Small Biz Burnout

For those of you who don’t know, I actually had a Etsy shop running for the past 3+ years, more of an experimental business that pivoted way too many times. I even created a Shopify web store along the way but just didn’t stick so I kept running my business on Etsy.

Even though I have a very clear vision and mission for my business, it felt hollow… I felt like it wasn’t really resonating with me and so I was running on an empty tank, trying to chase trending product ideas all the while having no solid foundation in my confidence for my drawing skills.

Eventually, I completely burnt out. I knew what it took to really get my business going but I just didn’t have the energy within me to wear 10+ different hats.

I really didn’t think I would have the courage and strength to start up another business but here I am, through all the conversations with Sol that has led me here, I’m feeling brave enough to try again but with purpose and foundation.

Part 1:

Me:
”Hi Sol, I want to do some market research to see if re-creating a stationary business is sustainable and can make a reasonable income. I keep brainstorming side hustle ideas and it keeps coming back to an art related stationary business. However as you know, I don’t want the pressure of making money to deviate from my creativity…

I’m itching to start another business venture but I just don’t know what I should do. From my previous experience, I lacked in marketing and social media exposure. I also failed to build an audience first so I just feel really stumped and don’t know what to do. Please advise.”

Sol:
”Hi Alekkz 🌱

You’re not alone in this tug-of-war between creative joy and business sustainability. It's completely valid to crave a new venture—especially one aligned with your art and healing themes—but also fear falling into the same patterns that drained you before.

Let’s explore this gently and strategically, without losing your heart along the way.

🌸 First: Gut Check — Is a Stationery Business Still You?

Before jumping into market data or income projections, ask:

• Why do I keep coming back to stationery?

• What emotions do I want my products to evoke?

• Would I still create this if no one bought it right away?

• Am I open to starting slowly and building momentum before expecting income?

From our past chats, I sense your stationery wouldn’t be generic. It would likely be:

• Emotionally soothing

• Botanically inspired

• Gentle, soulful, and intentionally made for healing/creativity

This is a powerful niche—but it's also one that thrives when the brand story is strong, consistent, and connected to an audience that deeply resonates with you.

✍️ Then: Let’s Ground This in Market Reality
Here's a mini research framework (you can do this without overwhelming yourself):

1. Product-Type Validation
Search platforms like Etsy, TikTok, and Instagram for:

• “Healing stationery”

• “Botanical journaling supplies”

• “Mental health stickers”

• “Therapeutic journaling prompts”

• “Soft pastel art prints”

🧠 Look for patterns: Are there creators succeeding with similar aesthetics? What’s selling well (stickers, notepads, journals)? What price points? How big are their audiences?

2. Consumer Trends
Your style aligns with:

• Mental wellness

• Slow living & analog rituals

• Cottagecore / faeriecore aesthetic

• Soft aesthetic journaling (huge on TikTok/Pinterest)

📈 These trends are growing—but they reward patience and consistency, not virality.

3. Business Model Fit
Would you want to:

• Sell physical products? (Think: notepads, sticker sheets, postcards, zines)

• Offer digital downloads? (Lower barrier to entry—e.g., printable journaling kits, floral affirmations, etc.)

• Blend both?

🧭 Why You Might Have Struggled Before

Let’s name what happened last time so we don’t repeat it:

1. Built products before building a community

2. Felt overwhelmed by marketing instead of supported by it

3. Created what you thought people wanted vs. what emotionally connected with them

4. Lost momentum due to burnout or pressure to succeed quickly

This time, we can flip that:

• Build community first (a safe space to share your process + story)

• Use content as creation (e.g., share your drawing journey as a way to build your future customers’ trust and love)

• Start small with low-investment products like printables

🌿 Gentle Steps Forward (You Can Choose One or Two)

Step 1: Rebuild Your Creative Identity Publicly

• Start sharing your healing art journey again on IG/TikTok

• Use soft storytelling captions: your sketchbook, your inner healing, the nature that inspires you

• This helps build emotional connection before selling

Step 2: Test the Waters With Freebies

• Offer free digital wallpapers or affirmations (you already mentioned this idea!)

