The no work Friday rule that changed everything

Let me say something that might make some online business owners clutch their colour coded Trello boards …

I don’t work Fridays.

Not because I’m lazy.
Not because I’ve “made it” and now I get to cruise.

But because I built my business on purpose to serve my life, not the other way around.

Every single Friday is blocked off in my calendar as a Renae Day. No client calls. No content batching. No team chats. No to do list whispering “just one more thing.”

It’s a full permission slip to be human.
To rest. To play. To just live.

Sometimes that looks like a long solo walk with a podcast in my ears.
Sometimes it’s errands with a hot coffee and no small humans asking for snacks.
Sometimes it’s trashy TV with no guilt.

It’s intentional.
It’s strategic.
It’s the best!

Here’s why this matters (and why you might need it too)

We live in a culture that glorifies hustle like it’s a badge of honour.
If you’re not “booked out” or “crushing your launch” or “working while the kids nap,” are you even trying?

But behind all the curated Instagram grids and 6am journaling routines … is a reality we need to talk about.

→ According to a 2022 Asana study, 70% of knowledge workers experienced burnout in the past year.
→ And among female entrepreneurs, over 60% report that work-life balance is their #1 struggle, especially Mums juggling business and babies.

Let that sink in.

We didn’t start our businesses to burn out.
We didn’t leave the 9-5 to recreate it in our lounge rooms.
We didn’t choose entrepreneurship just to become our own worst boss.

But somehow, the lines blurred.
And now, too many women are stuck in businesses that take everything and give very little back.

So … why don’t I work Fridays?

Because I choose to run my business around my life, not cram my life around my business.

From Monday to Thursday, I’m on.
I work school hours. I’m focused. I’m productive. I get stuff DONE.

But by Friday?
I’m clocked out.
I’m sipping tea, not writing launch emails.

And do you know what happens when I take that space?

• I show up better for my clients.
• I create from a place of overflow, not obligation.
• I feel excited about Mondays again (yes, really).
• My business grows because I’m not constantly depleted.

This isn’t some luxury reserved for people with 5 or 6 figure months.
It’s a strategy.
And it’s available to you, too.

The cost of constant doing

Here’s the hard truth ↓
When you never stop, your creativity suffers. Your nervous system suffers. Your relationships, your family suffers. YOU suffer.

You weren’t meant to be “on” all the time.

There’s power in the pause.

When we build in rest, we build resilience.
When we allow for slowness, we access clarity.

You don’t need more time. You need better boundaries.

You don’t need a productivity hack. You need permission to breathe.

But what if “I can’t take Fridays off?”

First, question that belief. Who says you can’t?

Seriously, who?

The corporate structure?
That expired mindset you picked up in your first job?
Some business coach who told you “if you’re not working 24/7, someone else will”?

You’re allowed to opt out.

Ask yourself:

“If I could build my business from scratch today … what would it actually look like?”

Would you give yourself Fridays off?
Would you stop overbooking your calendar?
Would you stop saying yes to things that drain you?

Then lovely … start there.

Even if you can’t take the whole day, could you:

• Make Friday mornings sacred?
• Block out client calls?
• Stop work by 12pm?
• Take yourself on a solo coffee date?

Small shifts count.
This is your life, design it on purpose.

This is what a Life Aligned Business™ looks like

Not hustle.
Not burnout.
Not working during Bluey episodes or stressing at soccer training.

It’s space.
It’s ease.
It’s freedom you can actually feel.

And the beautiful part?
When you feel good, your business does better.

I know this because I live it.
Fridays off aren’t a reward, they’re a requirement for the life and business I actually want.

Your turn, lovely

Take a look at your calendar this week.
Are you building something you want to sustain?
Or are you filling your days out of guilt, habit, or fear?

Let this be your invitation to choose differently.

Take the Friday.
Take the nap.
Take the life that actually feels like yours.

You didn’t start this journey to sacrifice your freedom, you started it to create it.

And if you’re ready to figure out what a life-aligned business could look like for you?

DM me.
Let’s chat.
Because this isn’t just my way, it could be yours, too.