In this episode, I’m talking about work-life balance, and what to do when it suddenly shifts. I share practical, gentle strategies I use to stay steady when life or work demands more of my time and energy.

This isn’t about achieving a perfect balance (because I’m sure we can all agree that’s almost impossible). It’s about small, manageable ways to respond to tipping points. So if things are feeling unpredictable or overwhelming, this episode is a reminder that steadiness is possible — with a few intentional, practical tools.

Key takeaways from this episode

• How noticing shifts early can help you respond thoughtfully rather than react in panic

• Simple prioritisation techniques to manage your tasks and energy

• Why flexibility and boundaries are essential when the day doesn’t go as planned

• The importance of communication, asking for help, and having backup plans

• Small ways to care for yourself and reflect regularly, so you can stay grounded

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

Download your Priority Matrix — a simple tool to help you organise tasks and plan with calm intention. (https://www.sarahandmaude.com/s/priority-matrix-download.pdf)

Thanks for listening today, I hope you enjoyed this episode! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so come and say hello on Instagram or Threads (@sarahandmaude).

Remember to subscribe so you never miss future episodes. And if you’re enjoying the show, please leave a 5* rating and review.

Connect with Sarah

Website sarahandmaude.com

Instagram @sarahandmaude

Threads @sarahandmaude

Join my email community for seasonal business insights

In this episode, I’m talking about business finances — gently. I share the simple routines I use to stay on top of my numbers, and some honest thoughts on money, confidence, and fear — especially as women in business.

This isn’t about big income milestones or complicated systems. It’s about small, manageable habits that help make business finances feel a little less scary, and a lot more doable.

Key takeaways from this episode

1. Why I’m aiming to file my tax return in April this year — and what that shift has taught me
2. The simple tools and routines I use to track my finances month by month
3. Why consistency matters more than having a “perfect” system
4. How separating business and personal finances makes everything easier
5. Thoughts on money, confidence, and navigating financial fear as a woman in business

If business finances feel overwhelming, intimidating, or easy to avoid, this episode is a reminder that you don’t need to love the numbers — you just need a way to look at them calmly and confidently.

Thanks for listening today, I hope you enjoyed this episode! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so come and say hello on Instagram or Threads (@sarahandmaude).

Remember to subscribe so you never miss future episodes. And if you’re enjoying the show, please leave a 5* rating and review.

Connect with Sarah

Website sarahandmaude.com

Instagram @sarahandmaude

Threads @sarahandmaude

Join my email community for seasonal business insights

In this episode, I reflect on the first ten episodes of Seasons in Business and share what I’ve learned about starting and growing a podcast. From early worries and technical challenges to small wins and steady growth, I talk about the lessons that have surprised me and why it’s worth starting even if you don’t have everything figured out.

Key takeaways from this episode

1. Fewer than 10% of podcasts make it to 10 episodes — and why that’s worth celebrating
2. How a simple setup and an idea are enough to get started
3. The challenges of consistency, scheduling, and invisible work
4. Why slow, steady growth can feel deeply rewarding
5. A reminder that you don’t need everything figured out to begin

If you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast — or any creative project — this episode is an encouragement to begin where you are, with what you have.

Thanks for listening today, I hope you enjoyed this episode! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so come and say hello on Instagram or Threads (@sarahandmaude).

Remember to subscribe so you never miss future episodes. And if you’re enjoying the show, please leave a 5* rating and review.

Connect with Sarah

Website sarahandmaude.com

Instagram @sarahandmaude

Threads @sarahandmaude

Join my email community for seasonal business insights

January often comes with pressure to set big business goals, start new routines, and feel motivated — but for many of us, the deepest, coldest part of the year is better suited to rest and gentle beginnings. In this episode, I share why I don’t set business goals in January, and how I approach the start of the year more slowly — noticing what’s unfinished from last year, reflecting on how I want the year to feel, and how choosing a word to guide me can be surprisingly powerful.

Key takeaways from this episode

1. Why January can be the hardest month to set goals — and why that’s perfectly normal
2. How to embrace observation over action in the darkest part of the year
3. A gentler way to start the year: tying up loose ends and noticing what’s stirring
4. Why choosing a single word for the year can be more supportive than a list of goals
5. Practical prompts for reflection and beginning the year at your own pace

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

1. Download your Winter Planning Guide — for reflection prompts, seasonal inspiration, and gentle ideas to tend to your energy through the quietest part of the year.

Thanks for listening today, I hope you enjoyed this episode! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so come and say hello on Instagram or Threads (@sarahandmaude).

Remember to subscribe so you never miss future episodes. And if you’re enjoying the show, please leave a 5* rating and review.

Connect with Sarah

Website sarahandmaude.com

Instagram @sarahandmaude

Threads @sarahandmaude

Join my email community for seasonal business insights

The end of the year can feel like a whirlwind. December is often a blur of final orders, new year bookings, and festive plans, before we suddenly leap into fresh goals and projects. In this episode, I explore winter as a season for reflection and replenishment, sharing gentle prompts and questions to help you notice what has supported you, the challenges you’ve faced, and what you might want to carry forward — all while embracing the slow, restorative rhythm of this season.

Key takeaways from this episode

• Nature takes time to rest and save energy for what comes next — and we can do the same
• How to give yourself permission to pause and step out of the festive hustle
• Why December 31st isn’t a cut-off — reflection can happen anytime, at your own pace
• Reflection prompts to help you see what’s been meaningful, challenging, or surprising
• Considering what to release and what to carry forward into the new year

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

• Download your Winter Planning Guide — for more reflection prompts, seasonal inspiration, and gentle ideas to tend to your energy as the year draws to a close

Thanks for listening today, I hope you enjoyed this episode! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so come and say hello on Instagram or Threads (@sarahandmaude).

Remember to subscribe so you never miss future episodes. And if you’re enjoying the show, please leave a 5* rating and review.

Connect with Sarah

Website sarahandmaude.com

Instagram @sarahandmaude

Threads @sarahandmaude

Join my email community for seasonal business insights

Discounting can feel like one of the trickiest decisions in a creative business — especially at this time of year, when inboxes and socials are full of sales and “last chance” offers. In this episode,

I’m exploring the realities behind discounting: when it can genuinely support your business, when it can quietly drain your energy or margins, and how to make pricing choices that feel aligned with your values (not the pressure of what everyone else is doing).

Key takeaways

• When discounting does make sense — and how to approach it intentionally
• Why small creative businesses often can’t compete with big-brand discount culture
• The myth that “everyone else is doing it” — and how comparison clouds judgement
• The unseen costs of discounting: financial, emotional, and energetic
• How to make pricing decisions that support your business, your margins, and your wellbeing

Thanks for listening today, I hope you enjoyed this episode! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so come and say hello on Instagram or Threads (@sarahandmaude).

Remember to subscribe so you never miss future episodes. And if you’re enjoying the show, please leave a 5* rating and review.

Connect with Sarah

Website sarahandmaude.com

Instagram @sarahandmaude

Threads @sarahandmaude

Join my email community for seasonal business insights

We all do it — sign up for courses, workshops, or resources that promise to solve a problem or spark inspiration… and then never actually do the work. In this episode, I’m exploring why that happens, the psychology behind it, and giving some gentle permission to ease the guilt.

Key takeaways

• Why we sign up for courses, workshops, webinars, and resources we never finish
• How “future-self thinking” and “illusory progress” can cause problems
• Why doing the work can feel uncomfortable or scary — and why we avoid it
• Reframing guilt: it’s okay not to start or finish everything
• Practical ways to notice patterns and focus on what matters

Thanks for listening today, I hope you enjoyed this episode! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so come and say hello on Instagram or Threads (@sarahandmaude).

Remember to subscribe so you never miss future episodes. And if you’re enjoying the show, please leave a 5* rating and review.

Connect with Sarah

Website sarahandmaude.com

Instagram @sarahandmaude

Threads @sarahandmaude

Join my email community for seasonal business insights

Welcome back to Seasons in Business with me, designer and printmaker Sarah Phelps.

Sometimes, work just… slows down. Enquiries stop coming in, sales quiet, and the studio feels a little too still. In this solo episode, I’m talking about the slow seasons we don’t choose — the ones completely out of our control — and sharing gentle, practical ways to navigate them without panic or guilt.

You’ll hear strategies for staying connected to your creativity, taking small intentional steps, and reaching out for support — all while being kind to yourself through those quieter times.

Episode themes:

• The familiar, manageable lull that comes with your business’s natural rhythm
• The unexpected slowdown when you’re not sure why things aren’t picking up
• The “money’s tight” moments and what to do to keep your business afloat

Episode highlights:

• 00:53 The three kinds of “quiet and slow” I recognise in my business.
• 02:36 Remembering you’re not alone — and you’re not a failure.
• 04.47 How quieter times can be a gift.
• 05:18 Small, intentional steps to gently move forward.
• 08:06 Taking a deeper look when something isn’t quite working.
• 10:56 What to do when money is tight — it’s okay to shift gears.
• 12:53 Why reaching out can open the door to real support and connection.
• 14:19 A gentle reminder that slow seasons pass — and they don’t define your worth.

Resources:

Citizens Advice — for guidance on self-employed support, grants, and benefits (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk)

Samaritans UK — call 116 123 any time, day or night (https://www.samaritans.org)

Shout Text Support — text “Shout” to 85258 for 24/7 confidential support (https://giveusashout.org)

Thanks for listening. If today’s episode got you thinking, I’d love to hear from you — come and say hello over on Instagram or Threads (@sarahandmaude).

Remember to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you’re enjoying the show, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or a rating on Spotify really helps more people discover it.

For more details about the podcast, visit the website sarahandmaude.com/seasons-in-business.

And if you have suggestions for topics or guests, please email me at podcast@sarahandmaude.com