the rules that are secretly draining you

​

​

Hello love,

There are rules that serve us and other that drain us.

Last year, I decided to go "all in" on Substack and to publish two articles a week. This, plus my three weekly emails that I started sending in January, that's five pieces of content every week. Because that's what "serious" content creators do, right?

For a while, it was fun. I love writing, and that editorial rhythm helped me actively build my readership and authority, fast.

But after 6-8 months, that self-imposed rule started draining me.

I would manage my energy pretty well at the beginning of the week, but I often had to catch up on Saturdays to make sure that second article could be published on time, which meant that I couldn't disconnect from work on Friday evenings, and that weighed negatively in my work-life balance and general well-being.

The rule I created to help my business wasn't serving me anymore

And that's when I remembered: the most insidious rules aren't the ones we pick up from business gurus (though those can be pretty draining too). They're the ones we impose on ourselves.

The rules we forget to question

Our brains love rules. They're shortcuts, solutions to repeated problems.

But we forget the most important part: rules are meant to serve us, not the other way around.

When was the last time you asked yourself: "Is this rule still working for me?"

• That daily Instagram post schedule you set six months ago - is it still serving your energy and your business goals?
• (Is Instagram serving your energy and business goals at all? dare I ask).
• That "I must respond to all emails within 24 hours" commitment - is it helping you or stressing you out?

How to spot a draining rule

Your body knows before your mind does. When you think about the rules you follow in your day-to-day business life, notice what happens in your body.

• Is there a constriction in your throat? A knot in your stomach?
• Do you clench your jaws? Is there tension or nervousness in your muscles?
• Or do you feel ease and flow, like a joyful creativity vibe?

Trust your inner wisdom.

Permission to break your own rules

Here's what I want you to remember: this is your business. You make the rules, and you can break them too.

Don't let good advice become a cage that stops you from enjoying your business.

You're allowed to experiment. You're allowed to adjust. Nothing is ever set in stone.

Your turn

What's one business rule - self-imposed or picked up from someone else - that's been draining your energy lately? The one that makes you feel constricted instead of creative?

Maybe it's time to let it go.

And if you're feeling like your whole business could use this kind of gentle reassessment, stay tuned. I have something coming that might be exactly what you need.

Power and light,

Jessica