Burned Out in Business? How the Sleep Sense Founder Found Her Passion Again with Dana Obleman
When Success Feels Empty: My Friend Dana's Journey Through Burnout Recovery for Entrepreneurs
Can I tell you something that might surprise you?
Some of the most successful entrepreneurs I know have secretly wondered if they've lost their minds. Not because their businesses aren't working. They are. But because somewhere along the way, they stopped feeling anything about the thing they built.
My dear friend Dana Obelman knows this feeling intimately. You might know her as the Sleep Sense legend—the woman who's trained sleep consultants in 45 countries and literally saved parents' sanity worldwide. But what you might not know is that after 20 years of incredible success, Dana hit a wall so hard it nearly knocked the wind out of her.
Her story of burnout recovery isn't just inspiring. It's the roadmap I wish every business owner had when they're wondering where their spark went.
The Rock Bottom That Started Everything
Let me take you back to where it all began for Dana. Picture this: a desperate new mom whose baby won't sleep longer than two hours at a stretch. She's questioning everything about her ability to mother this little human.
[03:35] “I can still remember the night where I was like, I can't do this one more day. I don't know what's wrong. Maybe I just am not equipped with whatever it takes to be a mom.”
But here's what I love about Dana. Instead of accepting defeat, she got obsessed with solving the problem. Within a week, her son's sleep transformed. And then? She quit her teaching job before she even had her first client because she knew in her bones this was her calling.
That kind of leap without a net energy? That's what built her empire. But it's also what made her burnout so devastating years later.
The Truth About Entrepreneur Burnout Nobody Talks About
Here's something Dana discovered that absolutely fascinated me: entrepreneur burnout follows patterns. For her, it hit like clockwork every five years.
[15:22] “At every five-year mark, there was a feeling of like things feel the same. It's pretty repetitive. I'm getting a little bit bored, maybe, or I'm starting to burn out on sort of the same content, same conversations.”
Can we talk about how revolutionary this insight is? We're so busy treating burnout like a personal failing when it's actually your business evolution knocking on the door.
Dana's burnout recovery strategy became using these moments as signals, not stop signs. First five-year mark? She launched her certification program. Next one? She pivoted from in-person to online training.
The game-changing reframe: Burnout isn't your business failing. It's your business asking to level up.
The Breakthrough That Changes Everything
Now here's where Dana's story gets really good. When she joined my Art of Reinvention program, she was in one of those seasons where she wasn't sure what direction to go next. Sound familiar?
The moment that shifted everything for her? When I said: What's easy for you is your gift.
[21:03] “What's easy for you is your genius. And I had forgotten that I really had… I was getting all this feedback about, like, these are the things you're awesome at. And I was like, Oh, I thank you. I needed that reminder.”
Y'all, this is where most of us get it backwards in our burnout recovery journey. We discount the things that feel natural because we think, “If it's easy for me, anyone can do it.”
Wrong. What's effortless for you is probably impossible for most people. That's not an accident. That's your zone of genius calling.
The Simple (But Not Easy) Path Back to Joy
Dana's burnout recovery process is beautifully straightforward, but don't mistake simple for easy:
Step 1: The Great Business Audit
Write down every single thing you do. I mean everything. This is where most entrepreneurs have their “holy crap, no wonder I'm exhausted” moment.
Step 2: Circle Your Energy Vampires
Which tasks make you want to hide under your covers? Those are your burnout triggers, and they're stealing your life force.
Step 3: Get Ruthless About What Goes
Delegate it. Automate it. Eliminate it. But get it off your plate. Your burnout recovery depends on this.
Step 4: Double Down on Your Magic
What lights you up? What feels like play? That's where your business wants to grow.
Step 5: Find Your People
Isolation accelerates burnout. Community accelerates recovery. Dana puts it perfectly:
[19:38] “I'm an extrovert, so, like, I need to be in community with people. And when I'm not I start to shrink, right? I start to (think) I'm like a flower. Oh, I'm getting tired.”
Why Community Is Everything in Burnout Recovery
Can I get real with you for a minute? One of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs make when they're burned out is isolating themselves. They think they need to figure it out alone, but that's like trying to perform surgery on yourself.
Dana's burnout recovery accelerated the moment she got back into community with other business owners who understood the journey. Sometimes you need fresh eyes to see what you can't see about yourself.
What Recovery Actually Looks Like
Today, when I look at Dana, she literally glows. Not because her business problems disappeared, but because she's back in alignment with who she is and what she loves.
[25:03] “I really feel like a new commitment to just living a positive life and taking better care of myself and just focusing on the things that I enjoy doing, the things that I'm good at.”
This is what burnout recovery actually looks like for entrepreneurs. Not working harder, but working more aligned. Not adding more to your plate, but removing what doesn't belong.
Sleep Secrets from the Expert Herself
Since we're talking about recovery, let me share Dana's top three sleep tips for exhausted entrepreneurs:
- The Power Down Hour – No screens for one hour before bed (she's not kidding about this one)
- Sleep Cave Mode – Cold, dark room with zero light sources
- Morning Light Ritual – 10 minutes of natural sunlight first thing
[28:54] “Put your phone away. I'm not joking. It really is number one.”
Here's What I Want You to Remember
Dana's story proves that burnout recovery isn't about starting over. It's about coming home to yourself. It's about remembering that your natural gifts aren't accidents, and that what feels easy to you is probably your greatest contribution to the world.
Burnout isn't the end of your story. It's the beginning of your next chapter. Ready to begin? Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts, and make sure you connect with Dana @sleepsense on Instagram. This woman is pure gold, and if you're a parent or want to become a sleep consultant, she's your person.
xo, Tracy
Sponsor Spotlight!
If Dana's story is resonating with you, it's not an accident. Your burnout isn't a character flaw. It's a signal that you're ready for your next evolution. That's exactly why I created The Art of Reinvention. It's my 12-week mastermind experience for high-achieving women who know they're meant for more but aren't sure what that looks like yet.
This week only, I'm offering complimentary Reinvention Breakthrough Sessions. In 30 minutes, we'll uncover what's keeping you stuck and create a roadmap for your own burnout recovery journey.
Book your free breakthrough call here because your spark is still there; it just needs the right conditions to reignite.
Links in this episode:
Follow @sleepsense on Instagram
Dana’s Website: Sleep Sense
Free Reinvention Breakthrough Call
The Art of Reinvention Program
Creative Force of Nature Mastermind Retreat (October 6-8, Scottsdale, AZ)
Buy My Book: The Desired Brand Effect