There's a version of exhaustion that doesn't look dramatic because you’re not necessarily sitting in a doctor’s office.
You Can't Build a Business on an Empty Tank
You're still showing up, still delivering what you need to clients, and not really dropping any balls.
But something underneath is wearing very thin.
If you've been feeling that lately, you're not imagining it and you’re definitely not alone. You might just be a (highly sensitive) entrepreneur who has been treating her nervous system like it has unlimited capacity.
I know, because I was doing the same thing. At 22, I wore a lack of sleep like a badge of honor. I thought exhaustion was proof I cared and I would do anything to succeed. At 33, after 10 years in business, I've had to get honest with myself: there is a limit. And crossing it doesn't make you stronger, eventually it just makes you worse at everything that matters.
In episode 332 of the Fail to Win podcast, I'm sharing the 6 habits I've installed to protect my energy, and why giving yourself a break is one of the best business decisions you can make.
The Habit That Changed My Body (And I Didn't Expect It)
Sitting is the new smoking, and since becoming an online business owner I was doing a lot of it. This year is the year I decided I would start moving my body more again – not just workouts or walks, but just as a daily baseline.
I set myself a baseline of 8,000 steps a day (my normal average). On active days I now aim for 13,000. My team and I ran a 10K steps challenge for a full month. Within 2 weeks of doing more standing and walking meetings I already felt more fit, more capable, and I started actually craving movement instead of dreading it.
I also realized this: movement doesn't just change your body, it moves stress through your body instead of storing it. For a highly sensitive entrepreneur who absorbs a lot, that matters more than any productivity hack because it means I can process stress faster and hold onto less.
I also stopped treating alcohol as a default. After paying attention to how even 1 glass affected my anxiety for days afterward, I've been mostly alcohol-free and what most call ‘sobercurious’ for 3 years now.
The results:
- My sleep is better.
- My heart rate is lower.
- My motivation is more consistent.
No matter how much I love a good glass of red wine, alcohol just doesn't serve me anymore.
Why Your Focus Is the First Thing to Go
Less obvious than movement or alcohol is context switching. I realized I was jumping from coaching calls to checking messages to Instagram to email without ever letting my brain settle into one thing.
I've started honoring my time blocks properly. When I'm recording, I'm only recording. When I'm with my partner, my phone is face down and apps are blocked. I use the Opal app to lock down Instagram and work apps after 7pm, including even sales notifications (first time ever!).
I've also cut back significantly on caffeine, especially after 1pm. Caffeine stays in your system for up to 10 hours and can increase anxiety when you're already a sensitive person running at full capacity. I replaced afternoon coffee with tea and noticed the difference within a week.
The mindset shift that made all of this stick was simple: why make it hard if it can be easy? I used to feel embarrassed about needing an app to block social media, or needing a personal trainer to show up to workouts. Now I see it differently: my tools aren't weakness, they're just smart and make my life (and HRV!) easier.
Designing a Week That Actually Fits Your Energy
The most powerful thing you can do right now is stop running a week that was never designed for you.
I coach my clients through an Ideal Week exercise that helps you map out your schedule across all areas of your life, not just your revenue goals. When I was in Dubai and my coaching calls ran at noon instead of 9am, I realized I had so much more energy to host them. That one shift changed how I planned every live challenge after it.
Your week should be designed around how you're wired, not just what needs to get done. If you've never done the ideal week exercise, today is the day!
Grab my free Ideal Week Template at fastforwardamy.com/weekplanner. It includes a printable planner and an AI prompt you can paste into any tool to help you design a schedule that fits your energy, your goals, and your life.
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