Managing Energy to Avoid Burnout as a Freelance Writer

What freelance writers are saying about this presentation...

"As a Registered Nurse working freelance, I appreciate the practical application of everything you shared and can see its value on both sides of my career."

"Just watched your session on growth without burnout and I love how real and relatable it is."

"Just listened to your talk on burnout and found *so* much to relate to. Thank you for the tips as well as the encouragement towards self-compassion when dealing with this topic."

"Amazing presentation!!! 🙌🏽 There are always so many about optimizing business, finding more clients, scaling, etc… the topic of managing energy to avoid burnout is so important but not talked about enough. Thank you."

"Jessica Walrack gave a really insightful presentation on energy management for freelancers, a topic near and dear to my heart as a chronically ill spoonie. (Please everybody take care of your energy BEFORE you get sick, so that you DON'T."

Originally featured in the 2025 Growth Without Burnout Summit for advanced freelance writers, this 27-minute presentation digs into a real story of burnout from Jessica Walrack, freelance writer of 12 years and founder of All Things Freelance Writing.

After years of hustling to grow her business—working long hours, getting tunnel vision, and ignoring the warning signs of burnout—she hit a wall.

She'll walk you through how she rebuilt her routine to support both her business and her well-being, and share a simple energy management plan you can use to avoid burnout, no matter what growth path you choose.

Learn how to step out of a downward energy spiral and onto a steady, sustainable energetic path.

Major Takeaways:

• The success of a freelance writing business depends on clear thinking and creativity, which depend on your energy.
• Common habits and work patterns that lead to burnout.
• How to identify what drains and restores your energy—based on real experience, not assumptions. 
• Examples of simple adjustments that can improve focus, creativity, and well-being.
• A 5-step framework to build energy awareness into your daily routine.
• Final tips and takeaways

The bottom line: We're whole humans, not just writers, and ignoring that comes with a cost!

Bonus: You'll also get: Jessica's 5-Step Energy Management Plan for Freelance Writers (a PDF worksheet). You can use it to implement the energy management plan.