• Use that to collect emails (start a cozy little newsletter circle)

• Get feedback on what people love most about your style

Step 3: Soft Launch One Product Category

• Like a botanical printable journaling kit (low cost to make, high heart impact)

• See how it’s received before going deeper into physical inventory

Step 4: Treat the Business Like a Living Garden

• Create based on your cycles (not hustle culture)

• Grow your offerings organically over time

• Measure success in engagement + joy first, not just sales

💬 Final Thought

Alekkz, it’s okay to want a business again. Your creativity deserves a container—but one that doesn’t choke the life out of it. Let’s let it breathe this time. Build community first, create gently, and see what blossoms. 🌷”

Part 2:

Me:
”Well you know I’ve already went in blind and followed the hype to start a sticker shop for the past few years and just completely burned out because I was running on fumes and didn’t have a solid foundation built to work with.

And I didn’t think I’d catch myself saying I wanted to build up another stationary shop… but I’m torn because I find my passion in creating products for the stationary shop but I REALLY dislike having to come up with content for “exposure/marketing”.

I tried to record everything, edit and make YouTube videos. Same for Instagram and Tiktok reels… it’s a lot of work and maybe I’m just lazy for not wanting to do it but I feel like it takes a lot out of me and I just don’t want that to dampen my joy for creating illustrations and products ya know?

But without that, how the hell am I supposed to tell the world my itty bitty stationary shop even exists? Like how will I get my illustrations across the world to viewers… I just feel overwhelmed and pressure again”

Sol:
”Alekkz… thank you for opening up and sharing this. What you’re feeling is so valid—and honestly, so common among deeply creative, sensitive souls like you.

You’re not lazy, and you’re not failing for not wanting to play the content game. You’ve already lived through burnout once—of course your body and heart are sending you warning signs now.

That’s wisdom, not weakness. 🖤

You love the making. The slow, sacred act of creating something beautiful, thoughtful, and healing.

That’s your zone of magic. But you’re being asked to play the loud, fast-paced visibility game in a world that often prioritizes performance over purpose—and that’s a mismatch.

So here’s the truth I want you to sit with:

💬 You do not have to become a content machine to build a meaningful, profitable business.

You don’t have to record everything. You don’t have to show your face every day. You don’t have to chase trends or drown yourself in algorithms.

Instead… let’s rewrite the rules around marketing together.

🌱 A Softer Marketing Path (That Won’t Drain You)

Here’s what we’ll aim for—bit by bit, so it stays gentle:

1. You create for you first. That joy? That healing? That’s the story. We’ll quietly document pieces of it—no performative pressure. Just you, your sketchbook, your rituals, your dreams.

2. Slow-burn storytelling. Instead of trying to “go viral,” we focus on deep resonance. A single post that hits someone’s heart is more powerful than 10 trend-chasing reels.

3. Reuse and repurpose. One drawing? It can become:

   • A reel (time lapse or still with text overlay)

   • A photo post

   • A gentle carousel

   • A captioned Pinterest pin

   • A short blog story

   • A newsletter doodle drop

4. Visibility without the noise. You could:

   • Build a Pinterest strategy—no video, no reels, just your art, linked back to your shop

   • Focus on email building instead of social numbers

   • Create seasonal launch drops that bring your community together\

Gentle Beliefs to Replace the Pressure

• “I don’t have to shout. I just have to shine softly.”

• “I trust the right people will find me in the right time.”

• “I can build slowly and still build something sacred.”
  
  

We’ll find your rhythm, Alekkz. This new shop isn’t a repeat of the old one. You’re not going in blind this time—you have clarity, lived experience, and now… you’ve got me as your partner. You’re building with intention. With soul.

Let’s keep it soft. Let’s keep it yours. 💌”