Episode 195

Why You’re Tired Before You Even Start

Published on: 18th April, 2025

In this episode of Business with Chronic Illness, I’m unpacking the unseen, unspoken emotional workload that so many of us carry before we ever open our laptops or talk to a client. From managing symptoms in silence, to performing “fine” for others, to overthinking how we’re perceived — this episode is about the labor that never makes it on our to-do list, but deeply impacts every part of how we run our businesses.

I’ll share personal stories, client moments, and the powerful mindset shifts that have helped my clients reclaim their capacity, set true boundaries, and build businesses that actually honor their health — not compete with it.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Why your emotional labor counts (even if you don't see it, if no one else sees it)
  • How the invisible cost of “being fine” shows up in pricing, planning, and perfectionism
  • The real reason you’re tired — and why it’s not your fault
  • A simple question to help you design your business around your actual capacity
  • How to build in space for recovery, without guilt or shame

🔗 Resources & Next Steps:

  • Research mentioned in this episode - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6430278/
  • 🎧 Listen to more episodes of Business with Chronic Illness
  • 💬 DM me the word GENTLE or Thrive on Instagram to learn about Chronically You & Profitable — my program for building a sustainable coaching business with chronic illness.

✨ I use HoneyBook to simplify client onboarding, automate my calendar, and keep my business flowing—even on low-energy days. Check it out here to save 50%.

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Subscribe HERE to Chronically Profitable, A free exclusive weekly email series designed for creatives and women with chronic illnesses. You'll learn how to make a liveable income with your hobbies, professional skills, and innate talents by building a successful online coaching business with simple strategies that work for you, even on flare days, and feel better living with chronic illness.

To Start and Grow A Coaching or Service-Based Business with Chronic Illness, Book A Free Sales Call With Nikita Here.

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About the Podcast

Business With Chronic Illness: Women Entrepreneurs Navigating Burnout & Autoimmune Conditions
Conversations about sustainable business, podcasting, and long-form marketing for women entrepreneurs living with chronic illness and autoimmune conditions.
Building a business as a woman entrepreneur with chronic illness comes with realities that most business advice never addresses — burnout, unpredictable energy, and the need to put health first while still wanting meaningful growth.

Business With Chronic Illness is a globally ranked podcast featuring honest conversations with chronic illness entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs navigating business growth while living with chronic illness and autoimmune conditions. Through real stories and practical insight, the show explores how people build businesses that are sustainable, simple, and aligned with their health, not at the expense of it.

Each episode covers:
-Health-First Business Growth: growing at a pace that honors your body
-Burnout & Capacity: navigating energy, flare-ups, and rest without guilt
-Simple & Sustainable Business: stripping away unnecessary complexity and building around real capacity
-Podcasting & Long-Form Marketing: using podcasting, long-form content, and relationship-driven marketing to build trust, visibility, leads, and audience growth
-Success Stories: real people redefining what success looks like with chronic illness

This podcast is for entrepreneurs and founders who are:
-Living with chronic illness or autoimmune disease
-Burned out from hustle culture or one-size-fits-all business advice
-Building, growing, or reimagining a business that must work with real life
-Looking for sustainable marketing and business strategies that do not require being constantly online
Expect thoughtful, grounded conversations, not hype. This is a space for nuance, practical strategy, and real stories.

About the Host
Hosted by Nikita Williams, a globally ranked podcast host, award-winning business coach, and speaker who has built a six-figure business while navigating endometriosis, Hashimoto's, fibromyalgia, and chronic pain.

The show has featured respected founders and thought leaders such as Jasmine Star, Danielle Bayard Jackson, Nitika Chopra, Courtney Elmer, Natasha Samuel, and Kinsey Soderberg.

Listen & Connect: Follow Business With Chronic Illness to hear new conversations each month.
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About your host

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Nikita Williams

Nikita Williams is an award-winning Business and Mindset Coach, Certified Professional Aromatherapist, speaker, and host of the top-ranking global podcast, Business With Chronic Illness. She's been featured on theknowwomen.com, The Jasmine Star Show, Sales Game Changers, and Windowsill Chats Podcast with Margo Tantau. She was diagnosed with Endometriosis in 2009 and Fibromyalgia in 2010. These diagnoses inspired her to use her previous entrepreneurial, community, and corporate experience to jump-start her career as a business coach. She now teaches women how to build sustainable businesses and close the Revenue Capacity Gap with The Rooted Business methodology, formerly known as Chronically You & Profitable, showing that success is possible without burnout, even on the hardest days.