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Imagine finally hitting that revenue milestone you dreamed about for years.

You’ve scaled, you’ve hired, and you created a calendar so full it looked like success on paper. And yet, instead of feeling elated, you’re struggling to sleep, panicking over inbox pings, and wondering how in the world you’re supposed to keep this going.

This is the story of Christi Johnson, and it might be yours, too.

When Christi joined me on the Chasing Simple podcast, she shared the incredibly vulnerable journey of building a thriving business—only to crash headfirst into complete burnout. From a $10K month to a total nervous system shutdown, her story is one that far too many entrepreneurs silently relate to.

But Christi’s not just sharing her story. She’s leading the charge in helping creative and neurodivergent entrepreneurs build joy-driven businesses through one powerful strategy: sustainable boundaries.

Links and Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Stop into my YouTube channel for weekly videos about all things content marketing
• Checkout Christi’s Burnout Proof Your Business Planner & Boundaries Toolkit
• Join the Dream Biz Lab for group coaching, private coaching, exclusive trainings and podcasts from Christi Johnson and start setting sustainable boundaries today.
• Action Step: Get curious next time you feel stressed or anxious. Don’t just acknowledge it, unpack it.
• Book Rec: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
• Want your own live coaching session? Apply here
• Find me on Instagram and tell me what you thought of this episode: @mrsamandawarfield

Why Hustle Culture Doesn’t Stop Once You’ve “Made It”

One of the most profound parts of our conversation was this: hustle culture doesn’t magically disappear once you’ve hit your goals. In fact, it often sneaks in louder and more insistently the more successful you become.

For Christi, that looked like:

• Scaling her team with family members
  
• Filling her calendar with back-to-back client work
  
• Ignoring early signs of anxiety and sleeplessness

Eventually, her body and brain said, “Enough.”

Burnout forced her to step away from her business for six months. And what she discovered in that stillness became the foundation for everything she teaches now.

What Are Sustainable Boundaries?

Sustainable boundaries aren’t just about work hours or blocking off a weekend. They’re boundaries that support your energy, mental health, and how your specific brain operates.

They’re not what everyone else says you should be doing—they’re what actually works for you.

Christi breaks boundaries into three types:

• Time Boundaries: When and how often you work (think: no meetings before 11 am, or no-meeting weeks)
  
• Work Boundaries: The type of work you will and won’t take on (example: only taking projects that energize you)
  
• Communication Boundaries: How people can reach you and what channels you use (example: using one form for all client requests)

And the key to finding these? Listening to your body.

How to Start Setting Sustainable Boundaries That Work for You

If you’re ready to shift from surviving to thriving, here’s how Christi recommends starting:

1. Get Curious About Your Body’s Signals
That anxious pit in your chest before a certain type of meeting? The dread when you open your calendar? That’s your body talking to you.

Instead of pushing through, pause. Ask:

• What am I feeling?
  
• When do I feel this way?
  
• What task or situation brings this on?
  

2. Follow Your Energy
Begin noticing:

• When you feel most productive
  
• What types of tasks drain or energize you
  
• Patterns tied to your cycle, sleep, or mental load

Use this data to adjust your schedule, commitments, and goals.

3. Give Yourself Permission to Experiment
Boundaries aren’t one-size-fits-all. What works for someone else might not work for you—and that’s okay.

Try new boundaries. Test them for a few weeks. Adjust. Repeat.

The Cost of Ignoring Sustainable Boundaries

Christi’s story is a sobering reminder: there’s a real cost to pushing past your limits.

Her mental health crisis was a direct result of ignoring her needs for too long. And while her business looked successful, it wasn’t sustainable. It took letting go of clients, releasing her team, and prioritizing healing to begin building something healthier from the ground up.

But here’s what’s powerful—her business didn’t disappear. It evolved.

And now, through her Burnout Proof Your Business Toolkit and Dream Biz Lab membership, she’s helping others do the same before they hit the wall.

You Don’t Need More Willpower. You Need More Sustainable Boundaries.

Boundaries are not restrictions.

They are invitations to a more aligned, joyful, and sustainable business.

They help you:

• Protect your energy
  
• Serve your people better
  
• Prevent burnout before it begins
  
• Build a life you actually want to wake up to

Want Help Creating Your Own Sustainable Boundaries?

Christi’s Burnout Proof Your Business Toolkit is the perfect place to start. It includes boundary ideas, journaling prompts, and a recorded workshop to walk you through the process.

Grab it here: christyjohnsoncreative.com/boundaries

And if you’re craving support and community, check out the Dream Biz Lab—her coaching membership for creative and neurodivergent entrepreneurs: christyjohnsoncreative.com/lab

Before You Go…

If you take nothing else away from this episode and post, let it be this:

Burnout is not a badge of honor.

You don’t have to earn your rest.

Your body and your business are both worthy of care.

It’s time to start listening, start experimenting, and start choosing sustainable boundaries.

And if you’re feeling the early signs of burnout creeping in? Don’t wait for a crisis. Give yourself what you need now.

👉 If this resonated, send this post to a friend who needs the reminder. Then hit pause, grab your journal, and ask: What boundary is my body asking for today?

Guest Bio

Christi Johnson is a business strategist and the founder of The Dream Biz® Lab, where she helps creative and neurodivergent entrepreneurs build sustainable, joy-driven businesses that work with their brains, not against them. With a background in photography and operations, Christi combines heart and strategy to help creatives grow profitable businesses without burning out. When she’s not working with clients, you’ll find her playing the piano, planning her next beach trip, or recording episodes for The Dream Biz® Podcast.

Guest Links

Website- Business Coach for Creative Entrepreneurs

Instagram – @christijohnsoncreative