50: Tips for Saving Five Hours a Week: The Number One Strategy with Gemma Baxter
From Burnout to CEO: How Gemma Baxter Built a Business That Works for Her
Hey there, fellow entrepreneurs! Have you ever felt like you’re drowning in your business? Like no matter how many hours you work, there’s never enough time? Well, you’re not alone. On a recent episode of the Accidental CEO podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Gemma Baxter, a time and task expert, operations queen, and online business manager. She shared her journey from burnout and anxiety to becoming the CEO of a business that actually gives her more time, not less. And let me tell you—her story is packed with golden nuggets that every entrepreneur needs to hear.
Meet Gemma: The Accidental CEO
Gemma didn’t exactly plan to become a business owner. In fact, she calls herself an “accidental CEO” (which, let’s be honest, many of us can relate to). Before starting her business, she worked in school administration, balancing the demands of a full-time job with family life. But after experiencing severe burnout and anxiety, she knew something had to change.
Then came the pandemic. Like many, she found herself reevaluating what truly mattered. She realized she wanted more flexibility, more control over her time, and—most importantly—more freedom to be there for her family. So she took a leap, left her job, and started building a business that aligned with her life instead of taking over it.
The “Oh Crap” Moment: Realizing Entrepreneurship Isn’t Instantly Easier
Raise your hand if you started your own business thinking it would give you more time, only to end up working more hours than ever before. Yep, Gemma did too.
At first, she packed her schedule full of client work, taking on everything that came her way. Soon, she found herself back in the same cycle of overwork and stress—except this time, she didn’t have a boss to blame. It was all on her.
That’s when she decided to burn it all down (figuratively, of course) and rebuild her business in a way that actually supported her goals and well-being. And the way she did it? Time management, boundaries, and systems.
The Game-Changing Strategy: Time Blocking Like a Boss
One of the biggest shifts Gemma made was implementing time blocking—and no, not just for work tasks. She started blocking out time for everything, including self-care, family time, and even reading a book in the garden.
Here’s how it works:
- Plan your week in advance – Before the week starts, decide what needs to get done and assign time blocks accordingly.
- Color code tasks – Different types of work (client work, admin, marketing, etc.) get their own color, making it easy to see where your time is going.
- Include personal time – Your calendar should have “me time” scheduled just as firmly as meetings with clients. (Because guess what? If it’s not on your schedule, it won’t happen.)
- Stay flexible – If something comes up, move blocks around instead of cramming everything in and overwhelming yourself.
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By following this method, Gemma reclaimed her time, reduced stress, and finally created the balance she had been searching for.
The Secret Sauce: Saying No & Raising Prices
Another hard lesson Gemma had to learn? Not every client is the right client.
When she first started, she took on any work she could get. But over time, she realized that some projects drained her energy more than they were worth. So she made two key changes:
- She raised her prices. Higher rates meant fewer clients, but it also meant better clients who valued her expertise.
- She set firm boundaries. No working on weekends. No last-minute requests that disrupt her schedule. No more saying yes just to “be nice.”
The result? Less stress, more time, and better income. Win-win-win.
The Power of Self-Care (It’s Not Just Spa Days!)
One of my favorite takeaways from our conversation was Gemma’s approach to self-care. She used to think self-care meant spa days and massages (which are great, don’t get me wrong). But she realized that true self-care is about doing the little things that make you feel good every day.
For Gemma, that looks like:
- Reading a book for 20 minutes
- Walking her dog in the garden
- Using her favorite hand cream (yes, even tiny rituals count!)
- Watching Christmas movies in the winter
- Blocking out an entire day just to rest and recharge
The point? Self-care isn’t something you add to your to-do list. It’s something you build into your life in small, meaningful ways.
Her Book (Yes, It’s a Book!)
Gemma also wrote an ebook called Reclaim Five Hours Per Week, which is packed with actionable strategies to save time and work smarter. (And yes, she initially hesitated to call it a “book,” but let’s be real—if it has words and helps people, it’s a book!)
Her number one tip from the book? Time blocking. Seriously, if you’re not doing it yet, it’s time to start.
Final Thoughts: Success Is Personal
I asked Gemma how she defines success, and her answer was pure gold: It changes every day.
Some days, success is hitting a big revenue goal. Other days, it’s getting through the day without feeling overwhelmed. And sometimes, it’s as simple as making dinner and spending time with family.
Her advice? Stop chasing someone else’s version of success. Define what success looks like for you—and build a business that supports it.
Your Next Steps
Feeling inspired? Here’s what to do next: ✅ Start time blocking your schedule (and don’t forget to include personal time!) ✅ Set one new boundary in your business this week ✅ Check out Gemma’s book Reclaim Five Hours Per Week (link in the show notes!) ✅ Follow her on Instagram (@gb.vbm) or Facebook (GBVBM) for more tips
And most importantly? Remember that your business should work for YOU—not the other way around. A huge thank you to Gemma for sharing her journey. If you enjoyed this episode of the Accidental CEO podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and join us next week for more real talk on building a business that fits your life.
You can connect with Gemma Brooks on Instagram @gemmabaxmua or visit her website at gemmabaxtermakeup.co.uk
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