Ep. 28 Experiencing Burnout as a Creative Entrepreneur: What It Looked Like for Me and Lessons You Can Learn
Burnout is one of the biggest reasons small businesses don’t make it past the five-year mark. And yet, in the online business world, we almost glorify it. We hustle harder, we wear “busy” like a badge of honor, and we convince ourselves that exhaustion is proof of our commitment. Until one day, we crash.
If you’ve been there (or if you’re there right now) you know how isolating it feels. Burnout makes you question everything: your business, your abilities, your goals, even your worth. But the truth is, you’re not broken, and you’re definitely not alone.
In this post, I’m getting really raw and personal about my own story with burnout. I’ll share what it looked like for me at different stages of my career, how I climbed out of it, and what I do now to keep myself from slipping back into that place. My hope is that by sharing my experience, you’ll feel less alone and more empowered to redefine what success looks like in a way that supports your life, not just your business.
(Quick disclaimer: I’m not a mental health professional, coach, or counselor. This is my personal story and what I’ve learned along the way. Please treat it as one entrepreneur’s perspective you can take what resonates from.)
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My First Taste of Burnout
I’ve always been a hustler. In high school, I got a job the day after I turned 16. In college, I was maxing out my credits, working internships, holding down jobs, and napping in my car between classes. Somewhere along the way, I developed this belief that if I wasn’t exhausted, I wasn’t doing enough.
That mentality followed me into my first corporate job. I had always envisioned myself working at a fast-paced marketing agency, and when I landed a job offer before graduation, I was thrilled. But within a year, the excitement had evaporated.
The salary was too low for the workload, overtime was expected but never compensated, and the culture was toxic. Weekly migraines, rising anxiety, and the sense that my job was consuming every part of my identity became my norm. When I realized my relationship, mental health, and overall wellbeing were unraveling, I knew something had to change.
I left after 11 months. And the kicker? In my exit interview, HR told me they were “surprised” I was leaving because I seemed so happy. That moment taught me two things:
People rarely say how unhappy they are before they leave — whether it’s an employee in a corporate job or a client in your business.
Burnout isn’t just about being tired. It’s when the thing you once loved starts making you mentally and physically sick.
Freelancing: Filling the Void with More Work
My next job had much better balance. A standard 8:30–4 schedule, no nights or weekends, and a lighter atmosphere. For the first time in years, I had real free time. And instead of learning to rest, I filled it with… more work.
I started freelancing on Upwork. What began as a side hustle quickly became the beginning of my business. Looking back, though, it was also one of my first clear signs that I didn’t know how to exist without constant productivity. Rest didn’t feel natural. Filling every gap with hustle did.
From Side Hustle to Burnout (Again)
Eventually, I left my 9–5 to run my business full-time. It was one of my proudest accomplishments, but also one of my hardest seasons.
At first, I was overwhelmed by not having enough clients. Then, almost overnight, I was overwhelmed by having too many. My first $10K month came and went without celebration because I was drowning in client work and anxiety. Mornings became a battle to even open my inbox.
My coach at the time gave me a tough wake-up call: something had to give. I either needed to cut clients, hire help, or risk burning myself out completely.
So I did both. I let go of a few clients who weren’t aligned and hired my first VA. It wasn’t perfect. Onboarding while overloaded made it stressful, but it was a lifeline. I also experimented with hiring contractors, which backfired because I hadn’t created systems or SOPs to support them. That experience taught me that investing in help is necessary, but it works best when you do it before you’re desperate.
The Turning Point
It took close to a year to feel stable again. But slowly, with support, systems, and clearer boundaries, I started to regain creativity and balance.
Here are some of the key shifts I made that keep me from sliding back into burnout:
Strict limits on calls: I only take a set number each week. I know that while I enjoy them, they drain my energy, so I protect my time.
Saying no to misaligned clients: If it’s not a “heck yes,” it’s a no. Every time I’ve ignored red flags for money, I’ve regretted it.
Accepting unfinished work: I work in small pockets of time now (nap times, early mornings, lunch breaks). That means projects stretch longer than I’d like, but I’ve learned that unfinished today doesn’t mean unfinished forever.
Investing in support, even when it cuts into profit: My VA isn’t optional. Even in months where I’ve paid myself less, keeping her has been non-negotiable because she protects my energy, my time with family, and the sustainability of my business.
What Burnout Really Taught Me
The biggest lesson? Burnout isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing the right things… the things that align with your season of life, your energy, your values, and your goals.
There will always be busy seasons. But building your business around boundaries, support, and sustainability means you can survive them without losing yourself.
If you’re in the thick of burnout right now, know this: you’re not broken. You don’t have to earn success by sacrificing your health. And you are allowed to redefine what success looks like for you.
Your peace matters more than constant productivity.
🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned In The Episode:
➡️ Follow me on Instagram @spechtand.co
➡️ Grab The Stand Out Brand Foundations Workbook
➡️ Book Your Stand Out Brand Strategy Session (use code SFBPOD for $100 off)
➡️ Check out episode 7 How to Use Client Feedback to Improve Your Online Business
🎧 Listen to episode 28 of The Six Figure Brand Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube
