Launching can be agonizing and exhausting for sensitive solopreneurs.

Launches demand planning, consistency, and, ideally, a steady supply of energy – yes. But, for some reason, we tend to think it’s a time when we need to PUSH ourselves to exhaustion because we “have to meet our money goals”.

But what if you DON’T want to whip yourself into overworking every day?

What if you’re a more sensitive human whose energy ebbs and flows-or, like mine, dips dramatically?

That’s the question I’ve been living into with this current launch, and I want to share my experience in case you’re navigating something similar.

From the beginning of this launch, I set my intentions clearly:

• I wanted a long, slow, spacious launch that isn’t rushed or fueled by an obsession with my financial goals or a sense of feeling behind-it honors my energy instead of depleting it.
• To use AI generously as an aligned assistant (I’ve done a TON of training of ChatGPT to make this easy)- which helps me brainstorm, generate content calendars, and draft ideas so that I can conserve my creative bandwidth for what really matters.
• Above all, I wanted to avoid the exhausting cycle of pushing through at all costs. Been there, done that. No thank you. As a sensitive solopreneur, it has to be different in order to be sustainable.

The first month: A strong start with adjustments

The first month of my launch-the Tee Up phase-was highly productive. I had two podcast interviews, launched this Substack, showed up consistently on IG, and began talking about my offer in a way that felt natural. It was a mix of direct promotion and subtle seed-planting for the future.

However, I started getting behind with my content calendar after week one. There were too many individual content pieces and it didn’t take into account time spent networking and nourishing relationships.

So, I did what I’ve learned to do as a 2/4 Projector-I created more space by deleting tasks and then added in activities related to networking. By having all marketing activities reflected in my plan, I felt the pressure drop and a sense of empowerment come back, until…

I crashed…

Last week, I hit a wall. Maybe it was the natural come-down my initial excitement and productivity.
Maybe it was the Hermit side of my Human Design feeling ready to retreat.
Maybe it was perimenopause whispering (or shouting) at me to slow down.

Whatever the cause, my energy was low, my mood was unstable, and showing up in my business felt HARD.

Instead of forcing myself to push through, I did the opposite:

• I focused on my daily minimum work and let go of the rest of my task list. This gave me space to rest.
• I cancelled a workshop that I had planned because I didn’t have the oomph to promote, plan & deliver it.
• I opted for chill physical activities – for restorative yoga and walking instead of vinyasa flows and jogging.
• I said yes to a last-minute cat-sitting opportunity in a nearby ski town, which became a much-needed tech break and chance to rest deeply. I napped, meditated, journaled, chanted, spent quiet time outside, and enjoyed a hot sauna -all in the name of genuine restoration.

Back to work – feeling better & reinvigorated

Now, it’s a fresh week, and I feel better. AND I feel pretty darn pleased with how I treated myself during the low-energy phase. Instead of spiraling into guilt or panic that my launch is a failure, I trusted the process (mostly).

With my energy returning, I revisited my launch plan today-not to make up for lost time, but to refine it. I LOVE this part of the process, because it helps to set me up for success now and in the future – AND helps me a be a better guide for my clients as they navigate their energy cycles in their own businesses.

The result of my revisions? A lighter, more sustainable plan that I can approach with calmness and poise-and that better works with my needs as a sensitive solopreneur. Woohoo!

If this resonates with you (or even if it doesn’t), I’d love to hear your reflections on my Substack!