03/05/2026
I used to think that if I wasn’t working, I was failing my business.
I was trapped in a constant cycle of imposter syndrome and a scarcity mindset. I said “yes” to every low-budget or non-ideal inquiry because I was afraid another one wouldn’t come.
The result? I was constantly burnt out, missing out on time with friends, and feeling guilty every second I wasn’t glued to my desk. I thought the “hustle” was necessary and being busy was a sign of success.
I was sooo wrong. Today, I have a healthy relationship with my work. These three shifts are how I got my balance back and started consistently booking my favorite clients:
1. I stopped pricing from a place of fear. I traded a “scarcity mindset” for a “sustainability mindset.” Undercharging wasn’t helping me or my clients. Instead, it was just chipping away at my sanity. When my ideal clients finally did come around, I often had to turn them down because I was already buried under smaller projects. I finally set a minimum investment and stuck to it.
2. I reclaimed my time. I stopped viewing rest as “laziness” and started seeing it as a business requirement. I couldn’t show up as my best self if I was constantly resentful of my work. A huge win was automating with . Clients could book, pay, and review drafts on their own time. Systems gave me my weekends back. (Hack: use blushandblue20 to try them out for free and get 20% off if you decide you can’t live without them either)
3. I quit comparing my business to others. I stopped obsessing over what every other stationer was doing and focused on the unique value I wanted to bring. When you stop creating ad-hoc hand-torn place cards just because everyone else seems to be doing it, you find space to create what truly makes you happy. I looked not only at what I realistically needed to charge to cover my overhead but what brought me joy in creating.
A profitable creative business doesn’t have to take away your life.
Which of these hit home for you or feels the most difficult to accomplish?
