Mental Heath & Time Management

What the industry doesn’t talk about very much is mental health and managing stress. Which is kind of odd, considering we are selling a feeling or experience in the outdoors away from work. Ironic, don’t you think?

Starting a business is all about time management and avoiding the dreaded “B” word: burnout. As someone who has owned multiple businesses while working a full-time job, I can tell you firsthand that I understand what it feels like to be burning the candle at both ends while trying your hardest to build something of value that comes from the soul. In my 35 years on this earth, I have morphed many times, but a few things have always been at my core and have never wavered. A few of them are: 1. Owning my own business of some sort as a side gig. Whether that’s a ceramic business, a hot sauce company, or a consulting business—never stop the dream! 2. Traveling often. 3. Spending time outdoors. 4. Exercising my body daily. 5. Having a therapist I trust.

So, let’s talk about time management. Managing my time between multiple jobs and dreams is what keeps me going. That, and I am a Capricorn, so fill in the blanks there… I thought a blog post about time management would be different, and maybe even a new and refreshing topic. I have shared some of these tips with my colleagues as well, and they have told me they’ve helped them. So, I’d like to put them out there, and maybe you can use some of them in your daily life, too.

Start With Yourself

Let’s start with my core values. I believe that EVERYONE, no matter your status at work, should prioritize themselves over work every day, every week, every month, and every year. I know what you might be thinking: Well, that’s not what corporate America wants, nor is it what my small business that I’m trying to get off the ground wants. I’m not saying you do you and let work suffer instead, I’m saying rather mental shift to prioritize yourself above anything else, the work will still get done I promise. I truly and wholeheartedly believe that if you put your focus on you, the rest will come with much more ease. I prioritize myself every day, every week, and every month. I do this by looking at my calendar each week and laying out the things that bring me joy and the appointments that keep me healthy. Those things go onto my calendar first, before anything else does.

If you think about it, if you aren’t healthy or at your best, how quality is the work you are putting out? How are you at home with your kids or partner after a long workday? These things bleed into each other. Take care of you first, every single day. That means booking your yoga class(es) on your calendar this week, even if it’s at home in your living room before you go to work, or at a gym. Block off 20 minutes in the middle of the day to meditate or read. Book the date night with your best friend or partner. Plan an art night at your dinner table. Block off the dentist appointment or yearly exam. These things are your number one priority to complete. These are the things that keep you from burning out. These are the things you look forward to. These are the things that keep you healthy, physically and mentally.

Let’s get real: a job is a job is a job. You go to work to collect a paycheck, and you go home to be you. Your job should never be your identity. You are more complicated than that. And if you’re thinking, “I don’t know what you are talking about,” then maybe journal a little bit. Think about the things outside of work that bring you joy. If you’re coming up short with answers, it’s time to dive a little deeper and figure out what those passions are, or what they could be. Looking forward to the things you enjoy during the day, week, and month is building a pathway in your brain toward daily joy.

Next, Think About Others

Next, what are the things you need to do for others? What do you need to do for your husband, wife, kids, community? Pick up from school, after-school plans, appointments, activities, etc. That’s what goes on the calendar right after you. After that comes the high-priority work. What is the most important thing you need to do today? This week? This month? That’s your third priority: yourself, your family, and then work. These are the mental notes and things that keep driving you forward.

And believe it or not, some things can wait. In a world of right-now satisfaction, we forget that not every single task needs to be completed right this second. When you are getting lots of different things coming your way at once, write them all down and prioritize them. If it takes you 24 hours to send an email or sign a form, believe it or not, that is going to be OK. There is a sense of urgency that exists in our daily lives around building businesses and working that sometimes is all in our head. Move intentionally. Walk with purpose. S L O W it down. Your nervous system will thank you for it.

Move the Body

I cannot say this enough: move your body. Exercising your body every single day, especially if you work at a desk most days, will save you. I am so guilty of this myself, and even right now, while typing this, my hip is screaming at me. Moving your body every single day, even if it’s just a walk around the neighborhood, will do wonders. Nature is nurture. It’s here to help us regulate. Summer cicadas naturally give a frequency that is linked to helping you ease into meditation. Grounding is the act of walking barefoot on the grass or ground, sending receptors to the brain to release dopamine. Sunshine on your face can help elevate your vitamin D levels, support bone health, and give you the feel-goods. Make sure you move your body every single day, and thank your body for the movement you are able to do. It’s a gift we often forget we have.

Take Time Off!

This is something I wish I could scream at the top of a mountain because I feel so passionate about it. You MUST take time off from building your dreams, and working your job(s). It is crucial for your productivity and bandwidth. Here is an example.. I launched AD Outdoor Consulting in April and then I promptly went to Washington and camped for several days on Lake Baker with zero service. No checking in on how my LinkedIn posts are doing, no checking my to see if I had any emails, no phone calls, nothing. Some would say that is a dumb idea, sure. But for me launching a business and then hawking over my tablet for someone to notice me would have driven me insane. Building something takes time, once you launch you wont see results immediately. Some things will be immediate but growth simply takes time, and I know myself to be impatient. So I launched and then I logged off for a week and honestly I came back more ready than ever. Make sure you include time off on your calendar- it’s imperative that you give your brain mental rest so you can come back stronger, and ready to tackle that next quarter.

Lastly, Let’s Talk About Therapy

Lastly, I wanted to touch on therapy. Thankfully, in 2026, there isn’t as much of a stigma around therapy as there once was. Although, I still believe far too many individuals are not in therapy. Every single person should be in therapy—there, I said it. I do not believe there is one person who would not benefit from a professional’s non bias point of view on your life and what you have experienced.

When I started my sales agency in 2022, I also started therapy. I did it because I knew that if one day I wanted to produce my best and be the best version of myself for my business and the people in my life, I needed to make sure I was not only working out my body, but also my mind. My therapist has been able to help me become more confident in high-stakes meetings, give me tools for managing stress in the workplace, and help me elevate in my field. Without that 1:1 professional guidance, I feel certain I could say I would not be where I am today if I hadn’t made that decision.

You may not even know what you would talk about in therapy if you were to start, and that is 100% OK. The conversation will come, trust me. You will discover and notice things you never did before and develop language around your feelings. That will then allow you to work through those things and come out stronger than before, communicate better with your teams and your family.

At the end of the day, managing your time isn’t just about getting more done. It’s about making sure you have the time and energy to actually live your life. Work matters. Your dreams matter. Building something from the soul matters. But so do you.

- Allison Deschaine, Founder & Consultant