The Honest Truth About Building a Business
You know that looming question folks love to ask:
“So how are you balancing everything?”
Every time someone asks me this, I want to look behind me like,
“Who? Me??
Balanced???
Like a stack of perfectly leveled books on your head? Absolutely not.”
But I’m still here.
I’m still trying.
I’m still learning how to carry college, work, chronic illness, bills, relationships, and big ol’ dreams without dropping myself in the process.
That’s what I want this post to feel like;
you and I sitting on a porch stoop, sipping something out of a jar, talking about the real stuff that never makes it to Instagram.
So let’s get into it.
When Your Body Has Different Plans Than Your To-Do List (Chronic Illness Reality Check)
Here’s the truth:
Some semesters I balanced textbooks, survival meds, deadlines, and emotions… all with the elegance of a baby deer on ice.
Chronic illness is like carrying a backpack full of bricks nobody else sees.
It constantly weighs you down, but you still have to maintain good posture.
It’s always there, looming.
On campus, I’d watch other students rush from class to class, Starbucks cups in hand, backpacks sliding off their shoulders after pulling an all-nighter.
Me?
I was trying to decide if I had enough energy to walk to the next class or if I needed to sit in a bathroom stall just to catch my breath and stay composed.
And during those days, I learned something important:
You can’t manage time when your body is what needs managing.
So I try to stop chasing whatever people call “normal.”
But a piece of me still struggles, maybe disappointment, maybe social pressure, maybe both.
Instead, I try to create a rhythm. A gentle one.
(This part is tricky for me.)
For example:
I don’t stack multiple classes back-to-back; my body says LOL, absolutely not. Sure, it’s taking me longer to finish my degree, but that’s my path.
I use Accessibility Services, even when it feels weird. Accessibility is more than ADA bare minimum and honestly, many people working in those offices aren’t empathetic or trained enough to understand real accessibility needs. Ironic, isn’t it?
I try not to compare myself to people whose bodies aren’t at war every other day. (Still working on this, especially around not being able to drive.)
And if no one has told you yet:
Needing accommodations doesn’t make you less capable. It makes you wise.
(Assuming you get the support you actually need, of course.)
Juggling School, Work, & Dreams Without Losing Yourself
While everyone else posts on socials about rise and grind culture, I was more like:
rise and hydrate
rise and hope my joints don’t lock up today
rise into only what my body can handle
Even with limited energy, I still have this quiet motivator inside me, something that pushes me beyond what should be my limit.
Because I know I’m building something meaningful. Something that will (hopefully) become sustainable.
And so are you.
Here are a few things that helped me… and what NOT to do:
I stopped trying to hustle.
My life isn’t built for hustle culture.
It’s built for intentionality and mindfulness.
I let small steps count as progress.
One paragraph of homework? Progress.
One business idea scribbled in a notebook? Progress.
Even when part of me wants to do more, I acknowledge what I could do.
I made room for rest in my dreams.
Sleep is key to sustainability… and yet I’m terrible at it.
My mind races when I try to sleep and feels calm when I’m busy.
The Social Life Dilemma (aka, “I want Friends But I Also Want a Nap”)
Listen.
Wanting connection + needing rest = a very particular kind of tug-of-war.
Some days I’d be dressed up and ready to go out, and my body would say,
“Girl, sit down.”
And then the guilt would roll in,
feeling like I was disappointing people… and myself.
But here’s what I learned:
People who value you want you, not the performance of you.
The right friends didn’t get upset when I cancelled.
They’d send “rest up” messages.
They held space for my timing.
You deserve that too.
You deserve relationships that don’t cost you your health.
Health is one of the most expensive currencies you own.
On Building a Business with a Tired Body but a Determined Spirit
Starting Tyberiana isn’t a moment, it’s a healing.
A soft rebellion against every time I’ve been unheard, dismissed, or doubted.
I didn’t start planning with long workdays (though… that’s the season I’m in right now).
I started with:
notes scribbled on napkins
ideas jotted between classes
voice memos at 2 a.m.
rest
more rest
and the belief that my lived experience was enough
And while I can’t promise the path will be easy, I can promise it’s possible.
And worth it.
I love it.
I feel heard here.
That’s why I created small things to support your journey too; things that don’t take hours of labor but still nourish your inner child and your present self.
They aren’t out yet, but launching May 2026:
The Southern Butter Biscuit Slime Kit for sensory soothing and creative rest
The free coloring sample of Always There, Rocking Chair Companion Activity & Coloring Book (download here) because art is medicine
These aren’t just products.
They’re pauses.
They’re mindfulness moments.
They’re therapeutic outlets.
They were created to say:
“You’re allowed to slow down and be present with yourself.”
How I Keep Going (Even When I Feel Like Giving Up)
It’s not motivation.
It’s not discipline.
It’s not caffeine.
(Okay… maybe just a little caffeine, yerba mate to be specific.)
It’s this:
I keep going because the younger me needed someone like the person I’m becoming.
And so do you.
You’re not behind.
You’re not a failure.
You’re not weak.
You’re living a life that requires courage every single day.
And if that’s not strength, I don’t know what is.
If you’re balancing all of this too, you’re not alone.
I hope this post feels like a deep breath,
a reminder that your pace is valid,
your needs are valid,
your dreams are valid,
and your body’s truths matter.
You don’t have to be someone else’s idea of impressive.
You just have to be real and authentically you.
If you want more grounding and calm in your college, work, chronic illness balancing act, explore my website for helpful resources.
And if you want to be the first to know when our products drop, join my Letters From Tyberiana newsletter.
Key Takeaways (for the 1-minute readers)
Chronic illness doesn’t make you slow, it makes you strategic.
Balance isn’t real, but rhythm is.
Accommodations are empowerment, not weakness.
Gentle entrepreneurship is still entrepreneurship.
Your dreams don’t shrink when you move slowly, they deepen.
You are doing enough, even when you’re doing less.
Thanks for sitting with me awhile.
Until next time my friend,
Tybre’ana