The Burnout‑Proof Podcast

Ever sit down at your desk and think, “What the hell do I actually need to do today?” Same. That’s why I built systems that make that never a problem anymore. This episode is the final piece of the Burnout-Proof CEO series—and it’s where it all comes together.

We’re talking:

• How I use my Notion systems to plan each week like a boss

• My daily check-in rituals to get focused (without overloading myself)

• The priority matrix I swear by (aka how I stop spinning out over my to-do list)

• Real talk on overwhelm, white space, and knowing what matters

• How I use my AI C-Suite GPT to audit my tasks and actually figure out what’s worth my time

Basically: This is how I show up every week clear, calm, and ready to execute—no chaos, no burnout, no wasted time.

⚡ Heads up: If you want to see this in action, the YouTube version of this episode is a full walkthrough. And if you're ready to build your own burnout-proof systems? Check the resources below 👇

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• My $25 CEO Systems Mini-Course: coachellyn.com

• The AI C-Suite GPT (for streamlining your task list): Available in my shop

• Podcast Summit (July 28–Aug 1): Sign up for free at coachellyn.com/summit

• DM me “SUMMIT” on IG to join the fun: @coachellyn

🔥 Want More?
Subscribe to the Burnout-Proof Podcast wherever you listen, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! It helps more badass high-achievers like you find this show.

👉 And if you're done with systems that suck and to-do lists that spiral, check out the Systems School and finally create systems that work as hard as you do.

—

Stay relentless, achievers.
—Ellyn

What happens when you build a badass CEO schedule—but your systems aren’t set up to support it? You burn out trying to white-knuckle your way through it every week.

Been there. Done that.

In this episode of the Burnout-Proof Podcast, I’m showing you how I fixed that problem once and for all—by designing my Notion systems to reflect and reinforce my schedule (instead of working against it).

I’m walking you through:

• How I theme my workdays to reduce decision fatigue (for the full breakdown, check out this episode)

• What my daily Notion pages look like—and how I set them up

• The process I used to align my systems with my energy, habits, and schedule

• Real-time shifts I made while recording (yes, literally while I was talking to you)

  
  

Whether you’re a Notion nerd, a system newbie, or a CEO sick of feeling like your schedule is made of Jenga blocks—this one’s for you.

🎥 Want the full visual walkthrough?
Check out the YouTube version of this episode to see my Notion setup in real time. Link below ⬇

👩🏻‍💻 Wanna steal my setup (and get support building your own)?

Join Burnout-Proof Business and get:

• Access to my full Systems Vault

• Weekly implementation labs

• Strategic support for designing burnout-proof systems that scale
  Founding Member rate is still available—but not for long. 👉 https://www.coachellyn.com/bpb

Also, check out:

• ⁠[CEO Schedule Mini-Course]⁠

• ⁠[The Podcast Summit - 7/28 - 8/1]⁠

📺 Watch on YouTube: [Insert Link]

🎯 Take the Burnout Type Quiz: https://www.coachellyn.com/quiz

📌 Join the Community + Ask Questions: https://www.coachellyn.com/community

🛠 Check out the Systems Vault: https://www.coachellyn.com/vault

—

🔥 Favorite Moments in This Episode:

01:20 – What I realized about my CEO schedule not working

03:15 – The game-changing mindset shift I made

06:00 – What each of my themed days looks like

10:30 – My Notion daily page walk-through

16:45 – Real-time system changes I made mid-recording

19:40 – Why this system has saved me from task list shame + calendar dread

21:00 – How I use my daily pages to simplify everything

—

You’re not failing at productivity—you just need systems that actually support the way you work.
Let’s build them.
Stay relentless, achievers. 💥

Feeling like your to-do list runs your day? In this episode, we kick off a three-part series on building a CEO schedule that prioritizes your time, sanity, and the success of your business—without burning you out in the process.

Part 1 of the series dives into the concept of theme days—a strategy that lets you group tasks by their type rather than time-blocking your schedule into rigid hours. Whether you're a solopreneur or a corporate employee, this method can help you take back control of your day without feeling overwhelmed by a packed calendar.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why theme days are the key to creating a schedule that supports your brain and energy.

