If you’re navigating the balance of a corporate job while building your own business on the side, this one’s for you. I get it. You’re juggling a lot. And it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that working endless hours is the price you pay for success. But I’m here to tell you: burnout isn’t a badge of honor. And you can—and should—reclaim your time and sanity.
Let’s be honest, running your business on top of a full-time job can feel overwhelming. You’re constantly questioning if you’re doing enough. If you’re pushing hard enough. But here’s the thing: many of you are already doing more than enough.
Rest is Part of the Process
Let me tell you a little story. When I was in the corporate grind, there was a time I was working 12–14 hour days, day after day, week after week. I thought it was just how success worked. I’d wake up, work, eat while working, sleep, rinse and repeat. It was my normal. But I didn’t realize how drained I was until I stepped out of that environment and shifted to a new schedule when I started my entrepreneurial journey. Suddenly, I wasn’t working those marathon hours anymore, and it felt wrong. I wasn’t “doing enough,” I thought.
But here’s the real story: I was doing more than enough. I had to unlearn the toxic belief that working more hours automatically meant I was more successful.
When I decided to take a full break after leaving corporate, I ended up doing nothing for a couple of months. And that’s okay! I didn’t feel like doing anything productive. I just wanted to rest—watch shows, relax, and not feel guilty about it. But guess what? It was during this downtime that I recharged and came back with even more clarity.
In fact, it was after I allowed myself that much-needed pause that I rediscovered my passion for things I loved. I had the energy to get back to the things that filled me up—like rock climbing. I couldn’t even muster the energy to do that before. That rest wasn’t laziness. It was the reset I needed.
Guilt Doesn’t Belong in Your Breaks
If you’re running on fumes and feeling guilty about taking a break, I want you to hear this loud and clear: Rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. Your mind, body, and creativity need it. Imagine your brain like your phone. If you never plug it in to recharge, it’s going to run out of battery, and it won’t work right. Same goes for your energy.
But I’ll be honest, when I first started my business, I had moments where I felt like I should be working. Even when I wasn’t feeling my best, I thought I had to power through. But what I found was that when I gave myself permission to pause, I came back stronger, more efficient, and way more creative.
Working Smarter, Not Harder
The key to building your business without burning out isn’t working harder—it’s working smarter. And if you’re balancing a corporate job with a side hustle, the smarter you work, the better off you’ll be in the long run.
Here are three shifts that helped me, and they can help you too:
- Prioritize Your Tasks
It’s easy to get caught up in the to-do list, especially when there’s so much you feel you “should” be doing. But the truth is, there’s only so much time in a day, so you need to prioritize. What will move the needle the most in your business? Focus on that.For me, when I was first starting, I didn’t even have a website. But I landed my first client by prioritizing what mattered: real conversations, feedback, and providing value. Don’t get lost in trying to do everything at once—zero in on the stuff that drives results. - Delegate and Automate
You can’t do it all yourself. If you can afford it, outsource tasks that drain you. If you can’t, look into automating repetitive tasks. There are tools and platforms out there that can help you streamline operations, save time, and protect your energy.Don’t waste your precious time doing tasks that could be automated or delegated. Even if it’s just a small task, ask yourself: “Is this something I can pass off to someone else or automate?” - Batch Your Work
Group similar tasks together. If you need to create content, batch it—don’t try to come up with a new idea every day. Record a few episodes in one go or write multiple posts during a content session. This reduces the mental load of constantly switching between tasks and helps you stay in the zone.
Set Boundaries—And Stick to Them
As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to feel like you need to be available 24/7. But if you don’t create clear boundaries, you’ll quickly burn out. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to set expectations for your time—not just with clients, but with yourself.
For me, I rarely work weekends. I spend that time with my partner, relaxing and recharging. And you know what? That’s perfectly okay. I’ve learned to respect my personal time, and that’s made all the difference in how I approach my business.
Reflect on Your Wins
When you’re constantly grinding, it’s easy to overlook the small steps you’ve taken. But progress is progress, no matter how small. Take time each week to reflect on what you’ve accomplished, even if it’s just learning something new, or getting one step closer to a goal.
Sometimes, the feeling of being “lazy” isn’t laziness at all—it’s a sign that you need to pause, reflect, and readjust your mindset. Check in with yourself. Ask, “Why am I feeling this way?” Is it because you’re already closer to the dream life than you realize? Or is it because you need to adjust your approach?
Whatever it is, the key is to give yourself space to reflect, and honor those small wins. They’re the foundation for big success.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is this: you don’t need to hustle 24/7 to be successful. You deserve rest, and you deserve time to recharge. Your best work will come when you’re rested, focused, and working smarter, not harder. So give yourself permission to step back when you need to—and remember, your business will still be there when you come back.