Often the key to having massive impact is the ability to keep going when others would have burned out. Below, you’ll find some brilliant entrepreneurs and creatives sharing how they’ve overcome or avoided burnout.
Heather Willm
For us, avoiding burnout really comes down to balance and perspective. Being a husband-and-wife team means we’re in this together, both the beautiful chaos and the quiet moments in between. We’ve learned to recognize each other’s limits, communicate openly, and step in when one of us needs to breathe. Read More>>
Antoineka Norman
I reached a point where passion wasn’t enough. I was juggling motherhood, managing TheDogBFF Barkerie, and volunteering with Operation All Paws — all while trying to grow as a mentor and business owner. My days blurred together. I was doing everything “right,” but I felt completely wrong inside. Read More>>
Edward Grant
I believe slowing down and doing things at a timely pace is the best. I believe we can get caught in the rapture of trying to constantly create, involve yourself in endless projects and get high off those achievements and validation that can do more harm than good. I have to remind myself it’s not a race and it’s a journey. Read More>>
Chris Lonergan
Following eight consecutive years of taking on more and more, I found myself in a dark place. My wife and I were running a business and we were storming. We offered more products than we had expertise for being produced by a staff largely comprised of generalists. Our company, Communication Partners specializes in employee benefits communication. Read More>>
Elizabeth Komet
Episodes of burnout are something I’ve experienced numerous times throughout my life. I’ve always been an industrious worker, even as a child, and while that discipline and work ethic are what make me a successful business owner, they can also push me to the edge. Read More>>
Rachel Dunn
It can definitely be hard sometimes because photography is such a passion for me, but I’ve learned how important it is to set boundaries. I’m now intentional about setting hours in my day where I completely turn off my phone and focus on being present with my kids — that time really recharges me. I’ve also learned not to overbook myself. Read More>>
Marissa McDonald
Well, running a homestead with my husband, being a mom of 4, homeschooling, and baking for our sourdough cottage bakery was becoming too much. I was baking more than I could handle, thinking that was the only way to grow our bakery – but it left me drained and disconnected from why I started baking in the first place. Read More>>
Devsoul
When I experience burnout, I’ve learned the importance of stepping back and being patient with myself. I’ve come to realize that forcing things, especially in creative work like music, rarely leads to the best results. My approach now is to recognize when I’m feeling overwhelmed and give myself permission to pause. Read More>>
Solus
I think the easiest way for me to avoid burnout is to keep reminding myself of what it is I’m working towards. I know that it can be easy, especially as creatives, to slip into an unproductive headspace, regardless of what causes it. Read More>>
Ivan Sljivar
For years, I believed success was simple: move faster, climb higher, never stop. As long as I kept delivering results, I thought everything else would fall into place. But somewhere between the early morning commutes, late-night stress, and endless deadlines, something inside me started to fade. At first, I told myself it was just fatigue. But the truth was deeper, it was a disconnection. Read More>>
Coach Lee
I’m a sit back, watch, and learn type of person and because of this, I strive to avoid burnout by seeing what others do, and have done, that gets them stressed. I love to learn, to learn, and to observe. Read More>>
Charlene Perry
Burnout isn’t failure; it’s feedback. Sometimes, it’s your mind and body reminding you that you’re doing too much, you’re stretched too thin, and you need more time for play. I used to think burnout meant you’d gone too hard for too long, or that you secretly hated your job. Read More>>
Danielle Gibson
Burning out comes easy to me; it’s engrained all the way down to my bones. It would be easy to say that my entire academic career made me this way, but I’m lucky to have even had it. It’s all on me, I did this to myself and it’s not a good thing. Read More>>
Jose Taveras
Honestly, I still struggle with burnout. It’s something that never fully goes away. You can’t avoid it completely, but you can learn how to manage and bounce back from it. For me, it’s all about balance and moderation. But balance doesn’t just happen, you build it over time. Read More>>
Aakansha Jagga
Overcoming and avoiding burnout starts with self-awareness. I make sure to listen to my energy levels and take intentional breaks before exhaustion hits. Balancing work, passion projects, and rest is key—sometimes stepping away is the most productive thing you can do. I also set realistic expectations and focus on progress rather than perfection. Read More>>
Kaiqi Zhang
When I feel burnt out, I leave behind the structures of modern life and return to places where ritual, belief, and nature are still closely intertwined. I’m drawn to communities where spirituality is not spoken, but lived, woven into daily gestures, embedded in clothing, and reflected in the way people relate to animals, land, and each other. Read More>>
Kimberly Richardson
When you’re working consistently and constantly, taking time to find peace is crucial. I’m a workaholic, so it’s something I’ve always struggled with. It looks different for everyone, but giving myself space to process and pray is beneficial to my mental health. Read More>>
Andrea Holt and Melissa Christensen
We didn’t just “push through” burnout—we leveled up. Instead of waiting for motivation to magically return, we took action. We pulled back to get honest about what was draining us, rebuilt our systems, delegated what didn’t need our fingerprints and reconnected with the parts of the work that actually lit us up. As we made those shifts, the fog started to lift. Read More>>
Najah Berry
Burnout used to hit me hard because I felt like I had to show up every single day for the brand, even when I was running on fumes. I had to realize: I am Pretty Skyn Society. If I’m not good, nothing flows. So I protect my energy now. Read More>>
Surendar Narasimhan
I think about my time as four quadrants: (1) things I don’t enjoy but are essential—like sticking to a daily workout even when it’s hard; (2) things I enjoy and are essential—like solving math problems or learning an art form; (3) things I enjoy but aren’t essential—like football Sundays that give short-term pleasure; and (4) things that are neither essential nor enjoyable. Read More>>
Ransom Onyema
Burnout is something I came close to more than once. Between being a medical radiography student, writing on the side, and trying to stay consistent as a YouTuber, I often felt like I was juggling too much. There were days I would wake up already tired, yet still push myself because I felt like I couldn’t afford to slow down. Read More>>
Amrit Nagra
When I gave birth to my second child — my son — during the pandemic, I thought I was prepared. The hospital was quiet, no visitors were allowed, and part of me was thankful for that peace. But deep down, I missed my mom terribly. Read More>>
