Too busy to work on your business? Read this.
6 tips when you are feeling stretched thin and struggle to stay consistent or nurture relationships.
Something I hear a lot from the IMMA community, and from freelancers and independents I’ve worked with over the years, is this:
“I really want to work on my business… but right now I’m just too busy.”
And I get it. The intention is good.
Usually, this comes right after someone has made a commitment to themselves—to get support, join a programme, or start building something more sustainable. Then… work picks up. A client lands. Or two. The calendar fills up, and suddenly the thing they said was a priority gets dropped.
It feels justified. Rational. Understandable.
But it’s also exactly what keeps so many people stuck in the feast and famine cycle they want to break.
Let’s name it: it’s hard to make time when you’re finally busy again.
When things are quiet, there’s space to reflect, reconnect, plan. You feel open. You want to get more strategic, more visible, more supported.
Then the work arrives. A new project. A retainer. A full-time freelance contract. You get absorbed. (Especially if you’re newer to this, being “booked” can feel like being back in a job.)
And it’s so tempting to go all-in and tell yourself you’ll revisit the business stuff later.
But here’s the catch:
That “later” is the start of the feast and famine cycle.
I’m not here to shame your calendar.
This isn’t about pushing harder, moralising your time, or pretending you should always be “on.”
Rest matters. Taking care of our loved ones matters. And sometimes, life is just a lot
But if you always find yourself too busy for your business, or if you’re still finding time to scroll Instagram or binge Netflix, it might be worth asking:
What are you making time for, and what’s getting dropped?
If a dream client showed up tomorrow, would you have the capacity?
Are you truly too busy, or is it something else, fear, doubt, discomfort with showing up?
These aren’t judgments. They’re invitations to get honest with yourself.
1. From freelancer to business owner: this is the shift.
If your goal is to build something sustainable, not just string together contracts, then your business needs to become one of your clients.
A priority. Not an afterthought.
A space you protect, even when your calendar is full.
This doesn’t require a radical overhaul. But it does require intention.
Note on gif: are you driving the car or are you on the passenger seat and your client is driving it?
2. Make space on purpose.
You don’t need to disappear for a retreat. You just need consistent space, even if it’s small.
Some starting points:
Negotiate a 4-day week with clients
Start work an hour later to create thinking time
Protect your mornings or evenings, when your energy is best
Block one Friday a month for business development (I call it Founder Friday)
Time won’t fall from the sky. You have to claim it, or someone else will.
3. Rework the business model.
If you only earn when you work, it will feel risky to take time away from delivery.
But a few shifts in your model can help:
Move from one-off projects to monthly retainers
Start small, even one retainer can bring more stability
Add a lighter-touch offer: strategy calls, consulting, advisory
This isn’t necessarily about scaling or building a digital product.
It’s about designing your business so it doesn’t burn you out.
Because if you’re only getting paid for your hours, it’s still just a job, with more admin and less security.
4. Stay connected, even when you’re full.
Business development isn’t a break between client work. It’s part of your rhythm.
And the best time to nurture relationships? When you’re not trying to sell.
Try:
Following up with someone you enjoyed speaking to
Posting a quick thought, question, or insight
This builds trust. Keeps you top of mind. And when someone does want to work with you?
Say: “I’m fully booked right now, but happy to add you to my waitlist.”
Or: “I can refer you to someone I trust, want an intro?”
This builds your network and sometimes even brings in referral income if you make agreements with others.
5. Build your “minimum viable brand”
You don’t have to be loud. Or polished. Or post every day.
But it helps to be findable and to give people a sense of who you are, what you do, and how you think.
Think of it like paying into a savings account. Every small share, an idea, an insight, a behind-the-scenes moment, is a deposit. You might not need it now, but future-you can withdraw from that trust and visibility when it matters most.
Your “minimum viable brand” might be:
A monthly email or update
A behind-the-scenes look at your process or a case study
Sharing something you’re learning or working through
Small, consistent breadcrumbs. Over time, they build trust and visibility.
6. Short on time? Spend money instead.
If writing, planning, or visibility feels overwhelming, use some of your income to buy back time.
That might mean:
Hiring a VA to manage your systems
Working with a writer to turn voice notes into posts
Use the support from IMMA Collective and our done-for-you resources and support.
Time is not renewable. Money is. Use one to create more of the other.
Final thought
If you’ve dropped the ball on working on your business, it’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means now is a great time to pause and re-choose.
You can keep operating like a contractor, riding the wave of whatever comes next.
Or you can start designing something that’s more stable, visible, and intentional.
Something that gives you more choice, not less. You get to decide.
PS: I’d love to hear how you make space for your business. Or what’s felt hardest about it lately.
What’s one small thing you could try this week to shift out of client-only mode? Hit reply or sad a comment. I’d love to hear.
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And if the consistency part feels impossible, especially in a season where everything else is asking for your time, this is exactly what IMMA is here for.
Not more content. Not more noise.
But a place to stay tethered to your momentum. A space to practice showing up when it’s not convenient. A gentle structure that holds, even when you’re juggling care, clients, or life stuff.