Why Finding 'Balance' Can Be So Hard

Since being back at work, I've noticed two themes emerging in conversations with creative entrepreneurs. Many of you are craving a slower pace this year, whilst others are actively seeking more balance in how you approach your business.

These are such beautiful intentions for the year.

Yet I know that creating the necessary change to make this a reality can feel incredibly difficult, especially when you're running a creative business where you are the business. The stakes feel higher because every decision directly impacts both your livelihood and your wellbeing.

Here's what's happening beneath the surface: our brains are wired to seek safety and security. This means we often prefer the familiar, even when it's harming us in the long run. Your brain would rather have you choose what seems to be the safer option in the moment, the known path you've always walked, rather than trying something new and uncomfortable.

When you say you're seeking more balance, what you're really asking for is a lifestyle where you can work, rest, and play in a way that feels sustainable. 

You want to prevent burnout whilst still building the creative business you're passionate about.

The reality, though, is that if you're used to overworking (particularly if you've brought those corporate patterns into your creative work), this pattern will feel very familiar. It brings a false sense of safety and security. 

Taking the radical act of setting boundaries or allowing yourself proper rest will make you feel uncomfortable. It might even feel dangerous, as though you're risking everything you've worked so hard to build.

This discomfort is especially pronounced for those of you who've left the corporate world. You escaped the hustle culture of your previous career, yet find yourself recreating those same exhausting patterns in your own business. The difference is that now there's no one else to blame, no external system forcing you to work this way. It's just you, which can make the whole thing feel even more confusing.

The good news is that we can rewire our brains. 

That's what neuroplasticity means, which is exactly why coaching is so effective. Through neuroplasticity, we learn to create new neural pathways, helping us take the road less travelled. We can teach our brains that rest is productive, that boundaries protect our creativity, and that sustainable work rhythms actually serve our business better than relentless hustle.

Next time you wonder why something that's meant to feel good is feeling quite the opposite, remind yourself that this is natural. There is nothing wrong with you. Your brain is simply trying to protect you using the only patterns it knows.

You can also remind yourself that you're trying something new precisely because the old way of doing things is no longer serving you or your creative work. You've got this.