• How I personally structure my week to maximize productivity while maintaining mental clarity.

• Why traditional time-blocking just doesn’t work for a CEO’s mindset—and what to do instead.

• Actionable steps to audit your to-do list and create a custom CEO schedule that aligns with your life.

Stay tuned for the next two episodes, where we'll dive deeper into using systems (like Notion) to support your schedule and how to know exactly what to work on every single day. This is about creating a flow that gives you time freedom, mental clarity, and sustainable success.

Links Mentioned:

• [Burnout-Proof Business]

• [CEO Schedule Mini-Course]

• [The Podcast Summit - 7/28 - 8/1]

  Watch on YouTube

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this episode resonates with you! 🔥

In this episode, I share a powerful mindset shift about dopamine that can transform how you approach burnout recovery and daily routines.

After returning from my epic two-week cross-country adventure (Hawaii → Pacific Northwest → New Orleans → Seattle), I found myself struggling to get back into healthy routines. My sleep, nutrition, hydration, and especially movement all went downhill—a common pattern for high achievers.

The game-changer? Discovering the concept of "cheap dopamine" versus "earned dopamine" and how this distinction can help you break free from dopamine addiction without giving up the rewards your brain needs.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding Dopamine: It's not just about "good" or "bad" levels—there are actually two fundamentally different types of dopamine experiences
• Cheap Dopamine: Quick, easy hits that provide instant gratification but lead to crashes (social media scrolling, binge-watching, constant notifications). These are the "fast food" of happiness.
• Earned Dopamine: Slower-release, deeper satisfaction that delivers lasting rewards (movement, nature, creative pursuits, meaningful work). Think of it as the "Italian restaurant experience" of happiness—slower but infinitely more satisfying.
• The Dopamine Menu: A practical tool for intentionally choosing better sources of reward and pleasure.
• The Big Reframe: We don't need to beat dopamine addiction—we need to upgrade where we get dopamine from.

Resources Mentioned:

• Notion template for creating your own Dopamine Menu. If you want this, DM me on Instagram!
• Upcoming Podcast Summit (late July 2025) - Registration opening soon! Join the email list or community for early access.
• I'll also be hosting a Burnout-Proof Summit in September. Stay tuned!
• Last, but not least, I'm launching a new Systems Vault soon. If you want early access, join ⁠the email list

Connect with Ellyn!

On Instagram | On LinkedIn | In the Community

In today’s episode, Ellyn sits down with confidence coach Elyse Conroy for a powerful conversation about the importance of redefining success and embracing imperfection. Together, they unpack how perfectionism and people-pleasing tendencies fuel burnout for high-achieving women. Elyse shares her personal journey from the corporate grind to launching her own coaching business, revealing how healing from burnout required a deep shift in her definition of success.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The importance of redesigning your definition of success to match your personal values, not society’s expectations.

• Why embracing imperfection is crucial for avoiding burnout and building sustainable confidence.

• Simple yet impactful micro-moments that high-achieving women can integrate into their daily lives to reconnect with themselves and prevent burnout.

• How Elyse’s SPF formula (Success, Perfection, and Failure) helped her stop seeking external validation and start living a life in alignment with her true desires.

• Tips on celebrating the small wins and shifting away from a perfectionist mindset to something more aligned with real growth.

Tune in now to hear how you can start redefining success and achieving without burning out.

Links and Resources:

• Elyse's website: SoulMakeUp.com

• Elyse’s free resources: SoulMakeUp Free Resources

• Elyse’s podcast: The Confidence Lounge

• Ellyn’s Burnout-Proof Business resources: Burnout-Proof Business

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down a huge myth about time off for solopreneurs: the belief that time away from your business has to mean a full-blown, off-the-grid vacation to be effective. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t.

I’ve just returned from a two-week break, and while it may have seemed like the ultimate vacation to others, I’m sharing the truth: I worked while I was away, and it actually worked SO much better for me. Let’s talk about why sprinkling in strategic work blocks over your time off doesn’t just keep you sane—it keeps you energized and moving forward in your business.

Here’s why the all-or-nothing mindset about time off is setting us up for burnout and why a more nuanced approach—one that mixes work and rest—could be the key to sustainable success.

