Today we’re diving into a topic that feels so close to my heart: productivity and self-care. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the “right” things in business but still end your day feeling overwhelmed or disconnected, this episode is for you.

I had the joy of chatting with Sabrina Avellán, a self-leadership coach who helps ambitious women ditch hustle culture and lead themselves with clarity and care. We met on Threads (of course), and I immediately connected with her grounded, wise presence and how she shows up online as her full self. Her energy is warm, her insights are deep, and I knew I had to have her on the podcast.

Why Self-Care Isn’t Just a To-Do Item

Sabrina shared how self-care has become something we “know” we need but often don’t actually do. It’s stuck in the conceptual phase, like another task we have to get around to. She calls out how many of us don’t start caring for ourselves until our cups are totally empty—and it doesn’t have to be that way.

Her story hit me hard. She used to be a systems strategist running VIP days and automations for businesses until she experienced a personal tragedy. Her father passed away suddenly in 2022, and everything shifted. She chose to pause her business, tend to herself, and realized just how much she had been living in hyper-productivity mode. Long hours, skipped meals, putting family second, and ignoring her body. That personal crisis made her reimagine success and start building from the inside out.

What Does Productivity with Self-Care Actually Look Like?

Sabrina’s system is a four-part framework for what she calls the overwhelm detox — and it’s not your typical time-blocking advice. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Radical Responsibility

This isn’t about shaming yourself. It’s about reclaiming your agency. Instead of saying, “I didn’t have time to send that email,” say, “I didn’t make time.” That one shift puts the power back in your hands.

She reminded me that radical responsibility is the opposite of victimhood. You’re not stuck because the world is against you. You just haven’t shifted your approach yet. Whether it’s your calendar, your habits, or your boundaries, you have the power to change it—if you own it.

2. Energy Mapping

We don’t talk enough about how not all hours are created equal. Sabrina has her clients identify their energetic highs and lows throughout the day and month. (P.S. She’s a big fan of working with your cycle if you’re a cycling person, too.)

Even more important? Understanding the energetic load of your tasks. Writing an email newsletter might be light work for one person and exhausting for another. The goal is to know what drains you vs. what fuels you—and plan accordingly.

She also shared how your environment matters. Some tasks are better suited for the couch than the desk, and that’s okay. For example, she writes emails on the couch but saves course slide creation for her desk or a coworking space. It’s all about matching the energy you need with the environment that supports it.

3. Self-Care as Intention, Not Action

This is where Sabrina really flipped the script. She defines self-care as an intention to nourish, recharge, protect, or nurture yourself. It can look like anything.

Not answering your phone when you’re drained? That’s self-care. Cleaning the counters because it makes you feel better? Yep, self-care. Saying no to a last-minute request? You guessed it.

It doesn’t have to be luxurious or time-consuming. It just has to serve you.

As a business coach and someone who has burned out hard before, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen entrepreneurs (myself included!) treat self-care like another checkbox. This reminder was everything.

4. Intentional Planning

Only after you’ve done the internal work of understanding your needs, your energy, and your self-care can you start planning in a way that feels aligned.

That means:

• Plugging in your peak energy tasks during your most productive hours
• Leaving space for nourishment and rest
• Breaking goals into tiny, doable steps
• And committing to the time instead of the exact task (this is GOLD for ADHD brains)

For example, instead of saying, “I need to write my sales page tomorrow,” just block off 30 minutes and show up with curiosity. Maybe you’ll write a rough outline. Maybe you just brainstorm. Either way, you’re making progress.

The Permission to Do It Differently

Throughout our conversation, Sabrina reminded me that productivity and self-care can coexist. In fact, they have to. Hustle culture teaches us that we must earn our rest, but what if rest is what fuels your best work?

I left this conversation so inspired to reimagine how I show up in my own business. If you’re craving more flow, more calm, and more you in your workday, this is your permission slip.

Start with how you feel. Build from there.

Connect with Sabrina

• Follow Sabrina Instagram @sabrina_avellan
• Check out her program, The Overwhelm Detox
• Visit her website
• Join her email list

And if this episode spoke to you, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a biz bestie who needs this message. We’re in this together! Check out my coaching services if you’re interested in working with me!