing a team takes a huge amount of energy. Taking time off in August doesn’t mean stepping away from your responsibilities, it’s a business strategy.
When you are buried in day-to-day operations, answering emails, and handling immediate problems, it’s almost impossible to focus on long-term strategy. August gives you the breathing room to step back and look at the bigger picture. In reality, our best ideas rarely happen while staring at a screen late on a weekday afternoon. They happen when we give our minds space to wander. Taking time away now gives you the clarity and fresh perspective needed to tackle the final months of the year.
Running a business or lleading a team takes a huge amount of energy, and taking a proper break allows you to return with the clarity, focus, and drive needed for the months ahead.
Step back to see the bigger picture
As a hands on, small business owner, when you are buried in day-to-day operations, answering emails, and handling immediate problems, it is almost impossible to focus on long-term growth. Stepping away gives you the breathing room to look at the bigger view. Our best ideas rarely happen while staring at a screen late on a weekday afternoon, instead they happen when we give our minds space to wander and remind ourselves why we started on this journey in the first place.
Lead by example for your team
If you are working around the clock and never logging off, your team will feel an unspoken pressure to do the exact same. Prioritising your own rest shows your staff that workplace wellness is genuinely valued. A well-rested leader makes better, more considered decisions. Plus, stepping away sends a strong signal of trust, giving your team the space to manage operations and build confidence in your absence.
For more on building a healthy, sustainable team culture, listen to our OxTalks Podcast episodes on leadership and burnout.
What Makes a Good Modern Business Leader? Hear from founder of Claire Croft Associates and executive coach, Claire Croft, about what defines effective leadership in today’s workplace. They explore why transparency, clarity and a willingness to develop people’s potential are essential management qualities, and why poor leadership continues to drive employees away from organisations.
Supporting Your Staff: Mental Health Training and Neurodiversity Awareness in the Workplace
Hear from Olga Zilberberg, founder of The Missing Link, about mental health training, neurodiversity, and what real cultural change looks like inside organisations. Olga shares lived experience of anxiety, panic attacks and depression, and explains why effective training starts with self-awareness, everyday communication, and psychological safety.
Get outdoors and focus on self-care
A proper reset is about more than just catching up on sleep. Use the longer summer days to get outside, reduce your screen time, and clear your head. Spending time in nature and making space for self-care helps reduce stress levels and restores the mental energy you draw on every day as a founder or manager.
Reconnect
August is an ideal month for low-pressure connection. Why not take the opportunity to reach out to former colleagues, mentors, or friends you haven’t spoken with in a while? A casual catch-up or a walk-and-talk often sparks fresh motivation, offers new perspectives, and reminds you of the wider community around you.
Disconnect
It sounds simple, but it is often the hardest part. Set a clear out-of-office message, delegate key responsibilities if you can, and give yourself permission to genuinely log off. The inbox will still be there when you return, but you will be in a much better position to tackle it.
Plan something to look forward to when you return
Beat the back-to-work blues by giving yourself a reason to feel inspired in September. Booking a training session or securing a spot at a new networking group helps keep your momentum strong as the season shifts. Having meaningful growth opportunities already lined up makes stepping back into the office feel exciting rather than overwhelming.
Discover all of our free upcoming events in September and October; from build your community and connections with networking, keep your elevator pitch sharp by pitching, or learn something brand new with expert sessions and advice.
Give yourself the permission to step away this month. Taking care of your own wellbeing is one of the best investments you can make in the future of your business.
How are you planning to reset and recharge this August?
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