I once had a framed sign on my desk that read, “Every day, I’m hustling”.
Yeah, I'm rolling my eyes and shaking my head. Trust me, I’m embarrassed.
We live in a world that encourages endless speed and productivity from us like we're machines. This is especially true for small business owners or solo entrepreneurs wearing all the hats. It's exhausting.
For years, I was caught in this constant grind of juggling multiple responsibilities, striving for more, and feeling like I always had to keep moving. Eventually, I just hit a massive wall. I was mentally and physically exhausted, uninspired, and completely unsure of how to “fix” things.
I was burned out.
I had been pushing so hard for so long that I lost sight of what truly mattered to me. I knew something had to change because I was terrified to walk into what was causing my burnout each day.
My work. Social media. Life.
I needed to step back and slow down because everything was so fast. So loud.
The idea of slowing down scared me. I feared that if I stopped to catch my breath, I would fall behind. I'd be forgotten. My business would tank and everything I worked so hard to achieve would all be for nothing.
But as burnout forced me to pause physically (hello sleepless nights along with aches and pains causing me to drag through the day to the point I might as well have been a zombie), I realized that the pace I had been keeping mentally wasn’t sustainable or healthy either.
I was sad, I felt alone in my burden, and I was consumed by the fear that something was terribly broken inside. Why couldn't I keep up?
I begged for an answer and my mind began to wonder:
What if slowing down wasn’t a sign of failure but a doorway to healing and new life?
As I took the leap and allowed myself to embrace slower-paced moments: I journaled with my morning coffee, took evening walks with my family, and simply sat with my thoughts whenever I needed a moment — something incredible began to happen:
The noise in my mind began to quiet and the tornado of emotions inside me settled.
It was as if I were a balloon taking a breather from the helium tank before I burst from being filled to over capacity.
We know the process of elimination is effective when too much is the problem, so why is stepping away and making pockets of time for ourselves so hard? Why is slowing down seen as lazy?
I just need to finish this one thing
I don't have time for that
I'll rest when I'm dead
It's selfish to put myself first
The list goes on.
Listen. Don't make me give you the oxygen mask on the plane speech. We have to take care of ourselves to take care of others. We cannot run on empty. We also cannot survive being pumped full of projects, tasks, worries, activities, and events, until we literally (ok, figuratively) burst.
Choosing to step away and mute the noise for dedicated bursts of time can act as a reset for our brain and give us the space needed for our nervous system to heal.
I take these moments any chance I can get now because the breathing room I’ve created feels so much better than the hustle life I once glorified.
Spoiler alert: I didn’t vanish. My business is still around (obviously, you’re reading this blog!) and I didn’t fall behind - in fact, by slowing down, I gave myself the room to catch up.
If you’re curious and want to jump in with a few Slow Living exercises, here are my favorites:
JOURNALING
Every morning I brain dump everything in my head into a journal. It's not poetic, or beautifully written, and sometimes the words I write don't even make sense. I just get the "gunk" out and onto paper. Every concern, dream, hope, prayer, thought... they all go into the journal and I rarely, if ever, read them back. I consider it a clarity and reset exercise. I want a truly fresh start to my day.
NOTING GRATITUDE
Often, when I'm overwhelmed or burdened, gratitude is a little light to guide me north. I'm able to see that there is so much beauty around and magic is everywhere. Tiny joys compounded make for a happier heart.
I keep a note on my phone of the things I’m grateful for and look at it often. It makes me smile.
SETTING BOUNDARIES
Putting rules around my time, money, and how I use technology (especially social media) has been incredibly freeing.
As a small business owner, setting work hours was crucial. Making budgets (both business and personal) and sticking to them made money less of a pain point. Choosing what to put on my agenda and learning to say no made me feel like I had control over my days, allowing me more time to do what I love.
"Boundaries" has slowly become one of my all-time favorite words!
DECLUTTERING
Stuff. All the stuff. Physical. Digital. Mental (see journaling above!)
I'm not a minimalist by any means, but I do believe that the less stuff cluttering up our space, the less stress and anxiety hanging around.
Declutter your home, your car, your computer, your emails (unsubscribe my friend), your feed (unfollow the accounts - no guilt), and the subscriptions you pay for. You can thank me later!
SCHEDULING BREAKS & TIME FOR SILENCE
Aim for 1 day a week when you don't go to work. If that's not possible, one evening you shut the computer down and switch off your phone. You need time away from work responsibilities.
Consider taking off the notifications on your phone (the day I removed social media notifications and all the dinging is the day I felt I could finally breathe again).
Put yourself on "Do not disturb" at least once a day (I do this by closing my eyes at my desk, focusing on my breathing, and paying attention to my body for at least 5 minutes.)
Get up, walk around, and stretch. Read a book that isn't for educational purposes. Listen to music and just be. Take mini breaks, as many as you can, away from "doing".
MAKING TIME FOR HOBBIES & FRIENDSHIPS
Life is more than work, checking off lists, and achievements. Try a slower-paced hobby: cooking, gardening, calligraphy, or playing a musical instrument. So often I hear people tell me about their hobbies and they are more of a "numbing out" activity. Try to find enriching and relaxing hobbies too.
Make time for people. Friendships. Community. We are built for connection. Don’t drift into loneliness because all your time is dedicated to work.
FOCUSING ON ONE THING AT A TIME
This last one is simple but hard: One tasking. Give your mind a rest by focusing on one thing at a time. Try eating a meal without scrolling on your phone or watching TV. Go for a walk without listening to music or a podcast (rather, listen to nature).
We tend to pride ourselves on multitasking, but truthfully, I think it is just us in a continuous catch-up survival mode. Give your brain a break.
I truly hope you find these helpful. Let me know which one you liked the most, or which one had the most impact.
Here's to less hurry and more joy!
xo, Chloé
