The Energy Audit That Changed My Business & Saved Me
- Feb 6
- 3 min read
By Dr. Kris Boksman, Ph.D., C.Psych.
My breaking point happened in a parking lot. I was gripping the steering wheel, unable to walk into my own clinic. I am a clinical psychologist and founder of a busy mental health practice. I teach people how to avoid burnout, yet I was running on caffeine, Oreos, mom-guilt, and cortisol. My workweek topped 100 hours. My patience was thin. I was the least supported person in the building.
The shift started when I joined a coaching program for healthcare business owners. During the intake, the coach asked what I wanted. I burst into tears. I had built plenty of external success, but the moment I slowed down, I realized how depleted I was. That simple question pushed one truth to the surface: something had to change.
The next day I followed my coach’s first instruction. I sketched a dream week on paper. What surprised me was how hesitant I felt putting workouts, family time, and morning routines on the calendar before anything work related. It felt indulgent. The gap between what I wanted and how I was living was wide. Part of me knew I needed to start living differently, but another part pushed back.
I focused on small, steady shifts. One activity at a time, I nudged my real week toward the dream version.
The most powerful step was looking at my entire workload through one lens: energy. Not schedule, not revenue. Energy. I paid attention to how my body felt during my commute. Some days neutral. Some days excited. And other days like moving through wet cement. That discomfort was data. Burnout is not about the number of clients you see. It is about working with the wrong clients for your bandwidth and strengths.
I made two lists: energy-giving clients and energy-draining clients. Then, one conversation at a time, I referred out the ones who depleted me. I told each person I was reducing my workload for my own health. It was not open for debate.
The guilt was real. I needed coaching to get through it. The first client I released got angry and trashed my office. As upsetting as that was, it confirmed what my body had been trying to tell me. Letting go of the belief that clinicians must serve everyone is liberating.
Within a week, I felt like someone had lifted a weight off my chest.
Once my schedule centered on work that energized me, something unexpected happened. I needed far less recovery time. My workday no longer drained every ounce of energy. The right work can refuel you as much as time off.
This is what I teach my team and other entrepreneurs now. If you want longevity, protect your energy with the same intensity you protect your business goals. A simple five minute framework helps:
Bag it. What can be removed entirely?
Barter it. What can someone else handle?
Better it. What tweak would make this task less draining?
Freeing up bandwidth makes true self-care possible. For me that means non-negotiable exercise, easy high-protein food at work, regular connection with my team, and a fuss-free haircut.
If I could speak to the version of myself in that parking lot, I would tell her this: the dread you feel is not failure. It is a sign you are ready to evolve. Get support. Hire someone who has been where you are. Then listen to them.
Sustainable success comes from growing yourself at the same pace you grow your business. Invest in both, or you will skid to a stop.
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