How I Went from Coding Myself into the ER to Building a Business That Fuels My Life

Let me tell you about the worst (and best) week of my career.

In 2019, I pulled three all-nighters to launch a client’s e-commerce site. By day four, I was in the ER with migraines so severe I couldn’t look at screens for a month. My “hustle” nearly cost me my health—and my business.

That’s when I realized: work-life balance is a lie.

For solopreneurs, there’s no tidy “50/50 split.” Our businesses are our babies. Our laptops double as kitchens. Our “life” happens between Slack pings.

But here’s what does work:

The Myth of Balance The balance narrative fails because:

Time is fluid: You’ll never perfectly compartmentalize “work” and “life” as a solo founder.

Guilt is inevitable: Trying to “balance” leaves you feeling like you’re failing at both.

It ignores energy: A 2-hour coding session at midnight might energize you more than a forced “self-care” day.

Balance implies conflict. Integration is the answer.

What to Do Instead: Work-Life Fuel

Replace balance with a system where work fuels your life and vice versa. Here’s how:

1. Become an Energy Architect

Track your energy for a week. You’ll discover:

Golden Hours: Mine are 6-9 AM (coding) and 4-6 PM (strategic thinking).

Energy Vampires: Client calls drain me; async Slack messages don’t.

Action: Schedule deep work during Golden Hours. Automate/batch/delete Energy Vampires.

My fix: Used AI to transcribe client calls → read summaries in 2 mins vs. 1-hour Zoom marathons.

2. Redefine “Productivity”

Forget hours logged. Ask:

Did I move my LTCV needle today?

Did I protect my non-negotiable fuel sources? (For me: weightlifting, 7 hours of sleep)

Action: Delete time-tracking apps. Start a “Win & Fuel” journal:

• 3 business wins

• 2 health/fun wins

…daily.

3. Automate the “Life” Side Too

You automate client onboarding—why not your wellbeing?

Health: My smart fridge reorders protein shakes when I’m low.

Relationships: Pre-scheduled “family time” Google Calendar blocks that auto-decline meetings.

Action: Treat personal needs like VIP clients. Schedule them first.

4. Embrace “Seasons”

Some months, I code 10 hours/day. Others, I hike the Balkans. Both are “success.”

The rules:

Never sacrifice two fuels at once (e.g., pulling all-nighters while skipping workouts).

Always tie busy seasons to LTCV outcomes (e.g., “This 80-hour month will automate next quarter”).

The Fuel Framework in Action Last month, I:

Launched a SaaS tool (120-hour work weeks)

But:

Hired a $5/day AI workout coach to yell form tips via WhatsApp

Pre-cooked 20 meals with my “stupid-simple” grocery automation

Scheduled a post-launch 10-day tech detox (enforced by site-blocking scripts)

Result? Higher revenue and lower stress than “balanced” years.

Your Turn

Step 1: Audit your last week. How many hours were:

High-energy work

Low-energy work

Actual fuel (not just Netflix zombie mode)

Step 2: Build your Fuel Framework:

Identify 2 non-negotiable fuels (mine: lifting, reading fiction)

Automate 1 “life” task this week (meal prep, bills, etc.)

Create a “Win & Fuel” journal template

Balance is dead. Fuel is freedom.

Your business shouldn’t drain you—it should fund and fuel the life you want. Hustle isn’t the enemy; misaligned hustle is.

Ready to go deeper?

How I Automated 90% of My Groceries (Free Template)

The “1-Hour CEO” Method for Guilt-Free Decisions

Why My Best Code Happens After Deadlifts (Science of Energy)

Hit reply and tell me your #1 fuel source. I’ll help you automate around it.

— Dobrin