Photographer and business coach Christi Johnson joins me for an honest conversation about what happens when “success” is built on hustle. We talk 10K months that still felt awful, stress-induced hypomania, missed boundaries, and how she rebuilt her business with rest, slower growth, and non-negotiables that actually protect her health. If you’ve ever wondered whether scaling is worth the cost—or how to come back after burnout—this one’s for you.

Christi Johnson Creative - https://christijohnsoncreative.com/

Follow Christi on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/christijohnsoncreative

Chapters

00:00 – Cold open: Scaling too fast & the trap of hustle culture

02:13 – Welcome & setup: Why Christi’s story matters this season

04:41 – Behind the highlight reel: Hitting the milestones, feeling overwhelmed

10:19 – When mental health breaks: Hypomania, missed deadlines & boundary resets

22:30 – Recovery & rebuild: Slow growth, non-negotiables, and designing a sane calendar

Key Takeaways

• Scaling without proper onboarding time creates hidden mental load that leads to burnout.
• “Success” that ignores capacity isn’t success; numbers alone don’t equal sustainability.
• Stress-induced hypomania can look like confidence and productivity—while quietly wrecking sleep, boundaries, and delivery quality.
• Your body signals burnout before your brain admits it (illness, anxiety, dread); learn to listen early.
• Recovery can be slow by design: reconnect with joy, simplify offers, and set calendar boundaries (e.g., no-meeting weeks, no mornings).
• Client care improves when you protect your energy—clear availability and autoresponders help you serve better, not worse.

HoneyBook — The CRM & Client Flow platform I’ve trusted for 7+ years. Try it free + 30% off your first year: simplysandrayvonne.ca/honeybook

Busy Season Email Survival Kit (Free) — Inbox templates for the days when your capacity is low, but the work still needs to get done: simplysandrayvonne.ca/survivalkit

Fix Your Foundations: Offboarding Edition — My 5-day email challenge that helps you actually end projects with less stress: simplysandrayvonne.ca/fixyourfoundations

The Cabana (Patreon) — Bonus content, extended interviews, and behind-the-scenes voice notes for photographers building sustainable businesses: simplysandrayvonne.ca/patreon

If this episode hits home, make sure you subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might be quietly burning out too.