Running a business as a neurodivergent or chronically ill person isn’t about laziness or lack of drive. It’s about juggling a thousand moving parts. Your brain or body simply doesn’t work in the way the world expects. You might be bursting with creativity, passion, and ideas. Yet you trip up when it’s time to write the email. You might struggle to post the package or send the invoice. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. And here’s the good news: you don’t have to do it all. Enter the virtual assistant. They are not just a helper. They are often the secret weapon that transforms burnout into balance. It can turn overwhelm into momentum.
The Business Owner Who Can Make the Product, But Can’t Post It
As a neurodivergent business owner myself, I know this first-hand. Ask me to make a cake topper or design a t-shirt and I’ll come running, heart full and ready. But ask me to write the product description, post it online, or manage the order? Suddenly I’m stuck. Now, ask me as a friend. Or ask me as someone supporting someone else. I’ll have it done before you finish asking. That’s the people-pleaser in me. Something I used to see as a weakness, but now realise is my superpower.
Like many neurodivergent folks, I find it easier to promote other people than myself. Imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and low self-esteem are often lifelong companions — especially for those of us diagnosed later in life. I started helping others with their businesses. I was doing the things they struggled with. I realised: this isn’t just help. This is valuable work. And I’m really good at it.
Discovering the Power of VAs
The lightbulb moment came when I learned what a virtual assistant actually was. I realised I had been one for my friends all along without knowing it. When I entered the mainstream workforce, I noticed something strange. I was great at the mundane admin bits. That was true as long as they were for someone else. Blog posts, emails, systems, and website content were tasks people dreaded. However, I thrived on them when it was about helping someone else shine.
The very first task I helped with as a VA was writing blog posts for a friend’s business. They knew blog posts could bring traffic to their website. However, they didn’t have the time. They lacked the headspace or know-how to write them. That’s the thing — social media can only get you so far. Websites matter. And so does the right kind of support.
Redefining Success (Hint: It’s Shared)
For me, success isn’t just about my own milestones. It’s watching my clients win. I see them fill up their bookings and sell out their products. Best of all, they reclaim time with their families. When a client says, “I finally had time to rest this weekend,” that’s success.
And here’s what I’ve learned: it’s not just okay to ask for help, it’s smart. Delegating tasks that don’t spark joy (or that completely drain you) doesn’t make you less of a business owner. It makes you a sustainable one.
Think about it: we don’t shame people for hiring a cleaner when they’re overwhelmed by household mess. We don’t mock someone for ordering takeaway when they’re too tired to cook. So why do we feel guilty for hiring help with our admin or social media?
The Admin Avalanche: Why This Is the First Thing to Go
Admin is often the first thing to fall apart. It’s also the last thing we feel we’re “allowed” to ask for help with. But here’s the truth: most neurodivergent or chronically ill business owners aren’t lacking vision or drive. We’re just drowning in digital paperwork. Emails. Invoices. Tax stuff. Writing “like a grown-up.” It’s exhausting.
We feel like we’re pretending to be adults. Many of us are stuck in a loop of “fake it ‘til you make it” adulting. We’ve got the skills to make the magic happen in our businesses. However, the behind-the-scenes parts can completely derail us. These are the parts that don’t light us up.
That’s where a VA steps in. We become your second brain. Your hype team. Your translator. Your accountability buddy. We help you clarify that fuzzy idea. Then, we turn it into a clear step forward. Alternatively, we can just take the task off your plate entirely.
If You’re Reading This and Nodding Along…
…then maybe this blog is about you. And maybe it’s time to stop trying to do it all alone.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “This is me,” but you don’t know where to start, visit my page. Scroll through it to see if anything clicks. See if anything clicks. And if you’re still stuck, just send me a message. I promise I’ll do everything I can to support you in figuring out the help you need.
You’re not too much. You’re not failing. You’re not broken.
You’re just ready to stop surviving — and start thriving.
The Messy Mum Virtual Assistant 