What to Do When Your Energy Is Unpredictable as an Entrepreneur

July was… a lot. On July 14th, my father-in-law passed away unexpectedly. Just ten days later, I was supposed to fly out for a conference. This was a trip I had been looking forward to for months. But the night before I was set to leave, I started to feel sick. Not the “maybe I’ll be fine by morning” kind of sick, but the kind that made the idea of airports, hotel rooms, and networking absolutely impossible.

I canceled the entire trip, thinking I’d bounce back in a few days.

Instead, I spent most of the next month in an on-and-off fog of head and chest cold symptoms that just wouldn’t go away. Every time I thought I was a bit better, my energy would tank again.

As a business owner, that kind of unpredictable energy can feel scary. We’re taught to believe we need to show up consistently, meet every deadline, and keep producing no matter what. But the truth is, life doesn’t always work on our schedules, and neither does our health.

In this post, I want to share the reality of running a business when your energy is unpredictable, what I had to shift in my own plans, and how you can create space for your business to keep moving even when you can’t.

The Myth of Always-On Energy

Entrepreneur culture loves to romanticize the “always-on” hustle… the idea that if you just wake up early enough, drink enough coffee, or have the right mindset, you can power through anything.

But here’s the reality: our energy is not infinite. It ebbs and flows. It’s impacted by grief, stress, illness, and the hundreds of small (and big) life events happening behind the scenes. Even the most motivated business owner will hit seasons where their body or mind says, “Not today.”

And yet, when those moments come, we’re often quick to judge ourselves.

We label it as being unproductive, lazy, or falling behind. But needing rest isn’t a flaw; it’s a fact of being human.

The sooner we let go of the myth that we can (or should) operate at full capacity all the time, the sooner we can start building businesses that are flexible enough to support us through the unpredictable seasons.

How I Adjusted My Plans in Real Time

When my energy dropped in July, it wasn’t part of my plan. I had mapped out content, events, and launches weeks in advance… and suddenly, all of it had to be rethought.

Canceling the Conference

Canceling my trip the night before my flight wasn’t just disappointing, it was emotional. I had been looking forward to connecting with other entrepreneurs, soaking up inspiration, and getting a change of scenery.

But the reality was clear: forcing myself to travel while sick would have made everything worse. Instead, I chose to protect my health (and the health of everyone I’d come into contact with). It was a hard call in the moment, but looking back, it was the right one.

Letting Go of the “Perfect Plan”

My July calendar was built for a version of me with full energy… and that just wasn’t who I was at the time.

I had to scale back drastically:

• Pausing content creation on platforms that required more energy
• Delaying projects that weren’t time-sensitive
• Letting go of launch timelines I couldn’t realistically meet
• Sending quick, honest updates to clients about delays

Instead of pushing to keep everything on track, I focused on the essentials and gave myself permission to slow down.

Systems That Support You on Low-Energy Days

When your energy is unpredictable, systems can be the safety net that keeps your business from grinding to a halt. They don’t replace your presence entirely, but they make it possible for essential things to keep moving without you having to push yourself past your limits.

Simplifying Your Workflow

On my low-energy days, I zero in on the must-do tasks. These are the things that truly move the needle or maintain client commitments. Everything else can wait.

A few tools and habits that help:

• Templates: Pre-made content outlines, email scripts, and proposals save me from starting from scratch.
• Batching: Recording or writing in bulk on high-energy days so I have material ready for slower weeks.
• Automations: Using tools like Pabbly Connect to run in the background.

Delegating and Outsourcing

If you have a VA or team member, lean on them more when your energy is low. In my case, my VA took over urgent tasks like customer service, admin work, and customer updates.

Even if you don’t have a team yet, you can outsource specific projects temporarily just to give yourself breathing room.

Mindset Shifts for Unpredictable Energy

When your body forces you to slow down, the mental battle can be just as hard as the physical one. For entrepreneurs, so much of our identity is tied to showing up and getting things done that slowing down can feel like failure… even when it’s necessary.

From “I’m Falling Behind” to “I’m Prioritizing Recovery”

It’s tempting to measure your worth by how much you produce, but that’s a trap. Rest is not wasted time. It’s the fuel that allows you to show up fully when your energy returns. The faster you recover, the sooner you can get back to creating and serving.

Letting Go of Guilt

Guilt doesn’t help you heal. In fact, it keeps your nervous system in a stressed state, which can make recovery even slower. I had to keep reminding myself that my worth wasn’t tied to an arbitrary launch date or content schedule.

Redefining Consistency

Consistency doesn’t have to mean posting on the same day every week without fail. It can mean showing up regularly over the long term, even if there are gaps in between.

Your audience will remember the value you bring, not the one week you missed.

Creating an Energy-Friendly Business Model

One of the best ways to prepare for unpredictable energy is to design your business so it can flex and adapt when life happens without everything falling apart.

1. Build Flexibility Into Your Offers

Choose offers and services that allow for breathing room.

For me, that means avoiding packages that require me to be “on” at the same exact time every week and favoring options where delivery timelines can flex if needed.

2. Set Realistic Client Expectations

Be transparent with clients about timelines from the start, and give yourself a buffer. If you know it normally takes you two weeks to complete something, promise three. That extra space can save you during low-energy seasons.

3. Avoid Overcommitting in High-Energy Periods

When you’re feeling great, it’s tempting to load up your calendar. But packing it too full can backfire if your energy dips unexpectedly.

I try to keep at least 20–30% of my schedule open so there’s room to move things around when needed.

Final Thoughts

July reminded me (in a big, unavoidable way) that our energy is not always something we can control. Between loss, illness, and an unpredictable recovery, I had no choice but to slow down and adjust.

And while it was frustrating at times, it also reinforced an important truth: running a business isn’t about always being at 100%.

It’s about creating systems, boundaries, and expectations that can bend with you when life happens.

If your energy is unpredictable right now, please know this: it doesn’t make you less of a business owner. It doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. It just means you’re human.

Your health and well-being will always be more important than any launch, deadline, or piece of content. The more we normalize rest and flexibility in our businesses, the more sustainable and enjoyable our work becomes… for us and the people we serve.

Want more strategies for building a sustainable business that works with your energy, not against it? Check out the Introvertpreneur Club for ongoing support and strategy.

FAQ: Managing Your Business When Your Energy Is Unpredictable

1. How do I run my business when I’m sick?

Focus only on essential tasks that maintain client commitments or keep your operations running. Use templates, automations, and outsourcing to reduce your workload, and communicate honestly with clients if timelines need to shift.

2. How do I manage my energy as an entrepreneur?

Plan your workload around your natural energy patterns. Batch tasks on high-energy days, keep your schedule flexible, and avoid overcommitting when you’re feeling great so you have space for slower seasons.

3. What tasks should I focus on when my energy is low?

Prioritize the work that directly impacts revenue or fulfills client obligations. Marketing, admin, or new projects can be paused if needed, they’ll be there when your energy returns.

4. How can I prepare my business for unexpected time off?

Set up systems in advance: create evergreen content that can be scheduled ahead, build a library of templates, and document processes so someone else can step in if needed. Keep a list of trusted contractors you can call on for quick help.

5. How do I communicate with clients during low-energy periods?

Be transparent and professional. Let them know what’s going on (you don’t have to share every detail) and give realistic updated timelines. Most clients appreciate honesty and will be understanding if they’re kept informed.

6. Can I still be consistent if I take breaks in my business?

Yes! Consistency doesn’t have to mean showing up every single week without fail. It’s about staying present and delivering value over the long term. A short pause for recovery won’t erase the trust you’ve built with your audience.