The Eliane Luella Monthly
✨ A Note Before We Begin
I only send this newsletter once a month—on purpose.
It’s not designed to be read and rushed through in one sitting. It’s something you can return to throughout the month, if you’d like—something steady that doesn’t ask for your constant attention.
Inside, you’ll find simple reflections and realistic habits—for self-care, intentional productivity, and everyday joy. You can move through them week by week, or just pick what feels helpful right now.
I write this as someone who knows how exhausting it feels to be constantly told to “do more” or buy something just to feel better. When I struggled most with my mental health, I didn’t need another sales pitch. I just wanted to feel seen—and to have something that felt useful, without strings attached.
That’s what this space is for.
Whether you read every word or just skim one section, I hope this feels like something you can come back to—on your own time, in your own way.
✨ A Soft Open
August has a different pace.
It’s the season of slowing, softening, and savouring what’s left of the warmth.
This isn’t the time for grand plans or rushing to finish a list. It’s a time to stretch out your days—letting them unfold slowly, without urgency.
Lately, I’ve been noticing the quiet comforts of late summer—the scent of something baking, drifting through open windows into the garden, the familiar weight of a book in my lap, the way the light stretches just a little longer in the evenings.
Maybe this is your season to pause, too. To take things in, without needing to turn them into something else.
Let August be the month you let things stay simple—and enough.
A quiet kitchen moment—everyday slow living, right where you are.
🌿 Realistic Self-Care | Rest, Before the Rush
Late summer has its own kind of self-care—it’s not about chasing more, but about releasing what’s been weighing you down.
It isn’t always about candles or quiet rituals (though it can be). Often, it’s about letting yourself pause. Taking up space in your own life again. Making room to feel at ease in your body and your mind.
This month, try self-care as quiet preparation. A way to reset before the season shifts again. No chasing, no pressure—just small moments of relief and return.
Here are five ways to care for yourself—calmly, intentionally, and without urgency—this August:
🌾 Evening Unwinding Ritual
Step outside as the sun sets or sit by an open window. Watch how the day fades—no phone, no distraction. Just the soft ending of another day.🥣 One Slow Meal, Fully Savoured
Prepare or enjoy one meal this week slowly—without screens, without rushing. Notice the taste, the warmth, the comfort.🪑 Clear One Space That Feels Heavy
Tend to one corner or surface that feels cluttered—not to perfect it, but to create breathing room.📵 A Quiet Hour, Just For You
Choose one evening this week to unplug fully—no screens, no noise. Rest your senses and let the quiet settle in.📔 Capture a “Late Summer Glimpse”
Write down three small details that felt soothing or beautiful today—the sound of crickets, cool sheets at night, the scent of something familiar in the air.
🪞 Self Check-In | Practical Ways To Ease Burnout
Burnout often builds slowly—through long days, too many decisions, and constant pressure to keep up.
If this summer has felt heavier than usual, you’re not alone. Most of us are juggling too much—work, personal life, relationships, and everyday tasks that never seem to end.
Here’s a simple question to focus on this month:
What’s draining my energy right now—whether it’s a habit, a commitment, or something I keep worrying about?
What’s one specific action I can take this month to ease that load—even in a small way?
Burnout doesn’t disappear on its own. It eases through clear, consistent actions like:
Going to bed earlier to get more sleep.
Lowering your to-do list expectations for the day.
Saying no to plans or activities you don’t have the capacity for.
Taking breaks before you feel completely worn out.
This month isn’t about doing more. It’s about cutting back and keeping your energy for what matters most.
Start with one small change. Take one thing off your plate. Make one decision that protects your energy.
The rest can wait.
If you’re not sure where to start, there’s one boundary that makes the biggest difference for many women—especially with work.
You’ll find it in the Intentional Productivity section below.
💼 Intentional Productivity | A Late-Summer Reset (Before Autumn Begins)
August isn’t the time to push harder or take on more. It’s the time to step back, clear some space, and focus on what will actually move you forward—without draining your energy.
This isn’t the month for overloading your calendar or setting strict rules for yourself. It’s a time for working smarter—not by doing more, but by doing what matters.
Think of it as a reset. An option to quiet the noise, clear out distractions, and focus on steady, realistic progress before the next season begins.
Here are seven simple productivity habits to help you reset your focus and ease back into steady progress this month:
Plan Your Day With Purpose — Write down your top priorities for tomorrow before the day ends, so you wake up with clarity.
Use Your Calendar Wisely — Block out realistic time for your tasks to prevent overcommitting.
Protect Your Focus Hours — Keep your best energy for your most important work—and save admin for later.
Start Small To Beat Procrastination — Commit to just two minutes on anything you’ve been avoiding, and let momentum build from there.
Take Quick Movement Breaks — Step away from your desk for even a minute to reset your focus and energy.
Keep Work And Rest Spaces Separate — Create clear spots for work and for rest, and respect the boundary between them.
Celebrate Small Wins Daily — Notice one thing you followed through on each day—it keeps motivation steady.
These habits aren’t about doing everything—they’re about making space for what truly matters, and moving forward without the weight of burnout.
→ You can find the full breakdown of these habits (and how to make them work in your own life) here: elianeluella.com/blog/7-realistic-productivity-habits-that-actually-work
🪞 Self Check-In | The Boundary That Eases Work Burnout
One of the biggest causes of burnout for women isn’t the work itself—it’s what happens outside of work hours.
