Quiet Depletion: The Entrepreneur Challenge You’re Ignoring (And How to Fix It)

I recently sat down with an entrepreneur in my role as Program Manager at UpStart Maine. She’s sharp. Driven. Running a successful business. And she’s right on the edge of scaling.

But instead of pushing harder, she’s doing something that—on the surface—feels completely backward.

She’s stepping back.

She filled her own role. She intentionally went part-time. And she’s using that space to build the systems her business needs to reach the next level.

More importantly, she finally listened to her body.

When our meeting wrapped up, we hugged. As we pulled away, she said something so simple—and so honest—that it’s been sitting with me ever since:

“I forgot self-care.”

Not in a dramatic way. Not in a crisis moment. Just a quiet realization.

She didn’t forget because she didn’t care. She forgot because she’s an entrepreneur.

And we’re built a little different.

Most entrepreneurs I know operate at one speed: GO! That speed comes with incredible upside—vision, momentum, resilience, creativity. It’s how businesses get built and communities get changed.

But there’s a dangerous side to it, too.

Research consistently shows that entrepreneurs experience higher rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout than the general population. Long hours, financial pressure, isolation, and the constant mental load don’t just impact our businesses—they impact our nervous systems, our sleep, and our physical health.

And here’s the tricky part: Quiet Depletion doesn’t always announce itself loudly.

Sometimes it just shows up as fatigue you normalize…

Or aches you ignore…

Or a version of success that looks great on paper but feels heavy in your body.

What struck me most about that meeting wasn’t her decision to step back. It was her clarity. She wasn’t quitting. She wasn’t losing momentum.

She was choosing sustainability.

So consider this your gentle reminder—maybe even your permission slip:

Put self-care back on the calendar if it’s slipped.

And redefine it if you need to.

Self-care doesn’t have to mean spa days or perfectly curated mornings. For me, it often looks much simpler:

• Am I getting enough steps in?

• Have I lifted any weights lately?

• When was the last time I journaled instead of just powering through?

Other seasons, self-care looks like boundaries. Or rest. Or saying no to one more thing—even when you could do it.

The key isn’t what self-care looks like. It’s holding yourself accountable to it the same way you would a business metric.

Because here’s the truth we don’t say out loud enough: You are one of your company’s most critical systems.

If you’re running on empty, everything else eventually feels it.

We must remind ourselves that sustainable success doesn’t come from perpetual speed, but from steady momentum and self-respect. So if you’re in a season of growth or quiet depletion, take a breath. Reconnect with your rhythm. And know that the long game is won by those who endure with intention.

Jack Wilson reminded me of that — that entrepreneurship truly isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, and that endurance, resilience, and thoughtful pacing are as vital in business as they are in ultra-endurance sport.

And if this resonates with you — if you’re feeling that quiet depletion and craving a better balance between the drive to grow and the need to sustain yourself — I’d love to explore how we might build smarter, healthier momentum together. We have BIG dreams we’re chasing, and that long-game energy isn’t about burning out — it’s about pacing yourself for the finish line and beyond. If you’re ready to talk systems, strategy, or simply reconnect with why you started, reach out — I’m here, and I’m cheering you on.