Minna Hu, Founder of AI Bookkeeper, is committed to helping small-business owners free up the time they spend on bookkeeping.
Some days, I feel like a superhero. I wake up before the alarm, knock down a to-do list like it’s dominoes and finish the day still smiling. On those days, I feel like I could do anything. And then there are the other days. The days when everything feels heavy when even sending a single email takes an unreasonable amount of mental effort. When I question everyone’s intentions, procrastinate endlessly and feel like I’m failing at everything—from my business to being present as a mom of two energetic boys.
It’s usually not just the brain fog on those days. It’s as if the universe decides to pile it on—kids home sick, unexpected problems at work, a disagreement with my spouse and a deep, bone-tired exhaustion that coffee can’t touch. It’s like everything is going wrong all at once, and I can’t catch a break. Sound familiar?
For years, I thought these highs and lows were just part of the deal—burn bright, burn out, repeat. But the more I went through these cycles, the more I realized that there is a better way. Not a perfect one, but a way to stop spiraling and start resetting. Here’s what I’ve learned:
1. Treat every day like a new cycle.
Imagine your energy is your phone battery. When your phone is down to 5%, it doesn’t just slow down—it drains fast. Your brain, body and emotions work the same way. If you let one bad day bleed into the next, soon you’re running on fumes and can’t even find the charger.
Now, I try to mentally recharge every day. No matter what happened yesterday—missed deadlines, tantrums, illness or chaos—I tell myself that today is a fresh day. I am not letting one stressful moment turn into a bad week.
You wouldn’t judge your phone’s performance when it’s running on 5% battery—so don’t judge yourself when you’re running low either. Instead, take it as a signal to recharge. You’ll be amazed at how much better you function once your energy is back up.
2. Do more of what fills you up.
There was a time when I was constantly exhausted—not from working too much, but from doing too many things that drained my energy. I spent hours coordinating small tasks, chasing details, doing things that made me feel like a glorified human inbox.
Then I had a lightbulb moment: I actually like working. But I love it when I’m solving problems with software, building systems and automating the stuff I don’t want to touch again. That work fills me up.
Now, I pay close attention: Am I doing more of what charges me or drains me? That one question has changed how I structure my time—and my energy.
Take a moment and ask yourself the same. Look at your past week—what tasks left you feeling energized, proud or even just peacefully focused? And which ones left you depleted, frustrated or mentally checked out? Sometimes, it’s not about doing less—it’s about doing more of the right things and finding ways to delegate or eliminate the rest. Your energy is one of your most valuable resources. Spend it wisely.
3. Watch your thoughts—they drive the whole ride.
For a while, I would get super anxious when people didn’t follow through or didn’t seem to understand my instructions. I’d doubt myself, over-explain and worry about the outcome. Then, I realized I don’t have control over whether people truly “get it”—only over how I communicate and follow up.
Now, when I feel that familiar wave of anxiety start to bubble up, I pause and ask myself: How do I want to feel about this? And then, what thought would help me feel that way? That tiny pause is more powerful than it sounds. It keeps me from spiraling and gently redirects my focus toward what I can control instead of letting anxiety take over all the space in my mind.
As a business owner and a parent, there’s never a shortage of things that could send you into worry mode, especially on the tough days. But if we let our thoughts run unchecked, they can hijack our entire day, even our whole week, and suddenly, everything feels like it’s falling apart. The truth is, we don’t have to go down that path. We can take a breath, step back and choose our perspective. We can lead our thoughts instead of letting them lead us. That’s how we take back the day—intentionally.
4. If your family comes first, make sure your calendar reflects that.
I used to say, “My family comes first.” But I realized I wasn’t living that truth. I’d pour all my energy into the business, and by the time I saw my boys, I was done. No energy left to talk through their day or their challenges or to even just be present. And the resentment built when I felt like my business was robbing me of what I valued most: my time with my family.
I knew something had to change, so I set a boundary. I keep my phone off and avoid checking emails before the boys are off to school. I focused on getting my work done before they came home. I began clearing space in my schedule, not just for the predictable things like school pickups and dinner, but for whatever might come up in the messy, unpredictable world of motherhood. Because when I say “family first,” I want my time and attention to back that up.
The truth is, we all go through cycles—highs, lows, days when we shine and days when we barely show up. That’s human. That’s real.
But we don’t have to ride those cycles blindly. With a little awareness and a few intentional habits, we can create a rhythm that serves us. That protects our energy. That lets us show up for our business, our family and, most importantly, ourselves.
So, if you’re reading this on a “bad cycle” day, here’s your gentle reminder: Today is a fresh day. Recharge. Reset. You’ve got this.
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