It’s answering messages at night, taking on extra projects, or feeling responsible for everyone else’s problems—even after the workday is over.
Here’s a clear question to ask yourself this month:
Where am I giving away my time after work—through emails, messages, or extra responsibilities?
What’s one direct action I can take this week to protect that time—starting now, not later?
You don’t need to overhaul everything to set this boundary. It starts with small, consistent actions:
Turning off work notifications after a set time each day.
Letting non-urgent messages wait until working hours.
Saying no to extra tasks that aren’t your responsibility.
Logging off fully—mentally and physically—when the workday ends.
Protecting your time isn’t about being difficult—it’s about respecting your limits and keeping work in its place.
Start with one boundary. Hold it once. Give yourself back that time.
Work will still be there tomorrow. Your personal time should stay yours.
A slow moment—reading by the window, finally getting into a book after months.
☀️ Grounded Joy | Everyday Joys To Savour In The Last Days Of Summer
Late summer isn’t about chasing big plans or squeezing every last thing into your schedule. It’s about paying attention to the quieter moments—the steady, familiar parts of the day that are easy to miss.
This is the season for slowing down, even just a little. The air feels heavier, the days stretch out, and there’s a natural pull to pause before everything picks up again.
This month, let your joy come from what’s already here—ordinary, everyday things that help you step out of hurry mode and back into the moment.
These aren’t grand events or elaborate routines. They’re simple ways to notice what’s around you, to enjoy what you already have, and to carry that calm with you as the seasons begin to shift.
🌾 Sit Outside At Dusk
Let the air cool around you. Watch the light fade—no screens, no noise, just the evening settling in.🍉 Slice Fresh Summer Fruit
Cut up what’s ripe—melon, peaches, plums. Eat it slowly, with no distractions.🥣 Make A Simple Late-Summer Meal
Think tomato toast, roasted corn, or pasta with herbs. Nothing complicated—just fresh and filling.📚 Read For Pleasure, Not Progress
Sit by an open window or outside in the shade. No learning, no goals—just a story or pages you enjoy.🎶 Take A Slow Evening Walk
Leave your phone on silent. Let the sounds of the evening guide you—crickets, footsteps, or a favourite song in your ears.
🪞 Self Check-In | Stop Waiting To Earn Joy
Many women struggle to enjoy simple things without guilt. It often shows up as feeling like you need to finish everything else first—work, chores, responsibilities—before you’re “allowed” to enjoy something just for yourself.
It’s easy to fall into this pattern, especially in a season where there’s pressure to make the most of every moment or to keep up with others.
If this sounds familiar, here’s something to reflect on this August:
Where am I holding back from something I enjoy because I feel like I haven’t done enough to deserve it?
What’s one simple, specific action I can take this month—without finishing everything else first—to enjoy something right now?
Joy doesn’t need to wait for the perfect conditions. It doesn’t have to come after the work is done.
It can look like:
Eating a meal without doing anything else at the same time.
Turning off your phone and sitting outside without checking in.
Saying yes to something fun without adding it to your list of “productive” things.
This isn’t about escaping your responsibilities. It’s about removing the mental habit of linking joy to productivity.
Start with one action—one small, simple moment that brings enjoyment on its own, without guilt or justification.
Joy doesn’t need to be earned. It can start today.
✍️ A Little Behind the Scenes
This month, I’m leaning into boring, simple joys—the kind that don’t need to be shared or explained.
Most of my days will be spent with a book in hand, and most of my time will be in the garden—letting the sun warm my face during the day and sitting under the moonlight at night, with only the garden lights for company.
I’ve always loved nature—but only on my own terms. I’ve removed all the grass from my garden and soon I’ll fill it with pebbles. No more weeding, no more upkeep—just the feeling of soil and stones underfoot, surrounded by the kind of nature I’ve chosen to keep close.
This season, I’m keeping it quiet, steady, and fully mine.
📚 What Will Fill My August
Books: Stories that weave around Beethoven’s music—like Point Counter Point by Aldous Huxley.
Music: Beethoven, of course—but also Nina Simone and Madeleine Peyroux. My usual mix of old favourites.
Baking: Plenty of different recipes in my air fryer.
Drinks: All kinds of fizzy drinks.
Practice: Trying to fit in as much God-gazing as I can. Looking for glimpses of God in the moving clouds.
Let August be slow, but purposeful. Let it be steady, but still open. Let it remind you that joy doesn’t need to be earned, and that focus doesn’t require pressure.
Maybe you’ll spend more time resting without guilt, enjoy one simple thing just because it makes you smile, or ease into the month with fewer expectations.
However your August unfolds, I hope you meet it with patience—and let it meet you right where you are.
→ Hit reply and share with me: Which reset are you leaning into first this month—Realistic Self-Care, Intentional Productivity, or Grounded Joy?
With Warmth,
Eliane Luella
P.S. If you'd like a little extra structure this month...
Subscribe for The 1% Way Daily Reset Checklist—and real-life tips to balance soft days and strong goals, without burnout.
If you’re craving more grounded self-care, productivity, and everyday ideas like these, you might enjoy my book The 1% Way and the companion The 1% Shift Workbook—both built around the idea of devoting just 1% of your day (15 minutes) to what matters most.