Burnout Proof | Build a Business, Life + Career Without Burnout

Ellyn Schinke | Burnout Coach, Consultant, and Speaker
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Welcome to the Burnout-Proof Podcast, where ambition meets alignment. Hosted by Ellyn Schinke, former scientist turned #1 burnout coach on Google, this show is your go-to for building burnout-proof success. Whether you’re a corporate go-getter, solopreneur, or thriving entrepreneur, discover how to overhaul your mindset, systems, and self-care so you can do epic shit—and feel good doing it. 🎙 Learn more at coachellyn.com/podcast

  1. 6D AGO

    Is Your Tech Secretly Killing Your Nervous System? (My $3,000 Tech Bill)

    If you’ve been telling yourself “I just need to be more consistent,” this episode is your reality check: a lot of what we call a mindset problem is actually a systems and infrastructure problem. After getting hit with an unplanned $3,000 tech bill, I realized my stress was not coming from my business. It was coming from friction I had been tolerating for way too long. Glitchy hardware, broken ports, janky workarounds, and daily troubleshooting were quietly draining my nervous system. In this episode, we unpack how tech friction turns into procrastination, avoidance, reactivity, and the shame spiral of “what is wrong with me.” And we land on the Sunday CEO truth: if your system only works when you babysit it, it’s not a system. It’s a stress hobby. In This Episode, We Cover: Why “I can’t be consistent” is often a nervous system response, not a character flawHow tech friction creates burnout fuel, even when everything “technically still works”The hidden cost of constant workarounds: time loss plus emotional recoveryThe line you need to remember: if your system needs babysitting, it isn’t a systemA tiny audit question that will instantly show you what is draining you mostThe Key Quote: “If your system only works when you babysit it, it’s not a system. It’s a stress hobby.” Tiny Action Steps: Answer this honestly: What’s the most annoying “it technically still works” thing you’ve been tolerating in your business or life? Then ask: What is that costing you in nervous system energy? Links + Resources Mindset Meets Systems Challenge (Feb 16–20): https://www.coachellyn.com/challengeBurnout-Proof Business: https://coachellyn.com/bpbThe Burnout Quiz: https://www.coachellyn.com/quizListener Question: What’s one piece of “digital duct tape” you’ve been relying on that you know is making everything harder?

    16 min

  2. JAN 27

    If the State of the World is Burning You Out…

    Does the state of the world ever feel like it's burning you out? The last few years have been heavy—and right now feels especially dystopian. In this raw, unfiltered episode, I'm talking about what we actually need when everything feels like it's falling apart: systems that carry the weight when we can't. This isn't a tactical how-to episode. It's a behind-the-scenes look at why systems aren't just about productivity—they're self-care infrastructure. I'm sharing the exact systems that have held me through processing heavy emotions, taking a public political stand, and navigating the chaos of building a business while the world feels like it's on fire. In This Episode: Why emotional burnout is different (and what to do about it)The reframe that changed everything: systems as self-care, not productivity hacks7 specific systems that have supported my mental, emotional, and physical health when the world is heavyHow to let your systems hold you when you can't hold yourselfWhy "fuck perfect" is the most important mindset right now Key Timestamps: 04:46 - What emotional burnout actually is (and why it's so insidious) 10:02 - The reframe: systems become self-care 13:12 - Morning routines that regulate your nervous system 15:43 - How systems let you fall into autopilot when you need to 17:37 - Why we build systems in the first place Resources Mentioned: Daily Check-In & Check-Out pages (Notion templates)Habit Tracker systemWeekly Review processFinance Hub for reducing uncertaintyCEO Schedule for removing decision fatigueJoin the Mindset Meets Systems Challenge: Ready to build systems that actually support you—not just your productivity? Join the free Mindset Meets Systems challenge in February and learn how to create infrastructure that holds your business (and your humanity) when the world feels heavy. 👉 Join the challenge here Connect with Ellyn: Website: coachellyn.com Burnout-Proof Business: coachellyn.com/bpb Take the Burnout Quiz: coachellyn.com/quiz Instagram: [@coachellyn] If this episode resonated with you: Follow the show on Spotify or Apple PodcastsLeave a 5-star review on Apple PodcastsShare this episode with a friend who needs to hear itDM me on Instagram and let me know what landed Episode Keywords: burnout prevention, emotional burnout, systems for entrepreneurs, self-care for solopreneurs, sustainable business systems, stress management entrepreneurs, nervous system regulation, business infrastructure, work-life integration, burnout recovery