If you’ve ever felt like you have to completely unplug to make time off “count,” this episode is for you. I’m also diving into the myths of long vacations, why strategic time off works better than you think, and how you can build your own sustainable approach to breaks (without the guilt).

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why you don’t need a two-week vacation to truly reset

• How sprinkling in strategic work sessions can make your time off more productive and restorative

• The myth that vacations always have to be elaborate getaways

• Why taking mini-vacations or short breaks throughout the year may be more beneficial than one long hiatus

• How to build a business that can support this strategic approach to time off

Remember, burnout-proofing your business means making rest part of your system, not something to earn. So let’s make sure you can take time off without the guilt.

Links & Resources:

• Burnout Proof Business (BPB) – Check it out in the show notes for all the tools and resources to help you build a business that can give you the flexibility you need.

• Connect with me on Instagram @coachellyn

You ever look at your business and think…"What if I just started over?"
Burn it all down. Scrap the offers. Nuke the calendar.
Not because you’re giving up—but because something deep in your gut is whispering:
“You’re meant to build it differently this time.”

Same, friend.
This episode is for every high-achieving solopreneur who’s ever found themselves building a business that looks successful but feels like suffocation. The ones craving white space, authenticity, and systems that actually support the life they're trying to build—not just the revenue goals they’ve been told to chase.

I'm pulling back the curtain on what I’d do if I had to start all over again—from energy-first scheduling and one-offer simplicity to tech stack simplification and marketing that actually compounds (instead of burning you out).

This isn’t just strategy. It’s the emotional permission slip you didn’t know you needed.

Because you weren’t meant to build a business that hurts to run.
And you sure as hell weren’t meant to rebuild the version that broke you.

In this episode, we dive into:
⚡ Why starting over isn’t a failure—it’s an evolution⚡ The foundational mindset shifts I’d lead with (SPF: Success, Perfection, Failure)⚡ How I’d build an energy-first schedule (and fiercely protect my mornings + weekends)⚡ My take on offer simplicity: No more “offer soup,” just one aligned, scalable offer⚡ The lean, simplified tech stack I’d actually stick to this time⚡ What marketing strategies I’d double down on (spoiler: they’re evergreen and algorithm-free)⚡ The energetic boundaries I’d guard like my life depends on it—because it kind of does

If you’re in the “burn-it-down” season of business?
This episode is your rebuild roadmap. No shame. No fluff. Just real, raw clarity.

🛠 Resources Mentioned:✨ Burnout-Proof Business Review (Free Tool) – Not sure where to start? This tool helps you audit what’s working, what’s not, and what to shift.
✨ The Systems Vault – My plug-and-play systems shop for solopreneurs. Think Notion dashboards, ChatGPT prompts, automations & more (coming soon). Coming Soon!
✨ VIP Systems Sprint – Let’s rebuild one big piece of your backend—fast, done-for-you, burnout-proof.

💬 Leave a Review + Follow the ShowLove this episode? Be sure to follow the show on Spotify or leave a review on Apple Podcasts so other high-achievers like you can find us. It makes a huge difference.

📣 Connect with Ellyn:Website: coachellyn.comInstagram: @coachellyn

🧠 Key Quote:

“I used to build for momentum. Now I build for margin.”

Ever feel like your drive just… disappeared?
You sit down to work on something you thought you were excited about, and suddenly it feels heavy, disconnected, even dread-inducing? That’s exactly where Ellyn’s been—and in this episode, she’s pulling back the curtain on the murky middle she’s been navigating in real time.

This isn’t a polished 3-step plan or a productivity pep talk. It’s raw, reflective, and honest.
It’s for the high achiever wondering:

Am I just procrastinating—or is this actually a pivot?

Inside this episode:

• What procrastination looks like when you’re still ambitious AF

• How fear shows up differently in a pivot vs. procrastination

• Why alignment might mean letting go (and how Ellyn’s doing just that)

• The power of Quick Capture systems, micro-momentum, and giving yourself permission to shelf things

• A peek into Ellyn’s own real-life business evolution—and what she’s pivoting into next

🔁 If you’re swirling in self-doubt, resistance, or second-guessing your path—you’re not alone. This one’s for you. No shame, no judgment, just clarity.

