The Art of the Healthy Hustle
After living through (or if I’m being honest barely surviving) the hard consequences of the overwork and creative burnout created by hustle culture and my own workaholic-ness over the last decade—I’ve since become a strong advocate for redefining and curating a #healthyhustle lifestyle.
But do as I say, not as I do.
I’ve come to find that the healthy hustle is more art than science. And if it is an art, then I’m a toddler discovering a box of crayons for the first time.
In fact, as I’m writing this, I’m sitting here with heavy eyelids, running on not enough sleep and even though I haven’t taken a day off in weeks, I still have a giant to-do list (and a giant-er coffee cup) in front of me.
But I’m learning as I go, or at least….I’m acknowledging that I need to. And I’m trying.
I imagine that the healthy hustle will probably always be a work-in-progress rather than a one-size-fits-all answer.
So, I invited some of my fellow side hustlers, solopreneurs and small business owners to share ways that they balanced mental, physical and emotional health—all while still hustling hard, chasing their dreams and even raising families.
Here is what they said:
"I am being better about loving myself. I have struggled with dark moments and I found how to regain the light by refocusing back on self-care. If you ever struggle with anxiety, depression or bad days— I am with you."
—Kellee Mikuls
Kellee is a mom of three and co-founder and creator of SwishBoom, a game-changing (and now totally free!) app that connects families to trusted sitters in your friend circles.
—Kellee's self-care includes:
+ Regaining proper nutrition
+ Baths
+ Roaming thrift store aisles
+ Warm cups of tea
+ Reading cookbooks
+ Working out
+ Therapy
"I stop all the distractions! However I can, I stay away from the phone and the blaring notifications on my screen. I’ve learned over 13 years of owning my own business that the majority of those notifications that you immediately react to are NOT a top priority."
—Alexandra Reuve
Alex is the owner of Intention Beads, a small business out of Chicago. She runs retreats all over the world, hosts a weekly podcast and has been hustling hard as a solopreneur since long before it was cool.
—Alex's main self-care ritual:
+ Meditation
+ Dance (even when I think I'm too tired)
+ Call a friend
+ Go on a walk/run (especially when I feel stuck)
+ Mani/Pedi/Facemask and early bedtime
"As a mom, work has also become my escape from home life. I’m the type who likes going into the office (so like many workaholics, the pandemic really stressed me out because now there was less of a boundary for work life and home life). So it’s more of a challenge to pull away from that and reset/rest."
—Khrystyn Huynh
Khrystyn is the digital marketing manager at CPB in Hawai'i and runs her Messy Mommy blog while raising three young kids (and rescue cat Fiona).
—Khrystyn's self-care includes:
+ Mentally resetting by scrolling through TikTok and Instagram
+ Buying things I don't really need from Target or Amazon
+ Shower meditations (my only "alone" time most days)
+ Driving in complete silence after dropping the kids off at school
+ Healing crystals and diffusing oils (Doterra Citrus Bliss is my favorite)
+ Getting a rescue cat (I told my husband I needed an emotional support animal. Petting a cat is so calming.)
Yes, Kila and I second that. Whenever I need a break, I take this little one out for a walk to breathe some fresh air and maybe treat myself to a cup of coffee.
However you navigate the hustle of life, I think the most important thing to realize is that you are not alone.
So many times we compare and pressure ourselves based on what we think we see around us (thank you instagram). But we shouldn’t believe everything we see (and think).
More importantly, we should never feel guilty or less than for prioritizing ourselves and the real lives we all lead behind the feed.
And if you needed to hear this today…. you’re doing a GREAT JOB.
✨Self-Care Giveaway—
Don’t forget to comment below to be entered to win a self-care kit. How do you hustle hard while maintaining your health?
