With Laura Esmond

In this episode, I’m diving into something so many of us feel but don’t always talk about—burnout during busy season. Especially if you're juggling work, motherhood, and the ever-present pressure to grow your business, this one’s for you.

I share a bit about my own journey, from the early days of running a tiny, high-touch studio (think: Pinterest boards and custom sessions for every client) to moving into a high-volume retail studio where mini sessions and cashflow ruled. Spoiler: it didn’t end well. I completely overdid it and hit a wall.

But burnout taught me some pretty important lessons, and I’m sharing the six guardrails I use now to protect my energy, calendar, and joy. From blocking editing time like a boss to selling value over volume, from knowing my true capacity to carving out quiet time for my brain—I’ve learned that a sustainable business isn’t just possible, it’s necessary.

If you’re feeling stretched thin or already burned out, I hope this episode feels like a deep breath and a gentle nudge toward change.

00:00 Introduction: The Struggles of Balancing Work and Life

00:33 Early Days: Building a Business from Scratch

01:10 The Mini Session Revelation

02:38 Transition to a Retail Studio

03:33 Burnout from Overbooking

04:32 Implementing Guardrails for a Sustainable Business

04:57 Step 1: Block Your Calendar Like a Boss

06:38 Step 2: Sell Value, Not Just Volume

07:53 Step 3: Respect Your Capacity

10:42 Step 4: Use Tools and Habits That Save Your Sanity

12:44 Step 5: Protect Your Mental Space

14:57 Step 6: Share the Workload

18:02 Conclusion: Respecting Capacity and Building a Sustainable Business

Hyperfocus drops I mentioned can be found here.
That brainwave app I mentioned.

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