Ninja vs Sloth: The truth behind running a business
Some days you wake up and you are a full blown business ninja; your brain is clear, your coffee hits just right, your decisions feel easy, focus comes naturally and you are completing tasks like, well… a ninja!. You’re knocking things off your list with confidence like the version of you that finally has it all together.
And then there are the other days.
On those days you’re a squirrely sloth in a human body… Tired for no obvious reason, your brain feels foggy, you open your task list, stare at it, close it, then immediately forget why you opened it in the first place. You bounce between tabs, apps, and rooms without actually making any progress, and somehow the day is still exhausting.
Both of these days are normal…
Because we are human and that’s how it works.
The mistake most business owners make is assuming they should operate like a ninja every single day. That expectation is unrealistic, unsustainable, and honestly a fast track to burnout.
Once you stop arguing with reality, the rest gets a lot easier.
Stop expecting ninja output every single day
If you only feel successful on days when you are firing on all cylinders, you will constantly feel behind. There will always be more sloth days than you think there should be, and you will waste an unbelievable amount of energy beating yourself up for them or trying to force them into ninja days.
Consistency is not about doing everything at full capacity all the time, it’s about showing up in a way that matches the energy you actually have, not the energy you wish you had.
When you stop expecting ninja level output every day, you stop turning normal human fluctuations into personal failures. That alone removes a huge amount of unnecessary stress from your business.
You need two different task lists
This is non-negotiable.
You need one task list for ninja days and a completely different one for sloth days.
Your ninja list is for deep work:
Decision making
Strategy
Creative output
System building
Anything that requires actual thinking
These are the tasks that feel heavy or overwhelming when your energy is low.
Your sloth list is for low energy wins:
Repetitive admin tasks
Organizing files
Updating notes (this one is a tricky one, and if it feels hard, move it to the Ninja list)
Clearing emails
Prepping documents
Small actions that move things forward without requiring your best brain
If your only task list is full of high effort work, sloth days will feel like failure even when you are still making progress. When you have a sloth list ready, those days become productive in a quieter but still meaningful way.
Movement beats motivation on sloth days
On low energy days, waiting to feel motivated is a trap because motivation rarely shows up first, movement does.
You’re not going to think your way into focus (I’m serious, you’re not... Stop trying). You need to pick one small thing, do it imperfectly, and finish it anyway. Once you start moving, your brain often follows along reluctantly, like fine, I guess we are doing this now.
The goal on sloth days is movement, not brilliance or as you’ve probably heard 1000% times “progress over perfection. Progress counts even when it feels boring, slow, or unremarkable.
It doesn’t even have to be work related to get started. If you’re having a sloth day, fold the laundry, do the dishes, sweep the floor… to the mindless tasks that you’ve been putting off.
Do not waste your ninja days
This is where a lot of business owners shoot themselves in the foot.
They use high energy days to catch up on tiny tasks they could do any time, then complain that they never have the energy for big projects, decisions, or strategy.
Ninja days are not for answering emails for three hours. Ninja days are for the things that feel impossible when your energy is low.
When you feel clear and focused, protect that time aggressively.
Make decisions
Map out systems
Create structure
Do the work that future tired you will be incredibly grateful for.
Your job on ninja days is to make your business easier to run on sloth days, not just stay busy.
Stop pushing through the sloth days
Sloth days do not mean you’re losing momentum or falling behind. They usually mean your brain or body needs a lower gear for a bit.
The dip is part of the rhythm, not a sign that something has gone wrong. The faster you stop judging it, the faster you move through it without dragging guilt along with you.
If you’re extra slothy and even the sloth day tasks feel hard, give yourself permission to go binge watch Love Island Allstars on Crave (ok but seriously, I just realized I’m a season behind and season 2 is soooo good!)
A business that only works when you are at full energy is fragile.
Build your business for the sloth version of you
This might be the most important part.
The sloth version of you still shows up… you still pay the bills, still serve clients, and this version of you deserves systems that make things easier. If your business only works when you’re at your best, it’s not a good system. Systems should support you at your worst.
Good systems, clear processes, and realistic expectations are what allow your business to function even when you’re tired, distracted, or running on lower energy.
You do not need to eliminate sloth days, you need to plan for them.
Both days count
Be a ninja when you can… enjoy the clarity, the focus, and the feeling of getting things done. Those days are great and they matter.
But also respect the sloth days… move slower, meet your energy where it is and keep things moving without beating yourself up.
Now tell me honestly… are you reading this on a ninja day and nodding confidently, or are you in full squirrel sloth mode and proud of yourself for getting this far without opening twelve other tabs?
