Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the things in your cookie business—posting on social media, answering DMs, baking non-stop—and still not seeing the growth or income you hoped for? If that’s you right now, you’re not alone. I’ve been there too: burnt out, maxed out, and feeling like I was running on a hamster wheel that wasn’t going anywhere.

Years ago, when I was deep in the trenches of custom cookie orders, I hit a wall. I loved making cookies. I loved my repeat customers. But between custom designs, emails, and an overflowing calendar of orders, I was exhausted. And my bank account? It didn’t reflect the hours I was pouring into my business.

Eventually, I realized something had to change. I wasn’t going to magically get more time or energy—but I could change the way I ran my business. I could focus on sustainable growth instead of spinning my wheels. If you’re in that same boat, I want to share the three big shifts that helped me get unstuck and start building a business that actually worked for me.

1. Create Repeatable Offers

One of the biggest turning points in my business was when I stopped reinventing the wheel every single season. I took a good look at what sold well—like mini packs and single cookies during holiday pre-sales—and I started repeating those offers throughout the year.

Instead of brainstorming a new product every time, I built a structure around what I already knew worked. That meant less stress, more confidence in my offers, and ultimately, more income. I used this same strategy with DIY kits and cookie classes—once I found a format that worked, I brought it back again and again.

Repeatable offers gave me a foundation to build on. They weren’t one-time ideas—they became sustainable income streams.

2. Automate Basic Marketing Tasks

The next thing that helped me stop the hustle and start working smarter? Automation. I didn’t have time to live in my inbox or post in real-time every day, so I started setting up systems.

I used Meta to schedule social posts. I had email templates ready to go for custom inquiries. I even pre-scheduled emails to my list, so I wasn’t waking up the day-of wondering what to send.

Automation isn’t impersonal—it’s efficient. And when done right, it actually gives you more space to connect with your customers in meaningful ways.

3. Focus on Profit, Not Just Busy Work

It’s easy to fill our days with tasks that look like work but don’t actually move the needle. I started evaluating how I spent my time and asking: Is this actually making me money?

Was posting on social without a strategy moving the business forward? Was spending hours prepping a styled shoot bringing in sales? If not, I let it go.

Instead, I focused on what mattered most: sending emails, selling my offers, and showing up consistently where it counts. I also started time blocking and prioritizing tasks to make sure I was focusing my energy on things that made an impact.

If your business is feeling stuck, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means it’s time to shift.

Think about your structure. Think about your strategy. And most of all, think about what will make your business sustainable.

2025 can be your year to get off the hamster wheel and start building a business you love waking up to.

Want a ready-to-go repeatable offer you can implement now? Grab our Birthday Wishes Cookie Class Kit—a complete, done-for-you class setup you can run again and again. It’s the perfect way to bring in extra income without burning out.