    17 min

  3. JAN 20

    The Data Behind Burnout: Cortisol, Gut Health & Why Your Nervous System Is Sabotaging Your Business with Jessica van Antoine

    You're doing everything right—boundaries, meditation, systems—but you still feel exhausted, irritable, and like you're operating at 70% capacity. What if the problem isn't your mindset or your schedule... but physical imbalances you don't even know exist? In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Van Antoine, founder of Phoenix Functional Health and functional health practitioner who specializes in working with female entrepreneurs. Jessica comes at burnout from an angle most coaches completely miss: the physical data—food sensitivities, gut health, cortisol patterns, and mineral imbalances—that shows you why your body is running on fumes even when you're "doing all the right things." Jessica shares her own burnout story (working 90 hours a week at a wellness center while literally taking up smoking just to get a break), the moment she realized self-care alone wasn't enough, and how functional lab testing changed everything. We dive into the tests most service providers have never heard of, what your body is trying to tell you, and why your body is actually your business's most important asset. If you're the kind of Sunday CEO who's tried everything and still doesn't feel like you should—this episode is your permission slip to get the data. Key Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome to the Burnout-Proof Podcast 02:12 - Jessica's burnout story: 90-hour weeks and smoking to take breaks 08:02 - The first test that changed everything: food sensitivities 15:33 - Leaky gut explained (and how to heal it) 24:31 - The Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) and burnout markers 34:09 - The Dutch Test: cortisol, hormones, and your body's stress response 40:26 - Why stress fundamentally changes how your body works 45:23 - Jessica's toolkit: massage, osteopathy, acupuncture, and functional testing 50:09 - Why your body is your business's most important asset About Jessica Van Antoine Jessica Van Antoine is the founder of Phoenix Functional Health and has been in the health and wellness industry since 2009. She's a former massage therapist, yoga teacher, and wellness educator who evolved into functional health practice after her own burnout breakdown showed her that self-care alone wasn't enough. Jessica now works specifically with female entrepreneurs to address the physical imbalances—food sensitivities, gut health, cortisol dysregulation, and mineral deficiencies—that keep high-achievers operating at reduced capacity. Connect with Jessica: Website: phoenixfunctionalhealth.comInstagram: @phoenixfunctionalhealthLinkedIn: Jessica Van Antoine Resources Mentioned: Adrenal Mocktail Ebook (remineralize your body) - on Website4-Week Home Detox Guide (room-by-room chemical audit) - ⁠on Website⁠Food Sensitivity TestingGI Map (gut microbiome stool test)Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)Dutch Test (cortisol and hormone testing)Functional lab testing vs. standard bloodwork Join the Conversation This episode is packed with resources on Jessica, functional health testing, and how to actually fix what's broken in your body—not just band-aid it with more self-care hacks. Join us inside the free Skool community where I've dropped links to all of Jessica's resources and testing options, my breakdown of which tests to start with, plus my brand new Notion Tip of the Week series for service providers who want their business systems to actually support them. Search "Coach Ellyn Skool community" or check the show notes for the direct link.

    54 min

  4. JAN 13

    The 3-Question New Years Reset (No Overhaul Required)

