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The Purposeful Pause
A free weekly newsletter thatÂ
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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.Â
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
permeable boundaries, leaky cups, and the dance to protect and replenish energy
Have you ever noticed that some days you feel like you could conquer the world, while other days just answering emails feels like climbing Everest?
For years, I thought the secret was just finding the perfect recharge ritual. But through multiple burnout recoveries—that felt more like trial-and-e...
by Hannah Keyes —
May 18, 2025
boundaries
burnout prevention
energy management
rest + recovery
sustainable systems
pink flags, quicksand, and catching burnout before it catches you
I was standing in my kitchen last week, staring blankly at an open fridge, completely unable to decide what to eat. Not because there weren't options, but because my brain had officially reached its decision-making limit for the day after completing the move. I was now in the in-between. As I sto...
by Hannah Keyes —
May 11, 2025
burnout prevention
mindset
reflection
research + science
lizard brain, firefighting, and the architect identity waiting for you
Last week, one of my favorite astrologers shared a sentiment in my rising sign horoscope that felt like the timeliest of reminders: 'Pace starts to matter more than performance.'
For someone who spent years chasing optimization and pushing through burnout, rebuilt a life that no longer prioritize...
by Hannah Keyes —
May 04, 2025
burnout prevention
energy management
frameworks + tools
reactivity
research + science
neural decoupling, mortal vessels, and the science of creative recovery
In a world where productivity is often a form of self-hatred (or self-punishment) and creativity is considered a waste, it's no wonder that many of us are looking for:
👉 Sustainable ways to exist👉 Aligned communities👉 Unique experiences off social media
When the joy of creating gets buried under ...
by Hannah Keyes —
Apr 27, 2025
burnout prevention
creativity
productivity
research + science
simple pleasures, the useless web, and the beauty of becoming
This season, I've been watching spring unfold around me—some trees fully bloomed while others are just budding, patches of grass growing at different rates, wildflowers appearing in unexpected places. Nothing in nature completes all at once, yet here we humans are constantly pressuring ourselves ...
by Hannah Keyes —
Apr 20, 2025
energy management
mindset
reflection
seasons + rhythms