Pause + Pivot: My New Rule for Alignment in Business

The Pattern I Had to Break to Feel Aligned Again

One of the core reasons I started my business was because I wanted to live in a way that felt truly aligned.

Not just “live to work.” Not just follow someone else’s blueprint. But to build something that honors who I am and the life I actually want to live.

For me, that looks like doing work that feels purposeful and impactful… work that draws from my actual strengths. And creating a business structure that supports me—my energy, my natural rhythms, and my big visions—rather than forcing me into a mold that was never meant for me.

Because if you’ve ever worked in traditional settings (hello, 9-to-5s and hustle culture), you know how easy it is to build your business the exact same way you were trying to escape.

Structured like a job. Run like a machine. Built on burnout.

But part of the reason I became a business owner was so I could finally honor my own energetic flow. I wanted to ride the waves of creativity and motivation when they were high—and give myself space when they weren’t. Because I’ve learned something powerful:

I don’t do my best work when I’m pushing through frustration, exhaustion, or pressure.

And yet… I’ve noticed a pattern in myself. Maybe you’ll relate.

Whenever I feel behind or overwhelmed—when I’m tired or can’t quite find my focus—I tend to respond by pushing harder. Grinding. Forcing. Trying to outrun the discomfort by checking one more thing off the list.

But I’ve realized (thanks to a mentor’s nudge) that this pressure isn’t coming from productivity—it’s coming from fear.

Fear that I’m not doing enough. Fear that I’m not where I should be. Fear that I’m somehow falling behind in this imaginary race to a version of success that was never mine to begin with.

Photo by Thanos Pal on Unsplash

And I’ve started to rewire that pattern.

Now, instead of powering through, I pause.

I pause and pivot.

I check in. I notice the burnout signals. I acknowledge the dip in motivation. And instead of trying to bulldoze my way forward, I ask myself:

What would alignment look like right now?

How can I still move forward—without abandoning myself in the process?

Here’s how that looks for me lately:

🌀 I always build in margin around client work. That way, I’m never scrambling last-minute. My clients still get everything they need on time—but I have the freedom to complete things early when I’m feeling clear and inspired, and flex when I’m not.

🌀 I theme my weeks. I have client days, creative days, and business growth days—and that variation helps me stay in sync with how I naturally want to show up.

🌀 I’m getting more honest with myself. If a task on my calendar feels heavy or out of alignment, I explore that instead of powering through it on autopilot.

Because here's what I know:

You can’t build a business that feels aligned if you keep forcing your way through the misalignment.

You get to slow down. You get to trust your energy. You get to work in a way that makes space for your cycles—not just your to-do list.

And the wild thing is… I’m more productive now than when I was operating from burnout.

So I’m curious—what are you learning about energy management in your business right now? What’s working for you? And what are you learning to leave behind?

Let’s keep rewriting the rules.