If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything in your business but still feel like it’s not enough, you’re not alone. On this episode of the Dream Biz Podcast, I sat down with creative strategist and business consultant Zuzana Miraka to talk about something that every creative entrepreneur needs to hear: how to simplify your business and avoid burnout.

Zuzana and I connected over on Threads (our favorite place to find business besties!), and immediately realized how aligned we are in our philosophies. We both have creative roots, we’ve both burned out, and we’ve both had to rebuild from the ground up. In this conversation, Zuzana shares the behind-the-scenes of what that looked like for her—and offers practical tools you can use to build a business that actually feels good.

When Success on the Outside Doesn’t Match How You Feel Inside

Zuzana shared her story of running a successful branding agency that looked amazing from the outside—speaking gigs, steady clients, industry recognition—but left her completely drained. Her wake-up call came when her body literally shut down. Chronic back pain (caused by stress) forced her to stop.

Like so many creatives, Zuzana was undercharging, over-delivering, and doing way too many things at once—website design, brand photography, social media management—you name it. And because she wasn’t charging enough, she was stuck in a constant loop of doing more to earn the same (or less).

Sound familiar?

The Radical Act of Stopping

What helped Zuzana break the cycle was something many entrepreneurs fear: she shut it all down. She closed her agency, deleted most of her social platforms, canceled subscriptions, and stopped trying to “keep up.” She gave herself space to breathe, to rest, and to listen to her body.

From there, she rebuilt. But this time, she did it differently—with intention, with boundaries, and with clarity. She started working under her own name, offered only what aligned with her bigger vision, and built in space for rest and reflection.

Signs You’re Headed Toward Overwhelm

Zuzana and I talked about how so many of us live in a near-constant state of stress and don’t even realize it—until our bodies force us to notice. For her, it was physical pain. For me, it’s anxiety in my chest. We both learned how to tune into those signals and use them as cues to pause—to breathe, take a walk, or just step away from the screen.

Paying attention to your body is a business strategy. Because you can’t create from burnout.

How to Simplify Your Business

So how do you actually simplify your business in a way that supports your energy and your creativity?

Here’s what worked for Zuzana:

• ✨ Remove the noise: Unsubscribe, cancel, simplify. If it drains your energy, it has to go.
• 🧘‍♀️ Regulate your nervous system: Meditation, breathwork, time in nature, rest. These are not luxuries—they’re necessary.
• 🗓 Plan with flexibility: She created a Daily Clarity Planner (free on her website) that helps her brain-dump her to-dos, prioritize what actually matters today, and release everything else.
• 🤍 Trust the process: Zuzana’s business grew more when she was on vacation in Greece than when she was hustling at her desk. Why? Because joy is magnetic.

You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out

One of my favorite takeaways from this conversation was Zuzana’s reminder that growth is messy. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to have slow seasons. That’s not failure—it’s just the process.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur navigating overwhelm, chasing too many ideas, or constantly wondering if you’re doing enough—this is your invitation to pause. To ask what you actually want and to remember your why. To build slowly, sustainably, and with self-compassion.

Want to Simplify Your Business with Support?

Zuzana now runs Lumina, a beautiful community space for creative, multi-passionate women who want to grow their businesses with joy and ease. You can try it free for 7 days.

She also offers her Daily Clarity Planner as a free download to help you structure your days with intention.

Connect with Zuzana:

• Instagram: @zuzana.miraka
• Download the Daily Clarity Planner
• Try Lumina for free for 7 days here

Zuzana Miraka is a business consultant and creative strategist who helps female leaders and wellness brands simplify and structure their business so they can grow with clarity and ease. She’s passionate about bringing light into the often overwhelming world of entrepreneurship, illuminating the path forward with practical strategy, personalized guidance, and a touch of soul.

And if you’re craving more conversations like this, be sure to follow the Dream Biz Podcast and leave a review if this episode spoke to you.