A few weeks ago, I spoke with a client who had just wrapped another 70-hour workweek. “I’ve got everything blocked on my calendar,” he said, “but I still feel behind. I’m exhausted. And I can’t afford to be exhausted.”

His schedule was airtight. His systems were dialed. But his body was giving out.

We talked about how he’d been operating — fast-paced, high-pressure, no margin — and I asked a simple question: “What’s your  current operating strategy costing you?”

The answer? “Everything.”

Well. 💩

In leadership, we’re trained to manage / block / maximize time. But no one teaches us how to manage energy. And here’s the thing that most people miss: time isn’t the bottleneck. Your nervous system is.

You can have all the time in the world, but if your body’s in survival mode, you won’t have access to the clarity and presence that make you a great leader.

The Hidden Ways Energy Gets Drained

Late nights and back-to-back meetings burn you out, sure, but so does the effort it takes to hold everything together. It’s the constant emotional regulation — staying calm when you’re frustrated, staying focused when you’re tired, and staying nice when you’re depleted.

One client told me, “It’s like I’m running a software update in the background at all times. No matter how much sleep I get, I never feel totally rested.”

That’s what chronic bracing does. You might not notice it if you’re clenching your jaw or your shoulders are up around your ears, but your nervous system sure does.

And over time, that kind of low-level tension becomes normal. You start calling it “stress” or “just a busy season,” even though it’s been months, sometimes even years.

Energy doesn’t just go from full to empty — it leaks. And the cost is real. Not just in how you feel, but in how you lead. 

Why High Capacity Isn’t the Same as Sustainability

I have a friend who’s wired for more. She’s always been the one to juggle the deadlines, be the calm in the storm, and have a crazy calendar.

If you’re like her and you can handle a lot, that’s great! But it’s not always sustainable or healthy. 

I’ve worked with plenty of leaders who built their careers on stamina. They’re the ones people lean on. The ones who deliver and never drop the ball. But overtime, feeling “off” becomes just part of the job. And then, the clarity goes. The creativity flatlines. And your body starts pushing back.

The hard truth is: Your energy is a finite resource. No matter who you are. If you keep living like you can’t run out, your body will eventually make the call for you.

Where To Go From Here

You just need to be honest about how you’re living. Start by checking in. (Not with your calendar — with your body.)

• Are you waking up rested, or already behind?
• Are you breathing through your day, or bracing through it?
• Did you finish last week feeling grounded… or just glad it was over?

Leadership runs on energy, not time. And protecting your energy — learning how to recover it, align it, and lead from it — is one of the most underrated skills you can build.

If you’d like to chat, book a call right here. I’d love to hear from you.