Why I Stopped Chasing Work-Life Balance and Built Something Better

Ask any entrepreneur why they started their business, and you’ll hear some version of the same story: “I wanted more freedom.”

But fast forward a few years, and many of us find ourselves running businesses that look nothing like freedom. We’re stretched too thin, working nights and weekends, trying to be everything to everyone at home and at work. That was me—not just burned out, but constantly feeling like I was letting everyone down. My clients, my team, my family, myself.

I tried to chase the mythical idea of balance. I thought if I could just juggle it all perfectly, I’d feel more in control. But the truth was, sometimes work did need to come first. Sometimes my business required more of me, and sometimes my family did. And trying to treat every area of my life equally at all times? That pressure created fractures in places that mattered most. It’s not the whole story, but I know my work habits contributed to the end of my marriage.

That was the wake-up call. I didn’t need better balance. I needed a better system. One that made space for what mattered in the season I was in. One that aligned my business with my actual life.

What I found was work-life integration. Not some ideal of perfection, but a purposeful way of aligning time, energy, and effort with what matters most.

As a multi-business entrepreneur, certified Full Focus coach, and someone who’s learned through experience how to prioritize well-being alongside bottom-line growth, I’ve found that integration isn’t about having it all. It’s about choosing what matters and letting the rest go.

 Let’s talk about what that actually looks like.

Design Your Week Like a CEO, Not an Employee

If your calendar is a mess of meetings, scattered to-do lists, and last-minute chaos, it’s no wonder you feel buried in your business. Every week, I define my “Big 3” priorities—three goals that, if accomplished, would make the week a win. This approach isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters most. And yes, sometimes those goals are personal. It might be a morning workout, dinner with my son, or an afternoon off the grid.

Great leaders don’t just plan their work. They plan their life.

Protect the White Space

Most of your best ideas won’t show up when you're stuck in your inbox or bouncing between Zoom calls. Clarity and creativity show up in the white space. I’ve found that some of my best thinking happens during contrast therapy, early morning walks, or while journaling in silence.

As the owner of a wellness studio, I don’t just offer these services—I use them. I book my own sauna and cold plunge sessions because they keep me focused, regulated, and fully present. If there’s no space to breathe, there’s no space to lead.

Take CEO Retreats Seriously, Because No One Else Will

Most entrepreneurs never truly unplug. They might take a vacation, but they’re still answering emails from the pool and fielding texts between dinners. That’s not a break. That’s just relocating your stress.

I take two CEO retreats each year, and let me be clear: this is not a vacation. That’s exactly why my family and friends are not invited.

These are solo getaways with one goal in mind—perspective. I check into a great hotel with a spa, not to lounge, but to think. For someone else, the location might be a cabin, the beach, or even a tent in the woods. It doesn’t matter where you go. What matters is that it clears your head and brings you back to yourself.

My schedule is flexible, but intentional. I always start with a walk, some self-care, and then I pull out the giant Post-it notes. I spend my days reflecting, mapping out the next six months, revisiting my goals, and getting honest about what hasn’t worked. I ask myself tough questions. I review my client list and determine if any relationships need to be sunset. I reassess my offerings and decide what needs to evolve.

Sometimes I order room service. Sometimes I sit in silence. I always stay unplugged.

These 3 to 4 day retreats are where the biggest shifts in my business have happened. I’ve redesigned product lines, restructured my ideal week, and set new boundaries that align with how I actually want to live and work.

And every time I return, I’m not just recharged—I’m recalibrated.

If you’re building a business you want to love long-term, you owe it to yourself to step away and lead from clarity, not chaos.

Create a Business That Doesn’t Revolve Around You

Wearing every hat in your business might feel productive, but it’s the fastest way to stall your growth. A business that only works when you’re available isn’t a business. It’s a job with more pressure.

Smart systems, automation, and team support are the foundation of real growth. At my companies, we use tools like KEAP to automate client communication, along with documented SOPs and scheduled team huddles to keep things moving whether I’m there or not.

Building systems is only part of the equation. You also need to give yourself permission to step away regularly—not just for strategy, but for sanity. For me, that looks like time on the golf course. For someone else, it might be a daily walk, pickleball, or afternoons at the park with their kids. These aren’t distractions. They’re part of the work. Because when you create a business that can run without you, you finally get to run your life on your terms.

Stop Earning Your Rest

Too many entrepreneurs treat rest like a reward. Hit the sales goal, then you can take a break. Land the new client, then you can take the weekend off. That mindset keeps you stuck in a cycle of proving your worth through exhaustion.

Rest is not something you earn. It’s something you require. I schedule rest and recovery the same way I schedule meetings. I protect my weekends. I block off time for thinking and dreaming. I don’t wait until I’m on the edge of burnout to take care of myself.

Burnout is not a sign of success. It’s a sign you’re doing too much of the wrong things.

The New CEO Mindset

Work-life integration is not a luxury. It’s a leadership decision. It requires clarity, boundaries, and the courage to build a business that supports the life you actually want.

You don’t need more hours in the day. You need to be honest about where your time is going and whether it aligns with the values you claim to hold.

Using tools from the Full Focus framework, I build every week with intention. I identify my Big 3 priorities, protect my thinking time, and create space to lead from strategy, not survival. This isn’t just planning for productivity. It’s designing a business that supports your life, not the other way around.

You didn’t build your business to lose yourself in it. You built it for freedom, impact, and purpose.

If you’re ready to lead with clarity instead of chaos, start by auditing your calendar. What’s there by default—and what needs to be there by design?

 Because no one is coming to create that integration for you. But you? You’re fully capable of choosing it.

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