I bet this feeling is familiar:

You know something needs to change in your business, but you can’t quite put your finger on what’s wrong. Everything feels overwhelming, and you find yourself stuck in a cycle that’s not working anymore.

As a creative entrepreneur, chances are you’ve gotten swept up in the “business hustle” script: 

Work harder, grow faster, expand constantly.

And while ambition and hard work are absolutely necessary to build a creative business, the truth is most creatives don’t learn the business side of things until they’re already drowning in it!

The generic business advice out there rarely honors the unique creative side of what we do, pushing many of us closer to burnout when what we might actually need is to slow down and reassess.

What if the most strategic business move you could make right now isn’t to scale up, but to slow down? What if creating space to breathe isn’t a luxury, but a necessity for sustainable success?

I’ve been thinking about this topic a lot lately as I find myself in a transition season as a result of changes in my life and noticing the warning signs of business burnout. After several years of pushing hard (admittedly, sometimes too hard), I’m creating space to breathe, reset, and prepare for what’s next.

In this post, I’m pulling back the curtain on my own intentional slowdown and sharing how to recognize when you need a transition season, create boundaries that stick, and leverage this quieter time to set yourself up for sustainable success.

When Life Shifts, Business Must Follow

This transition season has been driven by some significant changes in my world! In the last 3 months my family dynamic, specifically, has shifted considerably. 

My husband, who had been working from home since 2020, has taken on a new, exciting role (woohoo!) that requires him to be in the office three days a week with a commute of over an hour each way.

Over the last several years, he had a very flexible schedule and has done more than his fair share of taking the kids from activity to activity and playing chauffeur. 

Now, I’m (gladly) taking on those responsibilities.

For me, being there for school drop-offs, pick-ups, and my kids’ daily activities isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s actually what success looks like to me personally: time freedom. With my husband less available now, I’m so grateful I get to reshape my business around these must-have family priorities.

Pruning Commitments

On top of these new changes, I realized something important: while I’ve taken on some wonderful opportunities over the years, many of my commitments weren’t flexible – which is exactly what I need now. 

I had weekly obligations where I needed to be live, on camera, or taking point on calls. Looking honestly at my calendar, I saw that I hadn’t done much pruning of commitments that served me well in the past but simply don’t fit this chapter of my life. 

While I didn’t necessarily want to let go of any of these, something had to give, and it wouldn’t be my kids or my family. I could see the writing on the wall – if I didn’t make changes, burnout was inevitable. Rather than waiting until I hit a breaking point, I decided to get ahead of it. 

This meant evaluating: 

• partnerships, 
• regular meetings, 
• and other business responsibilities that no longer aligned with my current needs.

Making these changes was hard but necessary. I know you’ve likely faced similar tough choices, trying to balance your business with the rest of your life as circumstances inevitably change.

Recognizing the Signs of Business Burnout

Before we go into problem-solving mode, it’s important to notice when you’re approaching or experiencing burnout. The signs could include:

• That bone-deep exhaustion no amount of “self-care Sunday” can fix
• When your once-obsessive passion for your work feels like a distant memory
• Dreading client requests you used to take on with excitement
• Working longer hours but somehow getting less done (and beating yourself up about it)
• Feeling trapped or stuck in your business and worried about what happens if you step away

Sound like someone you know? Maybe the face in your mirror every morning? You’re in good company. Burnout affects countless entrepreneurs, especially in creative fields where the boundaries between work and life often blur.

And while it may be tempting to either push through or burn it all down, the truth is your next step doesn’t have to be so drastic. You don’t have to choose between burning yourself out or shutting down shop entirely. There’s a middle path — a transition season — where you can honor both your business and your mental health.

The Power of an Intentional Slowdown

There’s something beautiful about giving yourself permission to slow down. In a world that glorifies the hustle, choosing to step back can feel counterintuitive, even uncomfortable. But here’s what I’ve learned: sometimes slowing down is exactly what your business (and your well-being) requires.

I’m not talking about quitting your business or hiding under the covers for six months. This is about making a strategic choice to temporarily shift your pace. It’s recognizing that sometimes the most productive thing you can do is slow down. 

It’s looking your burnout straight in the eyes and saying: “I hear you, and I’m finally going to do something about it.”

Maybe you’re recovering from business burnout. Maybe you finally finished with a major project or launched a new offering. Maybe personal circumstances are taking up more of your time and energy. Whatever the reason, recognizing when you need a transition season is an act of wisdom, not weakness.

Creating Your Recovery Plan

An intentional slowdown doesn’t mean shutting down your business entirely. 

