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The Purposeful Pause

A free weekly newsletter that reminds you to pause, take care of yourself, and take small, aligned action toward your most sustainable, burnout-proof life—delivered directly to your inbox every Sunday.

Browse past Issues

system salvage, linguistic mergers, and the art of adaptation

Last week we talked about why productivity systems fail. It's not you, it's the mismatch between how systems are designed and how you actually work. It's easy to think that means it's all bad. But we don't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater... productivity tools exist because they DO ...

by Hannah Keyes — Sep 07, 2025 adapting systems frameworks + tools productivity sustinable systems system audits

digital graveyards, focus friends, and the myth of universal systems

There's a graveyard in my notes app... (and at least a few drawers in my office.) Maybe yours too? 📓 Bullet journals that lasted exactly 13 days. ⏰ Time-blocking calendars abandoned after the first sick day. ☀️ Morning routines that died the moment daylight saving hit. 📱 Productivity apps downloa...

by Hannah Keyes — Aug 24, 2025 burnout prevention frameworks + tools productivity sustainable systems system audits

chocolate mousse, sustainable change, and the back-to-business season

What goes together like the last dregs of summer and poolside reading? Fall back-to-business rush + burnout. It's that time of year where everyone is looking forward, closing out summer mentally and putting the pedal to the metal before we hit the holidays. Which also means, me and my 1:1 clien...

by Hannah Keyes — Aug 17, 2025 burnout prevention energy management seasons + rhythms sustainable systems

turning 36, seasonal cusps, and the journey to trusting yourself

I always get sentimental this time of year. Maybe it's all those years of back-to-school conditioning or maybe it's because my birthday sits right at the threshold between summer's permission and fall's structure... Either way, August often ends up feeling more like a fresh start than January ev...

by Hannah Keyes — Aug 10, 2025 mental health mindset perfectionism reflection seasons + rhythms

taking time to reflect, mermaid research, and when the detour is the path

"When I started working with you originally on energy tracking, I had calls [back-to-back] from like 12 to 6 every day, and now I'm at the point where I have a lot more choice in my schedule." My client shared this on a call last week as we were reflecting on her journey and it got me thinking ab...

by Hannah Keyes — Aug 03, 2025 burnout prevention change management energy management seasons + rhythms sustainable systems

microdosing joy, crash patterns, and the process of integration

Picture this: You finally have the breakthrough—that lightning bolt moment where everything clicks. Why you've been struggling.Why you've been yearning for something different.And what needs to change for you to feel aligned again. It all makes perfect sense now. There's a buzz of excitement an...

by Hannah Keyes — Jul 27, 2025 burnout prevention change management frameworks + tools mental health perfectionism

jello nostalgia, 847 unread emails, and the recipe for burnout-free time off

You sit down at your desk with a freshly made coffee and stare at 847 unread emails, a back-to-back calendar, 150+ unread notifications in Slack, and feel a shiver up your spine at the thought of opening your project management system to see the notification number there too. This is the general ...

by Hannah Keyes — Jul 20, 2025 burnout prevention framworks + tools rest + recovery sustainable systems systems + processes

unexpected pauses, a cake crusade, and the myth of me-free businesses

I stepped away for longer—and more extensively—than intended when I had a health scare after the holiday (more on this at the end of today's email). What I discovered during those weeks didn't feel great: a major chunk of my business systems are actually me-systems, not yet real systems. And I'm ...

by Hannah Keyes — Jul 13, 2025 burnout prevention frameworks + tools rest + recovery sustainable systems system audits

something a little different this week...

There's something I've been wrestling with lately, and I'm going to share it with you in real time instead of waiting until I have it all figured out. Like many late-diagnosed neurodivergent and recovering people-pleasers, I've spent much of my life trying to prevent judgment and rejection anymor...

Jun 15, 2025 permission personal growth

momentum bridges, toxic waste routines, and the summer expansion guide

There's this moment in every seasonal transition where you can feel your body asking for something different, but your brain hasn't caught up yet. You find yourself resistant to routines that served you beautifully just weeks ago, or suddenly energized by possibilities that felt overwhelming in s...

by Hannah Keyes — Jun 08, 2025 adapting systems boundaries energy management seasons + rhythms sustainable systems

doing nothing, apple lore, and juggling the three P's

I've been thinking about how we can honor the summer energy that calls us to slow down without guilt or dropping everything we are responsible for. We are (unfortunately?) adults... To enjoy the season without the "I should be taking advantage of these beautiful days" pressure or the "everyone el...

by Hannah Keyes — Jun 01, 2025 energy management rest + recovery seasons + rhythms self-care sustainable systems

summer fridays, lazy smart, and the guilt-free guide to rest

It's the unofficial start of summer this weekend here in the States. Maybe it's the longer days or the promise of "summer freedom" lingering from childhood, but there's something about this time of year that creates a unique tension – simultaneously pulling us toward both rest and productivity. ...

by Hannah Keyes — May 25, 2025 boundaries productivity rest + recovery seasons + rhythms

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The Purposeful Pause

Browse *past* Issues

TAKE THE FREE QUIZ

Discover your unique energy patterns and create a system that works for YOU!

Join the waitlist for first access to the Tech for Boundaries Workbook!

Browse past Issues