🔥 Resources + Mentions:

• 💻 Burnout-Proof Business Membership – Get inside the space where the real pivots, permission slips, and burnout-proof systems are happening.

• ✍️ Values Mini Course – Get crystal clear on what truly matters so you can make aligned decisions with confidence.

• 💌 Join the Email List – For behind-the-scenes insights, podcast drops, and the next wave of C-Suite GPT support.

🎧 If you loved this episode…
Share it with a business bestie, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss the real talk.

Until next time—
Stay relentless.
✨ You’re not stuck. You’re just shifting.

You don’t need more content. You need a strategy that actually works while you rest.

If you’re sick of babysitting your Instagram feed or burning hours making videos no one sees—this episode is for you.

Pinterest strategist Camille Kurtenbach is here to flip the script on what sustainable marketing really looks like. This isn’t another “just repurpose it!” conversation. We’re talking about how Pinterest is a visual search engine (not social media!)—and how to make it your business’s best-kept visibility secret.

Whether you’re a course creator, coach, or creative… if you’ve got content, you’ve got searchable marketing assets. Now let’s use them.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

📌 Why Pinterest isn’t social media—and why that changes everything

📈 What makes Pinterest content evergreen and how to leverage that as a solopreneur

♻️ How to repurpose your podcast, blog, Instagram, and even TikToks (the right way)

🧰 Why sustainable marketing starts with a content audit—not more content

🚫 What Pinterest replaces so you can finally step off the Instagram hamster wheel

🛠️ Tangible Takeaways:

🔹 Use the Pinterest Trends Tool — Find what people are searching for right now

🔹 Do a Content Audit — You've got more usable content than you think

🔹 Make SEO Work for You — Title + description = searchable gold

🔹 Build a Repurposing System — Map IG → Pin → CTA in a repeatable workflow

🔹 Focus on Cold Traffic — Optimize for the stranger scrolling, not the follower who already knows you

💬 Related to This Episode:

📊 Want a business that markets without you?

That’s the dream behind Burnout-Proof Business: systems, strategies, and automation that make marketing feel effortless—and sustainable. Enroll Now

Camille is going to be one of our GUEST EXPERTS!

🙌 If You Loved This Episode:

🎙️ Check out Camille’s podcast: Pinterest Coffee Chats

📚 Grab her freebie: How to Get Started on Pinterest

☕ Join her Monday AM Coffee Chats: Sign up here

🎙️Get Her $22 Profitable Pinterest Blueprint - Click Here

📸 Follow Camille: @positivityplatform

💥 Drop a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify
📸 Screenshot, share, and tag @coachellyn

You know rest matters—so why does it feel so damn hard?

You sit down to breathe, and suddenly you feel guilty. Anxious. Like you’re doing something wrong. Spoiler alert: you're not bad at self-care—you've just been conditioned to feel unsafe in stillness.

In this episode, we’re not giving you more tips. We’re going straight for the root.
Ellyn is breaking down the 5 subconscious beliefs that are making rest feel like failure—and showing you how to shift from guilt to sustainable systems that legitimize your downtime.

Because rest isn’t a reward. It’s a requirement.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

🧠 Why “rest = laziness” is a belief you absorbed, not one you chose⚠️ The high-achiever loop trap that keeps your rest forever out of reach📵 Why your self-care might be making things worse—not better🔄 How to stop treating rest like dessert and start baking it into your workflow⚡️ Why your fear of stepping back isn’t about strategy—it’s about survival mode

🛠️ Tangible Takeaways:

🔹 Make Rest Tangible — Schedule it like client work🔹 Build Systems That Protect Energy — Engineer rest into your workflow🔹 Redefine Rest as a Metric — Track how rested you feel like you track revenue

💬 Related to This Episode:

🧰 Burnout-Proof Business — Want a business that protects your energy by design?
BPB combines mindset, self-care, and systems so rest becomes a non-negotiable, not a nice-to-have. Check it out → (or wherever your link lives)

🌐 Join Burnout-Proof Business

🔗 Links & Resources:📸 Follow on IG: @coachellyn
🙌 If You Loved This Episode:

💥 Drop a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify🎙️ Screenshot, share, and tag @coachellyn