From Overbooked to Balanced: The Truth About Burnout, Boundaries & Building a Business That Works for You
From Overbooked to Balanced: The Truth About Burnout, Boundaries & Building a Business That Works for You
Friday 16th May 2025
☕ Let’s Rewind to a Time I Know All Too Well…
Right… grab a brew, babes, because I’m about to take you back to my “what the actual hell am I doing?” era. 😂
I remember a time I was doing 14-hour days, back to back,
barely eating,
chasing my tail,
running on caffeine and vibes,
…and honestly?
I was done.
I was rushing from one client to the next, mentally checking out, and feeling so burnt out I couldn’t even string a sentence together by the end of the day.
My body was screaming, my brain had clocked off, and the worst part?
My work started slipping—and that killed me more than anything.
I thought I was smashing it because I was fully booked.
I thought that was the goal.
But the truth?
It didn’t feel like success.
It felt like I was trapped in my own salon, working my arse off for what…?
A dodgy back, dodgier eating habits, and zero energy for anything else in my life.
And let’s be real- when you start resenting the thing you used to love,
you know it’s gone too far.
What they don’t tell you about being fully booked…
is how easy it is to tip over the edge into burnout city. Population: you.
I wasn’t functioning properly.
I was constantly knackered.
My work wasn’t my best.
And I had nothing left for my family or myself.
That “fully booked dream” wasn’t the vibe. It was a trap.
And let me tell you - I walked right into it with my eyes wide shut. 🙃
But hey, if you know me, you know I don’t stay stuck for long.
Cue the plot twist…
🎧 The Turning Point: Boundaries, Balance & Bose Headphones 😂
Something had to give. And spoiler… it was me. 😅
I got to the point where I knew I couldn’t keep going the way I was. So I did the thing that so many of us avoid…
I set some damn boundaries.
✅ I dropped the guilt.
✅ I raised my prices.
✅ I stopped saying yes to everyone and started saying yes to me.
✅ I joined the gym (yep, she’s back!).
✅ I started protecting my time like my life depended on it, because, honestly, it kinda did.
And this year, my hubby absolutely smashed birthday gifting and treated me to Bose headphones.
Now, I know that might sound random… but those bad boys have become part of my “get my head right” ritual.
Whether I’m:
On a walk clearing my head
Smashing through the housework
Prepping the salon for the day
Or just taking 10 mins to breathe and not answer a single DM…
I pop them on, blast a podcast, audiobook, or a bit of Spotify, and zone out.
But here’s the thing-it’s not really about the headphones.
It’s about creating those tiny little pockets of peace that pour back into you.
Because you can’t keep filling everyone else’s cup if yours is bone dry.
If you don’t make time to switch off, trust me, your body will force you to. And by then… it’s usually too late.
💥 Big Boss Energy: My No-BS Radar Is on Full Beam
Right… let’s have it, shall we? 😂
You know I’m all about keeping it real—so here’s a little truth bomb for you…
I’ve developed a serious BS radar when it comes to hustle culture.
If I see another post shouting, “I’m fully booked, 50+ clients a week, working 12-hour days, 7 days straight, no lunch breaks, living on caffeine and vibes”…
Babes, that’s not the flex you think it is. 🚩
It’s not success. It’s a burnout badge you didn’t ask for.
And let’s be honest—who the hell signed us up for that?
Look, the average full-time worker clocks in around 36 hours a week.
So why are so many of us in the beauty industry pushing 50+ hours like it’s some kind of prize?
Spoiler alert: it’s not.
If your feet hurt, your back’s broken, and you haven’t peed since breakfast… that’s not the dream, Hun.
That’s a wake-up call.
You shouldn’t have to graft yourself into the ground to be successful.
You should be able to:
✅ Hit the gym without feeling guilty
✅ Take yourself shopping without checking your bank balance first
✅ Sit in Costa sipping overpriced iced lattes with your bestie
✅ Actually have a life outside your booking system
And guess what?
You flipping can, when you stop chasing busy and start building smart.
That’s exactly why I created support systems for nail techs who want to do things differently.
Because let’s face it… being booked and burnt out is sooo 2023.
We’re here for balance, boundaries, and Big Boss Energy. 💅
✅ Weekly Accountability Check-Ins (And They’re Bloody FREE!)
Let me be real with you for a sec…
If you keep saying you want more clients, more freedom, more income, but you’re not doing anything about it then what are you actually waiting for? 😅
Every single week, I run a FREE accountability check-in for nail techs who are ready to stop winging it and start building with intention (and yes, I’ll give you the little kick up the bum you probably need).
You set your goals.
I check in with you.
We keep it moving together. No fluff. No BS. Just real progress.
Because let’s face it… you already know what you need to do.
Sometimes you just need someone to make sure you actually do it.
So, are you in or are you just gonna keep watching other people smash it while you "get round to it" next week? 👀
👉 Join the free accountability check-ins here
You’ve literally got nothing to lose… except another week of excuses. 😘
🎓 Stop Winging It… You Need This Course
Right… let’s have a little word, shall we? 😅
If you’re still trying to piece it all together by yourself…
Still second-guessing your prices…
Still wondering if you’ve “got what it takes” to actually make this work…
Babe, you need this course.
💼 Building a Thriving Nail Business
This is the real talk, no-fluff business toolkit I wish someone had handed me when I was sat at my dining table googling “how to grow a nail business” on my lunch break.
Inside, I’m showing you how to:
✅ Register with HMRC without the overwhelm
✅ Price your services properly (no more guessing or copying others)
✅ Market your business without feeling salesy or fake
✅ Keep clients coming back so you’re not stressing about empty slots
✅ Understand the UK nail industry like the boss you are
Because let’s be real it’s hard to grow something when you’re constantly second-guessing yourself, isn’t it?
🎯 This course is here to give you the confidence, the clarity, and the next steps you’ve been looking for.
So stop sitting on the fence, Hun.
This is your sign.
👉 Check out the course here
Let’s do this properly together. 💖
🎧 New Podcast Episode:
Navigating Business Relationships, Boundaries & Confidence in the Beauty Industry S2E1
We’re BACK with Season 2 of Banter & Beauty Bosses - and we’re kicking things off with some real talk about navigating business relationships, setting boundaries, and building confidence in the beauty industry.
In this episode, Sami Pelling (The Nail Mafia) and Emma Thomas (The Beauty Success Squad) dive into:
💬 Managing client expectations and appointment boundaries
💬 Building genuine connections through authentic networking
💬 Understanding the value of your services and pricing with confidence
💬 How to balance work, family life, and self-care as a beauty pro
💬 The power of educating your clients to boost loyalty and trust
Ready for some no-fluff business chat with a side of laughs?
You can have a thriving business without running yourself into the ground.
You can grow a brand and a life that actually feels good.
But you have to decide that your time, your health, and your happiness… matter more than being “booked and burnt out.”
Let’s build businesses that work for us, not the other way around.
The Nail Mafia is here to help you grow.
You in?
Love,
Sami x
📚 PS: Did You Know I Write Romance Too?
I know, right… nail tech by day, romance author by night.
What can I say? I like to keep life interesting. 😅
If you fancy a little me time (you deserve it, btw), grab a cuppa and dive into one of my steamy, swoon-worthy romance novels.
Expect:
💖 Strong women you’ll root for
💖 Hot, complicated heroes
💖 Storylines that’ll make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even shed a little tear (in the best way)
📖 Browse my books here: https://books.bookfunnel.com/AuthorSamiPelling
Go on… treat yourself. You’ve earned it. 💕
“Ready to work smarter, not harder?
👉 Join my Accountability Check-Ins
👉 Check out my Business Growth Course