    In this episode, Ellyn breaks down why your systems don't need a complete overhaul—they just need a strategic reset. She shares her three-question framework for identifying what's actually working, what's creating friction, and what ease could look like in your business. Plus, she walks through a real example of how she simplified her weekly review process to take 15 minutes instead of 45. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: The Build, Use, Tweak Framework: How to approach system maintenance as an ongoing practice, not a one-time eventThe 3-Question System Reset: A simple audit process to identify what's working, what's cluttered, and where you can create easeReal-World Example: How Ellyn simplified her weekly review by embedding her Notion databases directly into the templateThe Power of Romanticizing System Maintenance: Why making your systems work feel sacred helps you stay consistentHow to Prioritize System Updates: Create a 6-month calendar with one small system update per week KEY QUOTES "You're not removing value, you're removing friction." "System maintenance and system improvement is not a one-time event, it is ongoing." "If your systems feel like a drag, you're not going to do it. But if they feel sacred and cozy, you're going to actually do it." THE 3-QUESTION RESET What's actually working right now? Identify the systems, tools, and processes that are serving you wellWhat feels cluttered and overwhelming? Pinpoint where friction exists in your current setupWhat would ease look like this quarter? (Or: What's creating friction right now?) Envision what a simplified version could be Notion - The systems platform Ellyn uses for her business infrastructure Sunday CEO Diaries - Ellyn's email newsletter for burnout-proof strategies Free Monday Morning Notion Tips: Weekly live streams in Ellyn's free Skool community⁠ NEXT STEPS: Ready to simplify your systems? Start by answering the three questions from this episode. Pick ONE priority and ONE system to focus on first. Then create your 6-month calendar with one small system update per week. Want more support? Join Ellyn's free Skool community for weekly Monday morning Notion tips, or subscribe to the Sunday CEO Diaries. CONNECT WITH ELLYN Website: coachellyn.com Email List: coachellyn.com/list Ellyn's free Skool community⁠ This episode is part of the Systems pillar of Ellyn's Sustainable Success Framework.

    20 min

  5. JAN 6

    Are You Setting the Wrong Goals?

    What if work-life balance is a lie? What if passion won't save you from burnout? In this episode, Ellyn breaks down the three wrong goals that are setting high achievers up to fail-and reveals the one goal that actually matters: sustainability. Whether you're a student grinding through all-nighters, a corporate employee using PTO to recover instead of live, or an entrepreneur resenting the business you built-this episode will shift how you define success. QUOTES TO SHARE: "You're not burning out because you're doing something wrong. You're burning out because you're chasing the wrong goals entirely." "Passion is fuel, but without proper systems and boundaries, you're just burning faster." "Fast growth feels like success until your body forces you to stop. Until you can't get out of bed. Until you dread the thing you once loved." "You get lucky by staying in the game long enough for luck to find you. Luck, opportunity, timing, momentum-they all require one thing: you still being in the game." "The sustainable path might look less impressive in year one, but by year seven? You're still here. You're still energized. You still love what you do." RESOURCES MENTIONED: Alex Hormozi quote: "You get lucky by staying in the game long enough for luck to find you" Movie reference: Click with Adam Sandler (about fast-forwarding through life) CALLS TO ACTION: Join Burnout-Proof Business - Founding member pricing ends late January 2026Inside: 2x/week Implementation Labs, complete Sustainable Success Framework, community support: Click Here Free Resources:- Sunday CEO Diaries newsletter: coachellyn.com/list- Free Skool community: coachellyn.com/community For Students: Student support and mentorship services: Click Here

    18 min

  6. 12/30/2025

    Why I'm Done Making Success Harder Than It Needs to Be

    If you've ever hustled harder than you needed to, created struggle just to feel like you're earning your success, or felt suspicious when things start flowing easily. The big idea: Ease isn't a red flag—it's what competence looks like after years of prep work. But when you've spent your whole life correlating struggle with worthiness, learning to trust ease is its own kind of growth work. What we cover: The unexpected realization that came from a My Girl Monday reflection: I've been suppressing ease itselfWhy high achievers mistake ease for a warning sign instead of recognizing it as readinessThe belief underneath it all: that success should be hard, and if it's not, it doesn't countWhat my AI agent Chelsea said that made me read it four times: "The ease you're feeling isn't a red flag. It's what competence feels like after years of prep work"How I've been grading myself poorly on "growth" because I wasn't grindingThe disconnect between my value statement for fulfillment and what I've actually been doingThree practical shifts I'm making: giving permission to not force, acknowledging growth that's already happened, extending grace to myselfThe harder question: What are you afraid will happen if you let it be easy? Key quote: "We don't build the systems and do the work of growth so that we can keep struggling forever. That's not the freaking point. We do it so that eventually things get easier. And when they do, we get to celebrate that." Your three reflection questions: Where am I forcing challenge or difficulty that doesn't need to be there?What belief am I holding about success that makes me distrust ease?What would it look like to extend grace to myself the way I do to others? The permission slip you needed: You're allowed to let it be good. You're allowed to have things go well without waiting for the other shoe to drop. You're allowed to trust ease and flow and alignment. Success doesn't have to be hard to be real. Next steps: - Join the Sunday CEO Diaries: CoachEllyn.com/list - Join the Skool community: CoachEllyn.com/community - Join Hailey's My Girl Monday Call here - If this resonated, leave a review and subscribe

