Running your own business can feel like a never-ending marathon. Some weeks, you start Monday full of energy, but by Friday, you’re completely drained, struggling to keep up, and wondering how you’ll do it all over again next week. Sound familiar?
I used to be in that exact cycle: pushing myself too hard, feeling like I always had more to do, and ending my weeks exhausted. But after years of trial and error, I’ve found a system that helps me maintain high energy levels without burnout.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your business, constantly tired, or like you’re always behind, this blog post is for you. I’m sharing five simple but powerful shifts that will help you manage your energy, increase your motivation, and actually enjoy your work.
Let’s dive into the episode.
Why You’re Always Tired by the End of the Week
Many entrepreneurs think burnout happens because they work too many hours. But in reality, burnout happens because of how you work.
Here’s what I used to do (and what many business owners still do):
- Overloading my daily to-do list with 10+ tasks.
- Constantly switching between tasks, jumping from emails to sales calls to content creation.
- Ignoring my energy levels and pushing through exhaustion.
- Never setting clear priorities, so I always felt behind.
The good news? You don’t need to work less, you just need to work smarter. And that starts with these five shifts.
1. Theme Your Days for Maximum Focus
One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is constantly switching between different types of tasks. Your brain needs time to adjust when shifting from a creative task (like writing content) to an analytical task (like reviewing financials).
That’s why I plan my weeks using theme days.
🔹 Tuesdays → Strategy & Team Meetings
🔹 Wednesdays → Marketing & Content Creation
🔹 Thursdays → Coaching Calls & Client Work
By organizing my schedule like this, I don’t have to switch between different types of work every hour. Instead, I get into a deep focus and actually get things done without feeling scattered.
✅ Action Step: Take 10 minutes to plan out your own theme days. Which days will be dedicated to client work? Content creation? Admin tasks?
2. Track Your Energy Levels Daily
Most people wait until they’re completely exhausted before realizing they need a break. But what if you could prevent burnout before it happens?
That’s exactly what I started doing by tracking my energy levels.
At the end of each day, I ask myself:
- How do I feel on a scale from 1-10?
- What drained my energy today?
- What gave me energy today?
After a week, patterns start to emerge. I realized that days filled with coaching and content creation left me energized, while finance and admin tasks drained me. So, I adjusted my schedule to prioritize more high-energy activities.
✅ Action Step: Download my free Energy Sheet to start tracking your energy levels and make data-driven changes to your schedule. Click here to grab it.
3. Set Realistic Daily Goals (Stop Overloading Your To-Do List)
If you’re constantly ending your days feeling like you didn’t do enough, your to-do list is probably the problem.
A common mistake I see? Entrepreneurs overestimating how much they can do in a day. Instead of setting themselves up to win, they create an impossible task list and feel behind before the day even starts.
Here’s what I do differently:
✅ I limit myself to 3 key priorities per day.
✅ I make sure my schedule matches my energy levels.
✅ I focus on high-impact tasks instead of trying to do everything.
For example, today my only tasks are:
- Record my podcast
- Host coaching calls
- Run a team meeting
That’s it. Anything else is a bonus.
✅ Action Step: Before starting your day, write down the 3 most important things you need to accomplish. Ignore the rest.
4. Plan ‘You Time’ Like It’s a Business Meeting
Most entrepreneurs plan their work schedule down to the minute but completely forget to schedule time for themselves.
Big mistake.
Your brain and body need recovery time just like your muscles do after a workout. If you don’t build in time to recharge, your productivity will suffer.
That’s why I schedule self-care into my calendar, just like a business meeting.
🔹 Midday walk → Refreshes my mind for the afternoon
🔹 Massages twice a week → Helps me recover from intense workdays
🔹 Evenings alone or with loved ones → Prevents social burnout
If I don’t plan this time, I end up overworking and feeling exhausted.
✅ Action Step: Block off 1-2 hours this week for something that recharges you, whether it’s a workout, a quiet evening, or a spa day.
5. Set 3 Clear Weekly Targets (So You Actually Feel Like You’re Winning)
One of the biggest energy killers? Feeling like you’re never making progress.
This happens when you have too many goals or your goals are too vague.
Instead, I set three clear weekly targets every Monday.
For example, this week my focus is:
✔️ Selling 5 spots for my mastermind
✔️ Prepping for my upcoming retreat
✔️ Closing 3 high-ticket coaching clients
That’s it. If I hit these targets, I know I’m winning even if other things don’t get done.
✅ Action Step: On Monday, set 3 outcome-based goals for the week. Keep them clear and achievable.
Final Thoughts: Protect Your Energy Like Your Business Depends on It (Because It Does)
Burnout isn’t just about working too much, it’s about not managing your energy effectively.
If you want to grow your business without constantly feeling exhausted, start implementing these five shifts:
✨ Theme Your Days → Reduce task-switching fatigue
✨ Track Your Energy → Adjust your schedule based on what drains you vs. fuels you
✨ Set Realistic Daily Goals → Stop overloading your to-do list
✨ Schedule ‘You Time’ → Treat self-care like a non-negotiable
✨ Set 3 Clear Weekly Targets → Create a sense of progress and momentum
When you make these changes, you’ll be amazed at how much easier business feels and how much more motivated you are to keep going.
🔹 Want to start tracking your energy? Grab my free Energy Sheet now: fastforwardamy.com/energy
What’s the first change you’re going to implement? Let me know in the comments!
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