Balancing business, parenting, and mental health is challenging, and prioritizing your mental well-being is essential for your success and happiness.

In this episode of 23 Journeys: A Network for Creatives, we talk with licensed therapist Nicole McNelis about burnout, guilt, setting boundaries, and managing the mental load that comes with being both a parent and an entrepreneur.

This is an honest conversation about exhaustion, pressure, and learning to let 'done' be better than 'perfect.' Nicole shares practical, actionable advice to help protect your energy and build support systems that truly work, making you feel capable and supported.

If you're a parent running a business and feeling stretched thin, you're not alone, and you're not failing.

Guest: Nicole McNelis

Licensed Professional Counselor, Maternal Mental Health Specialist

Instagram: @therapistmomcollective

Creatives often feel overwhelmed by late nights, racing thoughts, client deadlines, kids, and the pressure to 'keep going,' making sleep difficult. In this episode, sleep expert and behavior analyst Michelle Kreuzer acknowledges these everyday struggles and explains how they affect our work, health, and emotions.

Michelle explains the difference between true insomnia and simple sleep deprivation, why melatonin should be used only as a short-term tool, and how routines and structure can create a sense of freedom for both adults and kids. We also talk about hustle culture, emotional regulation, creative focus, and what really happens to your brain when you finally rest.

If you've been tired, overwhelmed, or running on fumes, this conversation will help you rebuild healthier habits, protect your energy, and get your nights back.

Tune in and discover how better rest can enhance your creative focus, boost productivity, and lead to more inspired work.

In this episode of 23 Journeys: A Network for Creatives, Thato and Naomi break down the truth about burnout. Most creatives don't burn out because of work; they burn out because they work without boundaries. This highlights how much their well-being matters and can help you feel seen and supported. Together, they talk through real-life examples of setting schedules, protecting family time, handling client expectations, and learning when to say no. They also share how to build systems, automate your business, and create sustainable routines so you don't collapse under pressure. Whether you're a photographer, designer, freelancer, or entrepreneur, this episode will help you reset, recharge, and build healthier habits that protect both creativity and mental health.