Hey friends,
So last week I was in Paris with my dad, and I found myself standing beneath the magnificent Eiffel Tower, craning my neck to take in its sheer magnitude. For some reason, I’d always imagined it to be smaller - but wow, was I wrong 🤯. Its size, its beauty, its presence, it left me in mesmerised awe. We had such a magical, fun time together! Paris is such a stunning city - I can see why people fall in love with it!
Taking a few days out to explore and connect with my dad was a reminder of the freedom I’ve worked so hard to create. As a full-time doctor, trips like this required meticulous planning and approved leave. Now, as a business owner, I have the flexibility to be spontaneous, and that freedom is invaluable to me. But, freedom isn’t always as glamorous as it sounds.
On paper, being your own boss sounds blissful - your time is yours, your decisions are yours, your life is yours. But the reality is more complicated. As someone with ADHD, I’ve always struggled to create (and stick to) my own routines. For years, the rigid structure of the military and medicine masked this challenge. But once I started working for myself, I realised just how hard it can be to focus, initiate tasks, and stick to routines without external scaffolding.
This past month has been especially challenging. I’ve let go of my last bit of external structure - my medical work - and launched my Business Coaching Community, all while hosting my dad for an extended visit. I love the freedom I have, but I’ve also felt overwhelmed and scattered at times. Freedom, I’ve learned, requires its own kind of discipline.
The truth is: I love freedom, but I desperately need structure. Most of us do. We need accountability, schedules, deadlines, and connection to keep us anchored.
In medicine, I worked as part of a lovely, cohesive team. That sense of belonging kept me motivated. Working solo is rewarding but also lonely at times, and I know from my clients that this is a very common struggle. Keeping motivation high on your own is hard. Add ADHD or other neurodivergence to the mix, and 'freedom' can sometimes feel the opposite of joyful.
So what helps?
I’ll be honest, I haven’t found the perfect solution. I’m still in the messy middle, learning to rebuild structure in this new chapter of my life, now that I've stopped my medical work and that I have 100% agency over my time and schedule.
These are some of the things that have been helping me so far:
1. Set Boundaries Early
Before my dad arrived, I had an open conversation with him and my sister about my work commitments. I explained that even though I work from home, I still need uninterrupted time to focus. This helped set clear expectations and allowed me to enjoy time with my dad with less guilt.
2. Create a Morning and Evening Routine
As a true night owl, sticking to a consistent wake and sleep schedule has always been a huge challenge for me. But I’ve found that having firmer routines significantly boosts my productivity. Even small rituals, like starting my day with a cup of coffee and a quick journal session, help me feel grounded.
3. Lean on Accountability
I’ve found that I work best when I’m accountable to others. Whether it’s my lovely virtual assistant, my amazing business coach, or my wonderful entrepreneur friends, having someone to check in with keeps me motivated and on track.
4. 'Eating the tiniest frog' 🐸
You may have heard of the popular book 'Eat That Frog!' by Brian Tracy - the idea that you should tackle your biggest and hardest task first, in order to accomplish more. That approach never worked for me (and as I've found out, it's terrible advice for people with ADHD brains!). Instead, I do the complete opposite: I start my day with the tiniest easiest task possible. Doing one small, easy thing first gives me huge momentum and gets me into a state of flow that allows me to tackle much bigger tasks later.
5. Find Your Community
I genuinely couldn’t do this entrepreneurial journey without community. I’m part of two amazing ones where we share goals, wins, and struggles, and where I've made wonderful friends. Now, having created my own online coaching community: Adventurous Solopreneurs! 🏄🏻♀️ I am getting to nurture and grow a beautiful space where members are already sharing their wins, cheering each other on, and forming connections. Community creates accountability, energy, and joy, and it makes the journey lighter.
6. Redefine Productivity
One of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve made is letting go of the 9-5 mentality (or in my case as a doctor, more like 5–9 😅). I’ve realised that I can only do deep, meaningful work for about 3-4 hours a day, and that’s okay. Quality beats quantity. By focusing on what truly matters, I can accomplish more in less time.
I no longer feel guilty for not sitting at my desk all day. Some seasons DO require long days (like before a launch), and others allow more rest. The beauty is: I get to choose. That’s real freedom.
Freedom is a gift, but it’s also a responsibility. It requires us to be intentional, to set boundaries, and to redefine what success looks like. If you’re struggling with structure or motivation, know that you’re not alone, and that it’s okay to be in the messy middle.
What’s one small step you can take this week to create more structure or ease in your life? I’d love to hear from you. Hit reply and let me know. We’re all in this together.
And if you have any tips on how you manage your schedule as an entrepreneur, I would love hear this as well! It's great to learn from each other!
Wishing you a beautiful and restful weekend.
With love,
Marcela 💛
Dr Marcela Aguirre
Helping Brilliant Solopreneurs & Founders Gain the Know-How & Confidence to Build a Fun, Sustainable One-Person Business | ICF Certified Coach | Doctor | Ex-Military Officer | 1:1 | Business Coaching Community | Speaker
🚀 If you'd love to have more support on your entrepreneural journey, here are a few ways we can work together:
🏄🏻♀️ Adventurous Solopreneurs Community
My brand-new Business Coaching Community is up and running with 11 wonderful members - and we have so many exciting things coming up!
If you’d love to join our tribe and get ongoing business coaching, accountability and support, learn more here.
👩🏻💻 1:1 Coaching & Mentoring
If you’re ready to build strong foundations for growth and scale your business with clarity and confidence, I offer private coaching packages designed to take you & your business from unclear and overwhelmed to sustainable, profitable and enjoyable.
Find out more here.
☕ Free 30-Minute Consultation
If you’re not sure what you need but would love to chat, I offer a free consultation where we’ll explore your goals and next steps - it's a no pressure consultation where I always aim to leave you with clarity and some intial actionable steps.
Book your call here.
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