    16 min

  7. 12/23/2025

    3 Questions to Ask Before Setting 2026 Goals

    Before you set ambitious goals for 2026, ask yourself one critical question: Can your SYSTEMS actually support them? In this episode, burnout & systems strategist Ellyn Schinke walks you through the 3-question system audit that prevents the dreaded Q2 burnout and helps you scale sustainably. Every January, entrepreneurs set big revenue goals, launch goals, and growth goals—then burn out by March because their systems weren't built to handle the scale. If it broke at $200K, it will absolutely shatter at $500K. In this episode, you'll learn: -The 3 system audit questions every entrepreneur needs to ask before setting 2026 goals -How to identify the system gaps that are holding you back from scaling -What to stop doing in 2026 to make room for sustainable growth -The exact 4-step process to map your goals to the systems you need This episode covers the SYSTEMS pillar of the Sustainable Success Framework. business systems audit, prevent entrepreneur burnout, goal setting for entrepreneurs, scale without burnout, solopreneur systems, sustainable business growth, 2026 business planning, business infrastructure, entrepreneur overwhelm, systems for scaling Resources Mentioned -January Systems Workshop - Learn how to build the exact systems you need to support your 2026 goals → [Click Here] -Sunday CEO Diaries Newsletter - Weekly burnout-proof strategies for high achievers → coachellyn.com -Skool Community - Join other ambitious entrepreneurs building sustainable businesses: https://www.coachellyn.com/community About the Host Ellyn Schinke is a burnout & Notion systems strategist for high achievers with chaotic-genius brains and unapologetic ambition. She helps entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and corporate professionals build burnout-proof businesses through her Sustainable Success Framework: Systems, Self-Care, and Mindset. Connect with Ellyn -Website: coachellyn.com -Instagram: @coachellyn -LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ellynschinke -YouTube: @CoachEllyn Leave a Review If this episode helped you rethink your 2026 planning, leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your reviews help more high-achievers discover the show and build burnout-proof businesses! Episode Transcript [Full transcript available at coachellyn.com/podcast] New episodes drop every Tuesday at 5 AM PST. Subscribe so you never miss a strategy that could save you from burnout. Leave a Review

    17 min

  8. 12/16/2025

    Why Your Self-Care Keeps Failing (And How to Systematize It So It Actually Sticks)

    You've tried the morning routines. You've set the boundaries. You've made the plans to eat better, move more, wind down at night. But somehow, by Tuesday, it all falls apart. Here's the real problem: you're treating self-care like something you have to manually remember instead of something that just happens. In this episode, I'm walking you through six systems from my own life that have completely transformed how I take care of myself—without relying on willpower, discipline, or trying to remember one more thing. From smart home automations to daily check-in pages in Notion, recipe trackers to shutdown rituals, you'll learn how to build self-care into your infrastructure so your brain doesn't have to carry the weight anymore. What you'll learn: Why self-care habits fail when they rely on constant mental energyHow to use smart home automation to prompt wind-down and wake-up routinesThe exact Notion pages I use to make my habits visible and automaticCalendar defaults that protect your time boundaries (without the guilt)How to eliminate decision fatigue around food and nutritionThe shutdown ritual checklist that creates a clear end to your workday This episode is all about SYSTEMS and SELF-CARE—two of the three pillars of sustainable performance. Because when your self-care is systematized, you don't have to remember it anymore. And that's when it actually sticks. Resources mentioned in this episode: Notion Morning Routine Video Notion Evening Routine VideoMy Girl Monday with HaleyDaily Check-In and Check-Out templates: Available in the Burnout-Proof Business membership or the Solopreneur Life & Business OS template Join the community: Subscribe to the Sunday CEO Diaries (weekly email)Join the Skool community

    25 min
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Welcome to the Burnout-Proof Podcast, where ambition meets alignment. Hosted by Ellyn Schinke, former scientist turned #1 burnout coach on Google, this show is your go-to for building burnout-proof success. Whether you’re a corporate go-getter, solopreneur, or thriving entrepreneur, discover how to overhaul your mindset, systems, and self-care so you can do epic shit—and feel good doing it. 🎙 Learn more at coachellyn.com/podcast

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