(+ A Self-Assessment to Get Back on Track)

Let me paint you a picture that might sound familiar:

You’ve been “grinding” for months (maybe even years) believing that hustle culture is the only path to success. You tell yourself that feeling exhausted is just part of entrepreneurship. That the constant overwhelm is normal. That working weekends and skipping meals is what it takes to build something meaningful.

But here’s what I’ve learned after 17+ years in the creative industry, working with dozens of creative entrepreneurs: Running your creative business on fumes isn’t sustainable, and it certainly isn’t profitable in the long run.

I see it all the time in my work as a business coach and COO for creatives. Talented artists, designers, and makers who are absolutely brilliant at their craft but are slowly burning themselves out because they’ve never been taught how to build a truly sustainable business.

They come to me saying things like:

• “I can’t remember the last time I felt excited about my work”
• “I’m busier than ever but somehow making less money”
• “I feel like I’m constantly putting out fires instead of moving forward”
• “Everything feels urgent and overwhelming”

Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing: These aren’t character flaws or signs that you’re not cut out for entrepreneurship. They’re warning signs that your business health needs some T.L.C.

As creative entrepreneurs, we’re particularly vulnerable to this because we often blur the lines between our personal and professional lives. We pour our hearts and souls into our work, sometimes literally giving everything we have until there’s nothing left.

That’s why I’m sharing this creative business health check with you. Because most creatives have never been taught to regularly assess whether their business is actually supporting the life they want to live, or slowly consuming it.

The 7 Warning Signs You’re Running on Fumes

1. You Can’t Remember the Last Time You Felt Truly Excited About Your Work

Remember when you first started your creative business? That spark of excitement when you landed a new client or finished a project you were proud of? If that feeling has been replaced by a constant sense of dread or going through the motions, it’s time to pay attention.

What to look for:

• Procrastinating on work you used to love
• Feeling resentful toward clients or projects
• Questioning why you started your business in the first place
• Finding yourself daydreaming about completely different careers

2. Your Revenue Looks Good on Paper, But Your Profit Tells a Different Story

You might be busy, you might even be making good money, but if you’re constantly reinvesting everything back into the business without actually paying yourself a living wage, something’s wrong.

What to look for:

• Working more hours but taking home less money
• Constantly saying “I’ll pay myself more next month”
• Feeling guilty about spending money on yourself or your family
• Having no emergency fund for your business OR personal life

3. You’re Stuck in Reactive Mode (AKA Constantly Putting Out Fires)

When you’re running on fumes, everything feels urgent. You’re always responding to the latest crisis instead of proactively working toward your goals.

What to look for:

• Every day feels like damage control
• You can’t remember the last time you worked ON your business instead of IN it
• Client emergencies are becoming the norm, not the exception
• You’ve stopped planning ahead because “things always change anyway”

4. Your Energy Crashes Hit Harder and More Often

This one hit close to home for me. I was experiencing energy crashes so severe that I needed naps in the middle of the day just to function. I chalked it up to working hard, but my body was trying to tell me something important.

What to look for:

• Needing multiple cups of coffee just to get through the morning
• Afternoon crashes that feel like hitting a wall
• Feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep
• Using food, caffeine, or other substances to manufacture energy

5. You’ve Stopped Setting Boundaries (Or Your Boundaries Have Become Suggestions)

When we’re desperate to keep our businesses afloat, boundaries are often the first thing to go. But working without boundaries is like driving a car without brakes—eventually, you’re going to crash.

What to look for:

• Responding to emails at all hours
• Taking on projects that aren’t aligned with your goals
• Saying yes to everything because you’re afraid to say no
• Your family and friends complain they never see you

6. Simple Tasks Feel Overwhelming

When your capacity is maxed out, even the smallest tasks can feel insurmountable. This is your brain’s way of telling you it needs a break.

What to look for:

• Putting off simple admin tasks for weeks
• Feeling paralyzed by your to-do list
• Taking much longer to complete routine work
• Making more mistakes than usual

7. You’ve Forgotten What “Done” Looks Like

Perfectionism and running on fumes go hand in hand. When you’re operating from a place of scarcity and fear, nothing ever feels good enough.

What to look for:

• Endlessly tweaking projects instead of shipping them
• Second-guessing decisions you’ve already made
• Asking for feedback from everyone (and their mother) before moving forward
• Having multiple “almost finished” projects collecting digital dust

Your Creative Business Health Check: A Self-Assessment

Now that you’ve read through the warning signs, it’s time to get honest with yourself. Grab a journal or open a notes app and work through these questions:

Revenue vs. Profit Analysis

1. What was your total revenue last quarter?
2. What was your actual profit (money you paid yourself) last quarter?
3. What percentage of your revenue did you actually keep?
4. Are you paying yourself at least minimum wage for the hours you’re working?
5. Do you have 3-6 months of business expenses saved?

COO Tip: If you’re working 50+ hours a week but paying yourself less than you’d make at a part-time job, your business model needs attention, not more hours.

Time Audit

Track your time for one full week (yes, really). Then ask yourself:

1. How many hours did you actually work?
2. How much time did you spend on revenue-generating activities?
3. How much time did you spend on busywork or “fake work”?
4. When did you take breaks? Did you take breaks?
5. How much time did you spend on personal care and relationships?

COO Tip: If you can’t remember the last time you took a real lunch break or spent an evening without thinking about work, your relationship with work needs a reset. Click here to grab my free time audit to help you get a handle on what you’re actually spending your time on.

Energy Level Evaluation

1. On a scale of 1-10, what’s your average energy level throughout the day?
2. What time of day do you feel most energetic? Least energetic?
3. How many hours of sleep are you getting? How’s the quality?
4. When did you last feel truly rested and recharged?
5. What activities or situations drain your energy most?

COO Tip: If you’re consistently rating your energy below a 6, or if you can’t remember feeling truly rested, your body is trying to tell you something important.

Systems and Operations Check

1. Do you have SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for your most common tasks?
2. How often do you feel like you’re reinventing the wheel?
3. Could someone else step in and handle your business operations if needed?
4. Are your client onboarding and project management systems really working FOR you?
5. What’s currently held together by “duct tape” in your business?

COO Tip: If your business would fall apart without you for even a week, you’ve built yourself a job, not a business.

What to Do If You’re Running on Fumes

If reading this blog felt like looking in a mirror, I want you to know: You’re not broken, and your business isn’t doomed. But it is time to make some changes.

Here’s where I recommend starting:

1. Pick ONE Thing

Don’t try to fix everything at once. Choose the area where you scored lowest in your self-assessment and focus there first. Maybe it’s implementing one boundary, creating one SOP, or finally paying yourself a living wage.

2. Get Support

Whether it’s a business coach, a therapist, or just a trusted friend—don’t try to fix everything alone. Sometimes we’re too close to our own situations to see clearly.

3. Remember Your Why

Go back to why you started your creative business in the first place. Was it to work 80-hour weeks and feel constantly stressed? Probably not. Use that original vision as your North Star as you make changes.

4. Set Non-Negotiables

What are the things you will absolutely not compromise on for your business? Your family time? Your health? Your creative integrity? Write them down and treat them as sacred.

The Bottom Line

Running your creative business on fumes isn’t a badge of honor, it’s a warning sign that something needs to change. And here’s what I’ve learned: 

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish; it’s strategic.

When you’re operating from a place of rest, clarity, and intentionality, you make better decisions, create better work, and attract better clients. You’re also modeling for other creatives that success doesn’t have to come at the expense of our wellbeing, health, and relationships.

Your creative business should enhance your life, not consume it. If these warning signs resonated with you, consider this your permission slip to slow down, take stock, and make the changes needed to build something truly sustainable.

Because here’s the truth: The creative world needs what you have to offer, but it needs you healthy, rested, and operating from your zone of genius, not running on fumes.

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