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- I’ve been tired—but this is what’s helping me stay in the game
I’ve been tired—but this is what’s helping me stay in the game
Here’s what I’ve learned from juggling a full-time job while growing online—and why systems matter more than likes.
Justin Chia
May 14, 2025
In partnership with
Hey friend,
Can I be honest?
Lately, I’ve been tired.
Not burnt out. Just… stretched.
Working a 9–5 takes more out of you than people think.
You pour your focus into meetings, tasks, decisions—
And by the time the day ends, you’ve still got a business to build… and not much energy left.
Some nights, even writing this newsletter feels like a stretch.
But I keep showing up.
And if you’re in that season too—balancing full-time work and creative goals—I want you to know:
You’re not behind. You’re not alone.
You’re just playing a longer game.
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What’s helped me the most: having a system
The only reason I’m still creating consistently, launching products, and staying sane—
is because I’ve built a system that works with my schedule.
I use a ChatGPT project with memory that already knows my tone, my brand, and what I’m building
I organize one assistant per function: Newsletter Writer, LinkedIn Post Writer, Business Coach, Lead Magnet Builder
I collect ideas in Notion, draft with ChatGPT, and refine with a clear rhythm I don’t have to “force”
It’s not fancy. But it keeps me from quitting.
I’ve also stopped chasing performance
I used to get caught up in whether a post got 10 likes or 1,000.
Now I care more about:
Am I building something sustainable?
Am I writing things I’ll still be proud of 6 months from now?
Can I keep doing this, even when life is full?
The truth is:
What matters isn’t how fast you go.
It’s whether your system lets you keep going.
This isn’t just theory—it’s lived
Since starting this full-time role, I’ve learned:
How to say no to things that drain me
How to structure my creative time more realistically
And how to keep the wheels turning—even on tired weeks
And weirdly?
That shift made everything feel more aligned.
If you’re in the same boat…
You’re doing better than you think.
You don’t have to post daily.
You don’t have to go viral.
You just need a rhythm that fits your real life.
Because this isn’t about building fast.
It’s about staying in the game long enough to build something that lasts.
Catch you next week ✌️
— Justin
PS – Want to see the exact AI system I use to stay consistent while working full-time?
I made a free guide that walks you through it—step by step.
(It’s the backbone of how I keep writing, launching, and growing—even on weeks I feel worn out.)
And if you’re trying to build your own system like this, stay tuned—
I’m quietly updating my course to walk you through everything I’ve learned.
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