How to run a business with chronic illness (without burning out)

On my best days, I can create more in a few hours than some people might in a week. I’m full of ideas, deep in hyperfocus, making, writing, planning, building. But the flip side? I forget to eat. I ignore thirst. I lose hours and end the day totally drained because I pushed too far into the flow.

And then come the hard days. My body aches, my insides swirl, my brain fogs. I could fall asleep mid-sentence. It feels like like I’m one of those inflatable flailing tube men, completely emptied out. Decisions, creativity, even brushing my teeth feel impossible. These days often come in clusters, and the contrast between the highs and lows has, for years, left me craving a middle ground.

This is what running a business with chronic illness looks like. It’s messy. It’s powerful. And it’s different every day.

But here’s the thing: I’m more okay with it now than I’ve ever been. I’ve learned to work with my body and my brain, not against them. I embrace what I call chaotic discipline, the idea that it all averages out. I show up when I can, and I rest when I need. And my business still grows.

In this blog, I want to walk you through what I’ve learned about how to grow your business with chronic illness, without pushing through, burning out, or pretending you’re someone you’re not.

The invisible realities of chronic illness in business

For a long time, I kept my chronic illness private. I didn’t want clients to worry I was unreliable. There’s so much stigma around people with health conditions being “too risky,” like we can’t be counted on to do the work.

But I realised, I started this business so I could rest when I needed and run when I was able. And by hiding that part of me, I was holding myself back. I wasn’t giving my clients the chance to see the full picture, and decide for themselves.

Plus, did I want to work with people who thought less of me because I was ill even though
I’m brilliant in so many other ways? Er no.

Showing up authentically doesn’t mean oversharing. It means designing your business to work with your needs, not against them.

What makes growing a business with chronic illness so different

Growing your business with chronic illness isn’t just about working fewer hours, it’s about:

• Managing unpredictable energy and capacity

• Creating systems that can flex (not break)

• Letting go of hustle culture in favour of sustainability and persistency

You’re navigating a completely different operating system. You’re not inconsistent, you’re managing too much. And that requires a business strategy built around you.

Five strategies that support growth (even on low-energy days)

1. Simplify your offers

Your services should match your actual availability and energy. Consider:

• Group programs or memberships

• Digital downloads or templates

• Strategy or coaching sessions with built-in buffer time

Fewer offers = more focus and better delivery.

2. Create a rest-first schedule

Instead of cramming tasks into every possible time slot, build your calendar around:

• Rest days after client-heavy weeks

• Buffer weeks in your launch calendar

• Space for flares, fatigue, and mental health dips

You are the engine. Protecting your energy is strategic, not selfish.

3. Build a low-energy marketing system

Marketing doesn’t have to be a daily performance. Try:

• Repurposed Reels (b-roll + voiceover = gold)

• Evergreen emails you can reuse

• Soft-sell story templates and testimonial posts

Think presence, not pressure.

4. Embrace chaotic discipline

Some weeks you’ll do a full month’s worth of content in one sitting. Other weeks, brushing your teeth is the win.

Let it average out. Let it be flexible. Let your flow carry you when it comes, and cushion yourself when it doesn’t.

5. Prioritise progress over perfection

This one was a hard one to learn but done is better than perfect. Always. And especially when your capacity is limited.

• Schedule the blog even if the graphic isn’t done

• Send the email even if it’s one day late

• Show up messy and real if that’s all you’ve got

Your audience wants you, not perfection.

Do what’s best for you (always)

If you’re reading this while foggy, frustrated, or totally wiped, know this: you’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re just human.

No one else is living in your body, in your circumstances, in your brain. So no one else gets to decide how you show up or run your business.

Want help building a business strategy that flexes with your health and honours your energy?

Come to Office Hours. It’s my monthly mentoring space for small business owners managing life and health alongside business. Together, we’ll build something sustainable—and supportive.

You’re allowed to grow gently. You’re allowed to rest. And you’re allowed to build something beautiful, even if it looks different than you planned.