Instead, it means being crystal clear about:

• What you’ll continue doing during this season
• What you’ll put on pause
• What your non-negotiables are
• How long this season will last

For me, this means maintaining my outstanding commitments and serving my existing clients well, while stepping back from aggressively pursuing new business or diving into major new projects. I’m keeping the foundation solid while giving myself the space to breathe and reevaluate.

Why Slow Down?

When we create space in our lives and businesses to recover from burnout, incredible things can happen:

1. Clarity emerges. It’s hard to see the big picture when we’re constantly in motion. Slowing down allows us to gain perspective on where we’ve been and where we want to go.
   
   
2. Creativity flourishes. Some of our best ideas come when we’re not actively trying to produce them. Giving your mind space to wander often leads to unexpected inspiration — exactly what burnout tends to suppress.
   
   
3. Burnout is reversed. Pushing too hard for too long inevitably deepens exhaustion. An intentional slowdown can be the circuit breaker that begins the healing process.
   
   
4. Rhythms are restored. Over time, our personal rhythms can get out of sync with our business demands. Gifting yourself an intentional season of transition helps you realign with your core rhythms so you can build new, better rhythms moving forward. 

Planting Seeds 

A transition season isn’t just about rest — it’s also about planting seeds for a more sustainable future without burnout. In your business, this could look like:

• Sketching, painting, dancing…simply doing something creative that has zero ROI (except for your soul)
• Digging into those business books gathering dust so you can learn how to build more sustainable solutions
• Finally taking that course you purchased but haven’t had time for
• Clearing and organizing your physical space so your brain can breathe again
• Reconnecting with the person you were (and still are) before “entrepreneur” became part of your identity.

These seemingly “unproductive” activities aren’t wasted time. They’re the invisible work that builds the foundation for your next growth phase (without sending you straight back into burnout.)

Navigating the Mindset Challenges

I know that slowing down to tackle business and creative burnout can bring up all kinds of uncomfortable feelings. You might worry about losing momentum, missing opportunities, or what others will think of your decision.

These concerns are normal and valid, but they don’t have to dictate your choices. 

Remember:

• Your business works for YOU, not the other way around
• The clients, customers, and opportunities will still be there when you’re ready to return
• Taking care of yourself is the most productive thing you can do in the long run
• Your worth isn’t tied to your productivity or output

Setting Boundaries for the Future

For your transition season to be truly restorative, you’ll need to set and maintain clear boundaries. This might mean:

• Creating a clear OOO email responder that sets expectations
• Temporarily scaling back your work hours (and following through)
• Only choosing to work on projects that pass your new, stricter filters (aka if it’s not a “hell yes,” it’s a no)
• Saying “not right now” without the five-paragraph explanation
• Building guardrails that protect future-you from past-you’s missteps

Keep in mind, these boundaries aren’t permanent; they’re season-specific. You’re not closing doors forever; you’re simply choosing which doors to walk through right now to recover from or avoid burnout.

When It’s Time to Ramp Up Again

So, how will you know when it’s time to speed up again? You may already have a date in mind. In my business, I carved out a specific timeframe, one season (late spring through summer), to reset before launching back into my business full-speed  in the fall.

But here’s my best advice: While I can’t give you a hard and fast date, I can encourage you to set a checkpoint about two weeks before your “official” return date. This check-in gives you space to honestly assess if you need more time. There’s no shame in extending your transition season if you’re not ready.

After all, the goal isn’t to stay in a perpetual state of slowdown. 

The goal is to use this season intentionally so that when you’re ready to ramp up again, you’re doing so from a place of wholeness rather than depletion.

Embracing the Balancing Act

Balance isn’t a static state; it’s an active process. There will always be seasons of pushing forward and seasons of pulling back. The wisdom lies in recognizing which season you’re in and honoring what it asks of you to prevent burnout from becoming a recurring cycle.

As I step into my own season of intentional slowdown, I’m reminding myself that this isn’t a detour from the path—it’s part of the journey itself. And sometimes, the most powerful way to move forward is to first be still.

Build a Business That Breathes

If you’re feeling called to step into a slower season right now (not to add more to your plate, but to rebuild your foundation) I get it. And I’d love to help you do it with intention.

My course, Business Building for Creatives, isn’t about hustling harder or piling on more tasks. It’s about creating simple systems that support your creative work for years to come. 

I firmly believe that slowing down and growing your business are not mutually exclusive. You can purposefully decelerate to create deeper, more meaningful growth; just at a different pace.

Let me show you how! 

Because a business that lasts isn’t built by sprinting continuously. It’s built by knowing when to run and when to rest.