If you're anything like me, you've built your business with passion, intensity, and a work ethic that could put anyone to shame. You love what you do, you care deeply, and you want to grow. But somewhere along the way, did you forget to protect the one thing that matters most? Your peace.
I realized something that completely changed the way I run my life and business: peace is not something you earn at the end of the day. It's something you plan for from the beginning.
After all, why did any of us start our businesses? Probably not to work ourselves into the ground, skip meals, and answer Slack messages at midnight. Yet somehow, that became the default for many of us.
In this post, I'm sharing the exact habits, boundaries, tools, and mindset shifts that help me protect my peace like I protect my profits. Because running a business with over 400 active clients while staying regulated, creative, and actually happy? It's possible. But it requires intentionality.
Why peace is the real flex
People still look at success like it's all about being busy, booked out, and always on. That's the stereotypical view we have in our Western world. But I've gotten to a point where I'm not impressed by burnout anymore.
I see people online working crazy hours, and while I respect their achievements, I'm not impressed by someone working until 11pm every night or waking up at 5am on weekends. I'm currently in a phase where I'm getting ready to have kids, and I'm way more impressed by women who protect their peace, have energy, and aren't stuck in constant urgency.
Being happy and loving life and business at the same time? That's the real flex.
I've also realized that money doesn't make you happy. I love money (let's normalize talking about it), but safety comes from inside of us. Even when you make heaps of money, if you don't work on regulating your nervous system and protecting your peace, you won't feel safe or good.
What I plan into my week to protect my peace
This might sound counterintuitive, but protecting my peace has required hard work. It took effort to figure out how to work less hard on everything else. Here's what I now schedule as non-negotiables:
1. Movement and Steps
I don't just plan workouts anymore. I plan my steps. I've learned that hitting 12,000 to 13,000 steps a day is my sweet spot. When I'm busy or stressed, I need to walk even more because I store stress in my body. Moving helps me regulate my nervous system.
The big shift this year? I actually put my steps in my calendar. On busy days, if it's not planned, it doesn't happen. And I refuse to make self-care optional.
2. Intentional Time with My Partner
My boyfriend and I are both go-go-go types. We spend a lot of time together, but not always intentionally. So now we plan date nights, we eat at the dinner table (not in front of the TV), and we play games at night. When you've had a busy day, sitting down together and talking is when you benefit most.
3. Phone Boundaries
I turn off my phone in the evenings. My content phone stays in my office, and my personal phone (with WhatsApp for family) goes in the kitchen. I've blocked Instagram and social apps using Opal. I don't want to live on alerts 24/7.
Having boundaries means peace. My phone goes on Do Not Disturb. And the earlier I do this, the more present I can be with loved ones.
4. Sleep Optimization
My sleep has been crucial for my nervous system. I use a Pulsetto for vagal nerve stimulation before bed, earplugs, a silk sleep mask, and mouth tape. I want to maximize how rested I feel, not just spend eight hours in bed.
I've also stopped drinking alcohol because it ruins my sleep. Over Christmas I had some wine, and I immediately remembered why I stopped. It's just not worth it.
5. Conscious Recharging Time
Sometimes I just need a day on the couch reading, taking a bath, and getting cuddles. I've learned not to feel guilty about this. Your partner can be massive for your nervous system, and I lean into my softness on purpose now.
What I'm cutting out to protect my peace
Protecting peace isn't just about what you add in. It's about what you cut out.
No Toxic People
I don't want any drama, gossip, or emotional drainers in my life. My peace is worth more than anyone else's approval. I've even built in a bigger filter with clients. I don't work with people who have zero self-awareness and let their drama into my space.
No More 24/7 Availability
I used to feel so much guilt around not being available to friends and family. But I've realized that if you don't recharge, you'll never have a full battery. When I take conscious time off, I actually want to reach out to people. Being accessible all the time isn't leadership. It's hyper-vigilance.
Reduced Social Media Consumption
I love creating content, but I don't love consuming 24/7. I use Opal to block my socials during weekends, evenings, and mornings. When I scroll, it doesn't make me happier. It makes me compare myself. So I read or spend time with loved ones instead.
What I'm building to support my peace
Systems and Delegation
I batch my content ahead of time. My team handles publishing. I don't live in “what do I need to post today” energy anymore. Same with launches. I don't go from panic to panic or set wild targets. We just move consistently.
Success loves speed and momentum, but that doesn't mean chaos. I've reduced my sales targets at times and focus on one domino after the other. Day by day, we follow the plan, and the plan aligns with my life.
Life-First Planning
I have a digital planner where I plan my life first (holidays, rallies, vacations), and only then do I add in my launches. I don't have a launch peak on a Sunday anymore because that's my time off. I won't launch on my birthday. I'm realistic about managing my energy.
Accountable Team Culture
When someone drops the ball, we talk about it. I don't take the ball for them and do the touchdown myself. I used to get upset when someone made a mistake, wondering if I wasn't clear enough. Now I ask: is there a lack of clarity? Do they not have capacity? What's happening? Then I give the ball back.
If I compare that to five years ago, it's such a big difference. I would fix things in the weekends and get upset about it. Now I'm clear about what needs to happen, and I'm not the person doing it.
Focus Planning
Every three months, I sit down to look at my health, events, travel, and time zones. Every week, I plan my week and put life and health stuff in first. The business stuff will get planned in anyway.
I used to think strict planning would reduce my freedom. Now I've realized that a plan actually gives you freedom because you get so much white space back. You can always change a plan, but working with no plan is just harder.
Want to plan your life first and build your business around it?
Grab my 2026 Digital Planner. Message ‘2026PLANNER' on Instagram @fastforwardamy or download it here: fastforwardamy.com/2026planner
You cannot work as hard or go as hard as I have these past 10 years without also prioritizing your health and peace just as much. Sleep and self-care are not a reward. They're the basics on which everything else gets built.
I still work hard and have big dreams I want to accomplish. But I've learned that if it costs me my peace, it's too expensive. And that mindset shift? It's changed everything.
Listen to the full episode for the complete story.
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