How I Stay Motivated When Things Slow Down (Even When I’m Panicking a Little)

 Let’s talk about what happens when you go from cha-ching-ing every day to…crickets.

Yep. I hit that moment this week. For a solid stretch, I was doing an order or two every day. It was exciting, validating, and if we’re being honest… kind of addicting. Then suddenly?

Nothing.

And I’d love to tell you that I handled it with total grace and chill vibes—but, I’m human. So yes, I panicked a little. And yes, I stared at my Etsy dashboard like it owed me an explanation.

But then something really unexpected happened: I stopped spiraling and got to work.

The Slow Days Gave Me Room to Breathe (and Catch Up on the Stuff I Usually Avoid)

Because let’s be real—when I’m busy making, selling, and shipping, I’m not exactly sprinting to balance my QuickBooks.

But during this slow stretch, I:
✔️ Cleaned up my inventory. What I had on hand didn’t totally match my Etsy listings (oops), so I reconciled everything.
✔️ Organized my receipts and logged expenses into QuickBooks. I am notoriously bad at this, so I’m calling this a big win.
✔️ Tested some new wraps I bought from a couple of vendors—checking quality before I add anything new to the shop.
✔️ Did research on print-on-demand. I’ve been wanting to expand into that space, and this was the perfect time to dive in.
✔️ Started building out future product ideas to keep things fresh and exciting.

Basically, it was business homework—the part that doesn’t sparkle like a glitter tumbler but is so necessary if I want to keep growing.

I Also Let Myself Feel the Feels

Because truthfully? It stung a little. It’s hard to go from daily action to silence without wondering, “Am I doing something wrong?” But instead of letting those thoughts take over, I sat with them. I even wrote in my journal (yep, I do that too). And it helped.

This quiet spell reminded me that slow days don’t mean failure—they mean opportunity.

Here’s What I’ve Learned (In Between All the Tracking Numbers and Spreadsheet Tabs)

• Slow days are a blessing in disguise. They give me time to handle the backend stuff I usually avoid.
• There’s always something to work on. Even if it’s not making a sale, it’s preparing for the next wave.
• Staying motivated isn’t about always being busy. It’s about keeping momentum—even if that looks different day to day.
• The work I do behind the scenes matters. It sets the stage for what’s coming next.

So, If You’re Feeling Like Things Are Quiet Right Now…

First, take a deep breath. You’re not alone - right there with ya!.
Second, do the thing you’ve been putting off. Organize your stuff. Research a new product. Clean up your tags. Please tell me I'm not the only one?

Third? Maybe write yourself a little love note. Remind yourself that you’re building something amazing—even if today doesn’t include a cha-ching.

📌 Shop my designs here 🛒

Until next time,
Jecca