Ever feel like you’re running your business on fumes and calling it success? This week, we’re handing the mic to Sabrina Gebhardt, longtime photographer, business coach, and mom of three, who shares her personal story of burnout and the radical shifts that brought her back to life and creativity.
You’ll hear how Sabrina recognized she was in survival mode, the “fixes” that didn’t work, and the deep mindset shifts that finally did. She shares the systems, boundaries, and mindset reframe that helped her move from burnout to sustainable success and how you can start that process too.
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Search for episode 147 of Called to Both on your favorite podcast player!
What Burnout Really Looks Like for Creatives
Burnout isn’t always dramatic. Often, it creeps in quietly—through resentment, disconnection, and emotional flatness. Sabrina describes burnout not as a dramatic crash, but as a slow gray fade from a once vibrant life. Her business didn’t slow down, but her joy did.
As a high-achieving photographer and coach, she found herself in survival mode—resentful, uninspired, and reactive. Like many of us, her instinct was to do more: book more clients, consume more inspiration, outsource more. But none of it worked.
Why More Isn’t the Answer
Like many of us, Sabrina’s first instinct was to fix her burnout by doing more. More clients. More feedback. More inspiration. More outsourcing.
But that wasn’t the solution. She admits that it actually made everything worse. She was trying to fill an already too-small margin with more. What followed was a deep realization: fixing burnout requires the opposite of hustle. It requires rest. Stillness. Listening. And sometimes, therapy.
The Turning Point: Creating Space for Clarity
Sabrina’s journey shifted when she sought help from a therapist who told her exactly what she didn’t want to hear: slow down.
As a self-proclaimed Enneagram 3, that sounded like a death sentence. But over time, this new approach began to work. She simplified her offers. She started saying no. She created white space—not just in her calendar, but in her mind.
And the results? A deeper connection to her “why.” A newfound joy in her work. And clarity that had been missing for years.
How I Run My Business Differently Now
Sabrina doesn’t just talk about transformation—she lives it. Today, she runs her business in a radically different way, anchored in peace instead of pressure.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Quiet, slow mornings with journaling, workouts, and time to think
- Fewer offers for both her photography and coaching clients
- Planned margin between calls and commitments to reduce daily stress
- Regular self-care, including therapy, sauna sessions, and long walks
- Strong boundaries with clients and family
- Intentional outsourcing, freeing her to focus only on what lights her up
It’s not about doing less for the sake of being lazy, it’s about doing what matters most, and doing it well.
Practical Shifts You Can Make Today
Feeling stuck in survival mode? You’re not alone—and you don’t need to blow up your life to get unstuck. Sabrina shares four practical things you can do this week to begin moving toward a business that feels better:
- Say no to something. Remove a task, cancel a meeting, or just take one thing off your plate.
- Plan a tech-free afternoon. Step away from your phone. Play with your kids, take a walk, or read.
- Journal for 10 minutes. Ask yourself: What do I miss in my life or business?
- Block off a half-day of white space. Find the next available slot on your calendar and protect it like gold.
None of these steps require a business overhaul, but they can begin to restore the clarity and creativity that burnout takes away.
A New Definition of Success
Sabrina now lives and works by a different standard that doesn’t reward burnout or speed. She values sustainability over hustle, joy over achievement, and peace over productivity.
“If you’re in a season where dreaming feels impossible,” she says, “you don’t have to burn it all down. But you do have to pause long enough to hear yourself again.”
It’s a powerful reminder that our businesses should serve our lives—not the other way around.
Connect With the Guest
instagram.com/sabrinagebhardtphotography
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