I get asked all the time how I avoid burnout. The honest answer? I’m still figuring it out.

As a small business owner/micro-baker, we are multi-hyphenate—baker, recipe developer, bookkeeper, delivery driver, social media manager, customer service rep, cleaner. I also receive 30 to 50 messages a day—texts, emails, DMs. I’ve always taken pride in making people feel heard and answering each question thoughtfully and in a timely manner. But lately, I’ve noticed that constant communication is starting to chip away at my focus. I get distracted easily. Each time I shift gears to respond, it takes a toll on my productivity, my rhythm, and my body.

When my day runs long, I feel it the next day. My body is sore and my energy is low. And on top of all that, my people—my family—need me. They notice when I’m half-present (phone in hand). My husband side-eyes me when I reach for my phone when I finally sit down to catch up on our show. My kids love when my phone isn’t on the dinner table. My friends deserve my full attention when we’re together. But the truth is, it’s a tough juggling act: trying to be a present wife, mother, daughter, friend and a responsive, reliable business owner.

What I’ve come to realize is that protecting my peace and focus isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. I’ve started to make small changes that are already helping. During working hours, I turn on my phone’s “Work Focus” mode. Emergency calls can still get through, but everything else—texts, notifications, pings—waits until I have the space to answer. And when I do respond, I can give a thoughtful answer not rushed. I no longer apologize for not replying immediately. I can’t keep up with everything instantly, and that’s okay. Every message matters to me—but I’ve learned I have to protect my time and energy in order to keep doing this type of work.

Burnout doesn’t come from hating the work. I love this work. I feel grateful to do it every day. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t tire me out. Long days, early mornings, late nights, and “off days” that are still filled with shopping, cleaning, recipe development and testing, menu planning—it adds up. And rest? That can feel indulgent. Even selfish. But it’s not. I need the energy to be a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. I also need the energy to be the kind of baker and the kind of person I want to be. Burnout comes from the inability to separate yourself from work.

If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed, I hope you know you’re not alone. You’re not weak or broken. You’re just carrying too much, for too long. If you need permission to put it down for a little while—here it is. You deserve time to recharge. Your business won’t fall apart. In fact, it will be stronger when you return to it rested, clear-headed, and full-hearted. I am learning how to give myself grace too.