Chloe DaCosta makes mental health her business
Published:Wednesday | September 3, 2025 | 12:10 AMKrysta Anderson/Staff Reporter
With a fast-paced work structure, Chloe DaCosta knew that life as a corporate creative was no walk in the park. When she took a leap of faith to become an entrepreneur, she encountered unexpected blessings and lessons, especially around mental health.
“Walking away was one of the hardest decisions of my life because I had to bet on myself and keep betting, even when it looked like I’d made a mistake. That faith, and the lessons hidden in every challenge, have been my real training ground,” the owner and director of ChloMo Projects & Event told Lifestyle.
In the initial stages, DaCosta explained that taking this entrepreneurial path was similar to swimming upstream, “It felt like I had picked a fight with the devil at first. I know now that what I called a threat was actually training. I was built for this. And every impossible season has been God’s way of making me stronger for the freedom I prayed for.”
While on this journey, she found herself on a mental battlefield, playing out every new emotion on a loop. “One minute I was celebrating a big contract. The next, I realised I had negotiated it all wrong because I was working on vibes, not knowledge,” she revealed.
She also navigates the challenges of living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). “Living with ADHD adds another layer of pressure. Staying focused can be hard, and I sometimes have to check in with myself and ask, ‘What did I actually get done last week?’ That’s why structure is my lifeline. Morning routines, tea breaks, and having a trusted support group keep me grounded. Little things help in big ways, like a few hours spent outdoors, or paying someone to clean my house so I can reclaim that time.”
But this creative has done her best to achieve balance, scoring her fair share of trials and triumphs along the way.
“I used to think balance was this neat, daily split between work and life. Now I know it’s more about seasons,” she highlighted.
The flexibility as an entrepreneur, she says, is unmatched. And DaCosta is happy to take full advantage of this privilege, “Both of my parents are now sick, and between ‘parenting my parents’ and running my business, I’ve learned to value the ability to choose my peace over everything, including the clients I work with.”
She has the unique opportunity to work with whomever she chooses. Also, one of the biggest perks of starting her company is working remotely. That freedom allows her to show up for friends and family in ways she couldn’t before.
On the other hand, she faces cash flow challenges, looming expenses, taxes, supplier payments, unreliable vendors, and the persistent gatekeeping culture in entrepreneurship. Yet nothing prepared her for the wake-up call of burnout, which ultimately landed her in the hospital.
GOOD HEALTH IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
“Maintaining good health is non-negotiable. I’ve been on death’s door before from burnout, and it changed everything. Oftentimes, you don’t realise how deep things are. And then climbing back out is twice as hard. I protect my peace the way I protect my client list, fiercely. Faith, therapy, and saying ‘no’ without guilt keep me grounded,” DaCosta said.
While managing luxury weddings, corporate experiences, and brand transformations, she says stress isn’t fixed magically, it’s about building small habits, creating structure, and leaning on supportive people and systems.
Big projects during busy seasons can seem like mountainous tasks. Her trick is to break things down into three categories: must do, nice to do, and can wait, “I tackle the “must-dos” first, then decide if I even need to touch the rest right now. The pressure drops instantly when you give yourself permission not to do everything at once.”
To avoid burnout, she has learned to be proactive, “I put systems in place so small issues don’t become fires, and I’m strict about boundaries.”
She also prioritises self care. “[It] starts with rest. I can sleep anywhere, anytime, before my head even hits the pillow, and I sleep hard. A quick 30 to 45 minute power nap in my car after lunch? Absolutely. That’s my reset button. The beach is another non-negotiable. I’m a water baby, and there’s something about being in the ocean that recharges me in a way nothing else can. Add in my 15 minutes every morning with God, just me, Him, and a gratitude list, and I’m set for the day,” she said.