The System for Everything

21: The System for Guardrailing Your Day (When Your Brain Won’t Do It for You) with Christi Johnson

Julie Fried, Business & Systems Strategist

What if your calendar wasn’t just for managing time, but for protecting your energy?

In this episode, I sit down with Christi Johnson, business strategist, podcaster, and founder of the Dream Biz Lab. She helps creative and neurodivergent entrepreneurs build businesses rooted in joy, sustainability, and brain-friendly systems.

Christi shares how hitting a $10K month almost cost her her mental health, how discovering she had bipolar 2 disorder reshaped her entire workflow, and the non-negotiables she's implemented to build a life-first business. From no-meeting weeks to white space for late-night brainstorms, she breaks down exactly how she structures her day to work with her ADHD brain, not fight it.

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Three Key Takeaways:

  • Boundaries aren't about restriction, they're about expansion. Learn how Christie created calendar systems that protect both her time and energy.
  • Your body sends signals. Christie shares how anxiety became her clue that something needed to change.
  • Not every day is productive, and that's okay. Learn how to build grace, curiosity, and flexibility into your business structure.

Find It Quickly:

  • 00:17 - Meet Christi Johnson
  • 01:01 - System Reboot: Fun and Personal Questions
  • 02:55 - Christi's Journey: Realizing Unsustainable Work Habits
  • 05:56 - Building a Sustainable Work Structure
  • 09:21 - Managing ADHD in Business
  • 13:37 - Setting Boundaries and Finding Balance
  • 17:30 - Christi's Latest Offerings and Where to Find Her
  • 18:30 - Movie Review: Companion Starring Jack Quaid

Connect with Christi: