Conversation with Kate Sotsenko - From Bad Busy to Good Busy

“Good busy doesn’t mean you’re not tired—it means you’re the right kind of tired, where every bit of work actually counts.” - Kate Sotsenko

Ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels, busy every second but not moving forward?

Wellness managers know this all too well—juggling constant demands from the top while trying to support their team. It’s a balancing act, and burnout often feels just one step away.

Next in my Wellness in Hospitality interview series, I had a refreshing conversation with Kate Sotsenko ?? , founder of TheGoodBusy.com. Kate helps middle managers, like spa and wellness managers, go from “bad busy” to “good busy.” Her approach is simple: small shifts that help you focus on what matters—without losing yourself. It’s finding that sweet spot between meeting your GM’s goals and supporting your team.

Here are my 3 key takeaways from my conversation with Kate:

Interview Highlights:

1. Set boundaries that support everyone

Kate explains that wellness leaders often feel pressured to do it all.

But setting boundaries helps you make room for what matters.

She suggests saying “yes” less quickly and setting limits with both the GM and the team.

“Boundaries,” she says, “aren’t about saying ‘no’—they’re about saying ‘yes’ to the work that counts.”

This shift isn’t just about protecting your time; it’s about making sure every task you take on supports your team and the business in meaningful ways.

2. Treat your GM like a client

Changing your mindset can change everything.

Kate suggests seeing your GM and executive leaders as clients instead of bosses.

“You’re not just following orders,” she says, “you’re showing them the value wellness brings to the hotel.”

This perspective helps wellness managers build better relationships and opens up opportunities to influence bigger decisions.

When you start thinking of your GM as a client, you start asking better questions, like how wellness can support revenue goals, which in turn makes your work more impactful.

3. Speak their language: Use data

Kate stressed the importance of using data to tell your story.

Wellness often brings value beyond treatments and relaxation—it can drive revenue.

But it’s hard to show that without the right numbers.

Kate suggests connecting wellness data to hotel revenue metrics, like the percentage of returning guests who visit the wellness centre.

Showing how wellness ties into the hotel’s bottom line helps you get buy-in from the GM and other fellow Heads of Departments. In short, data isn’t just numbers; it’s your ticket to a genuine seat at the hotel’s big table.

Talking with Kate brought some thought-provoking insights. Wellness managers don’t have to stay in “bad busy” mode—it’s possible to be “good busy,” where every task truly adds value. Kate’s advice on setting boundaries, treating the GM like a client, and using data made one thing clear: success comes from focusing on what matters. It’s not about doing more; it’s about doing what counts. For wellness leaders ready to make an impact, it’s time to step off the hamster wheel and make that busyness mean something.

Are you ready to take wellness to the next level?

Here are 2 ways I can help:

1?? WHO: Wellness directors who want to join 1% of wellness leaders

?? WHAT: The Wellness Asset Academy

A 10-week online group programme where I guide you through my 7-step ESSENCE framework. Achieve higher pay and secure a genuine seat at the hotel’s big table—so wellness is no longer the most neglected area in the hotel.

→ Join the waitlist here.

2?? WHO: Owners of small, independent hotels with a strong wellbeing focus

?? WHAT: Asset Builder Mentorship

Exclusive 6-month 1:1 mentorship programme to master creating a wellness asset, build a proud team, and deliver transformative experiences for your guests.

→ Become a steward of true hospitality.

?? Why work with me?

I know what works with wellness and I also know what doesn’t. I’ve made the mistakes so you don’t need to – saving you thousands of dollars on bad decisions.

? #1 best-selling author, global wellness expert

? 40+ projects in 20+ countries across Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific

? Top brands: Abadía Retuerta, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Accor, Six Senses Resorts & Spas

? Interviewed over 150+ hoteliers worldwide