Space to Breathe: Creating a Business That Supports You

This blog was inspired by a conversation with Jessica Conner on the Seed to Success podcast. You can listen to the full podcast here.

There are seasons in business where everything looks fine on the surface, but underneath you’re running on fumes. You’re showing up, keeping clients happy, ticking off the tasks, and doing what needs to be done, but your brain and body are whispering for a breather you never quite seem to take.

If you’ve ever felt that quiet pressure building in the background, you’re not alone. So many VAs, OBMs and service providers hold things together for everyone else while ignoring the early warning signs in themselves. The late nights, the skipped lunches, the mental load that never seems to switch off. It adds up, even when you love what you do.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’ve been feeling like you’re just getting through the days.

You don’t need to fall apart before you ask for help

A lot of us grew up believing that success means doing it all ourselves. We push through tiredness, tell ourselves we’ll rest later, and carry more than we should because it feels easier than pausing.

But the truth is, you don’t have to reach breaking point before you raise your hand. You don’t need to wait until you’re overwhelmed to adjust your workload, outsource a task, or admit you’re tired. Giving yourself support earlier isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you’re building your business with intention instead of survival mode.

Small changes like setting boundaries around your phone at night or taking a proper lunch break might sound simple, but they’re often the first steps back to feeling like yourself again.

Connection will take you further than perfect marketing ever will

There’s so much noise online about finding clients. Strategies, templates, scripts and formulas are everywhere, which can make you feel like you need to be doing more to be seen.

But the business owners who grow steadily and sustainably are usually the ones who focus on real relationships. Not cold outreach. Not trying to be everywhere at once. Not reinventing themselves every second week.

Genuine connection builds trust. When you show up to help, answer a question because you can, or stay in touch with someone without an agenda, that creates the kind of foundation no strategy can replicate. Your next client might come from a simple conversation that felt natural, not forced.

Your business can only thrive if you do

It’s so common to move through the day in a blur of tasks. You finish your client work, make dinner, answer another message, and collapse into bed thinking tomorrow will be different.

But running a business means you’re holding multiple worlds. Your clients, your own admin, your family, your health, your future plans. When your body or brain starts lagging, it’s not a sign to push harder. It’s a sign to pause.

Noticing the early signs matters. The fogginess. The mental clutter. The feeling that everything is urgent when it isn’t. Writing things down, stepping outside for sunlight, or taking the afternoon a little slower can make a bigger difference than you think. You don’t have to earn rest. You’re allowed to take it.

Growth doesn’t have to look like doing it all yourself

At some point, many service providers wonder if bringing support into their business is worth it. The fear of losing income, slowing down, or trusting someone else with your clients can hold you back longer than it should.

But support frees you. It gives you time to breathe, time to think, and space to grow in ways you can’t when you’re doing everything alone.

You don’t need a full team. Start with the task you dread the most or the one that drains your energy. A few hours of support each week can completely change how you feel in your business.

And if you ever choose to grow a bigger team, remember this. You get to lead in a way that aligns with your values. You don’t need to replicate corporate hierarchy or hustle culture. You get to build something grounded, human and sustainable.

You’re not behind. You’re building something real.

It’s easy to look around the online world and feel like everyone else is miles ahead. Their client roster is full, their systems are flawless, and their life looks perfectly organised.

What you don’t see is the messy middle. The seasons of doubt. The days when they questioned everything. You’re not behind. You’re learning, growing, and making decisions that future you will be proud of.

You’re allowed to grow slowly. You’re allowed to change direction. You’re allowed to build your business in a way that supports your wellbeing, not drains it.

You don’t need to rush. You just need to keep going in a way that feels right for you.

Looking for a community of like-minded women who truly get it?

The Inner Circle might be just what you’re looking for… seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle