The Tired CEO’s Guide to SOPs That Don’t Make You Want to Cry

Ops (But Chill)

Sep 4

If you’ve ever tried to write a standard operating procedure (SOP), you know the vibe: corporate torture manual. Endless steps. Boring language. Zero chance you’ll ever read it again.

But here’s the thing, my friend: SOPs don’t have to suck. Done right, they’re shortcuts that make your business run smoother, especially on flare days, brain fog days, or the “I can’t even get out of bed” kind of days.

SOPs are survival tools.

The Problem With Traditional SOPs

Most business advice makes SOPs sound like a one-size-fits-all solution. But if you’re running your own show with limited energy, here’s why they usually flop:

They’re written for big teams with endless capacity, not solopreneurs with variable spoons.
They’re way too long, stuffed with unnecessary details.
They take more energy to create and maintain than they actually save.

Traditional SOPs are built for hustle culture. We don’t have time for that shit.

The Chill Approach: SOPs for Tired Brains

SOPs should make your life easier. Here’s how to make them simple, spoon-friendly, and actually usable:

1. Think in recipes, not manuals
A good SOP should feel like a quick recipe card, not a 30-page, eyeball stabbing handbook. Example: “Send invoice in 3 steps” instead of “Here’s every possible detail about client billing.”

2. Keep it copy-pastable
If you can’t reuse it instantly, it’s too complicated. Drop SOPs into Notion, Trello, or even a pinned Notes app so you can grab and go. But keep them handy, and keep them organized.

3. Write them for flare-day you
If flare-day you can follow it without melting down, you’ve nailed it. If not, simplify until you can.

Tools That Make SOPs Stupid Easy

You don’t have to write these from scratch. The right tools can take the heavy lifting off your plate:

Process Street step-by-step checklist software made for SOPs.
Tango auto-creates SOPs by recording your screen while you do the task.
scribe helps you capture and record your processes to create SOPs.
Workflow Wizard chatbot maps out your messy process and organizes it into something usable.
SOP Mate chatbot turns chaos into clear, repeatable steps without the overwhelm.
Notion flexible and visual, great for tracking SOP’s.
Trello simple card-based workflows that feel more like checklists, not essays.

Common Mistakes That Drain Spoons Instead of Saving Them

Making them too long – If it feels like a college essay, nobody’s using it.
Writing for future-perfect you instead of flare-day you – The point is to make it doable on your lowest-energy days.
Forgetting to update them – Outdated SOPs are just another headache. Make sure to create an SOP for updating your SOPs. 😉
Treating them like “set it and forget it” – A quick tweak once in a while keeps them useful.
Trying to SOP everything at once – Start with one process and build slowly.

Redefining Operations

Operations doesn’t have to mean turning into a corporate robot. It’s really just future-you saying thank you to past-you for doing the thinking ahead of time.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need fancy, corporate-style systems to keep your business running. You need simple, spoon-friendly SOPs that carry you through your lowest-energy days.

Want to stop crying over systems? Grab SOP Mate, my AI-powered sidekick that turns your messy workflow into simple, repeatable steps - so you can save your spoons for work that actually matters.

👉 Check out SOP Mate HERE

Smarter systems, louder results, zero hustle required.

Hugs & spoons,