In the past 14 years I’ve: Hustled my face off as a new business owner (slash circus performer) escaping my corporate job. I found my sweet spot in San Diego as I hyperfocused on growth (my email list hit 22k holy moly). Then I let my undiagnosed ADHD take over, said yes to every opportunity, produced every idea I had (mostly alone). And finally I burned out like a champ. First place with honors, don’t collect $100, go straight to your parents house and stay there for two years.

That was in 2023.

Today I’m back in San Diego with my pup and partner and vowing to never work myself into the ground again. 

The short simple answer for how  I’m doing that is: habits and setting boundaries with myself.

The tough part is sticking to it even when I don’t want to (ADHD is wildly unhelpful) and remembering it’s okay to go slow when I have the motivation, ideas, and energy to push forward.

QUESTION: What keeps you going on your worst days? Not like motivational things but tangible actions for when you feel like calling it quits.

At the beginning of my business, when things got tough, I’d just have a huge meltdown. I’d spend many hours crying and then wake up the next day, put on my big girl pants, and get back to it. I was going after every opportunity and I was wearing myself out. That was not the best choice.

Now, 14 years in my answer is totally different. When I have a garbage day (or week or month) I take a break because my business that I created should not be giving me terrible days. I make the rules and I can change them.

The best thing to do on a bad day is to take the pressure off.

After hustling through my 20s and 30s, spiraling into burnout, along with a late-ADHD diagnosis, my business in 2026 HAS to run differently. 

I literally spent two years in my parents guest room, watching everything on every streaming platform, recovering from my own life. I like to say if you don’t take a break, a break will take you because it absolutely will and recovery will take longer than you think.

Since coming back to San Diego last October I’ve been intensely paying attention to how my brain and body work in relation to running my business. 

One thing became clear - I cannot work during my luteal phase.

I have zero drive to work. My ability to focus enough to edit blog posts whittles to nothing. I stare at the screen wondering if the post I’ve almost finished is actually garbage. Being perceived on social media feels

I sat down today to MAKE A SURVEY for my audience but then I opened my inbox for a password and here’s what I did instead:

I noticed that I had an email from one of the companies I’m an affiliate for. I needed to update my affiliate link for a new 30 day promotion.

So I opened my Squarespace to update my website’s resources page and remembered I wanted to update my homepage photo. Tested multiple photos, decided I didn’t like any of them and put back the original.