Running a vintage or resale shop might be a passion project, but when you’re balancing it alongside other jobs, parenting, school, health needs, or life in general, the passion can sometimes start to feel like pressure.

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In honour of Mental Health Awareness Month, we hosted a meaningful conversation with Halifax-based mental health consultant Martina Kelades, founder of Life Out Loud — Mental Health Consulting & Creatives.

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Martina brings a wealth of experience, both personal and professional, to her work: she’s a speaker, author, actress, podcast host and educator who uses her own mental health journey to help others normalize their own.

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In this interactive session, Martina walked us through the reality of burnout, especially among entrepreneurs.

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According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, just one in five entrepreneurs report feeling satisfied with their mental health more than once a week.

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That stat hit home for many of us — because shop owners, particularly those running solo operations, are often holding up entire ecosystems of care, connection and commerce.

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Martina helped us explore what it means to integrate mental wellness into business life, not as an afterthought, but as a foundation.

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We talked about setting boundaries, making time for reflection, identifying burnout before it takes hold, and how small changes in mindset and practice can make a big difference over time.

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This session reminded us that being a business owner doesn’t mean putting yourself last. Your wellness matters — not just for you, but for the strength and sustainability of your business too.

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Watch the replay

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