The Hustle Stigma Cost Me Countless Hours of Precious Time

mindset

Feb 6

There seems to be this societal norm that hustle and grind needs to be constant to get to where you want to be in your career, your business, and in your personal life. I believed that to be true for far too long.

When I was in my early 20’s, I worked two jobs, went to school, and joined a few volunteer committees while being a young mother at the same time. The belief that the more you take on will lead you to ultimate happiness and living a life you love was something I strongly believed in.

I dreamt of the day that I would own my own business, work for myself, have the flexibility I needed as a single parent, and provide for my children in ways that I wished for all my life.

I kept hustling, signing up for anything and everything that I could to get my name out there. I was yearning for the day that my constant hustle and grind would lead me to the financial freedom and flexibility that everyone talked about.

The belief that the more you take on will lead you to ultimate happiness…

It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that I realized how the constant hustle and grind can deplete you to the core when there isn’t a healthy balance in between. I skipped meals. I lost sleep. I worked additional nights and weekends. I couldn’t disconnect even at home.

I took on too much. I was tired. I couldn’t give my best. My happiness was lost.

In the midst of the everyday hustle and grind, it can be easy to lose sight of who you are. The constant hustle mindset cost me countless hours of precious time that I could have saved if I knew how to prioritize my passions and hustle for my own happiness.

“While it’s important to stay focused on your goals, it’s also important to not get so caught up that you lose your soul."

The desire to take on more can lead you to eventually giving less in areas that you need most. I thought I had it all figured out. The constant hustle mindset to give more of me to others than myself was going to ultimately get me to where I wanted to be. I was wrong!

I realized in the process that while I was giving more of me, I lost a part of me at the same time. I longed for this image of status for far too long when it never aligned with my life goals to begin with.

If any of this resonates with you, you are not alone. The point of hitting pure exhaustion woke me up with the need to reprioritize, realign, and rediscover who I was and where my true passions lie.

The hustle mindset can not only break you to the core if you are not cautious, but it can also cause you to lose sight of what’s most important that is right in front of you. Your time is precious, and nothing is worth losing a part of who you are while you're giving all you’ve got to accomplishing your goals.

A healthy balanced approach in the everyday hustle will help you maintain happiness in your life. When you can acknowledge the need for change, reprioritize what truly matters most, realign your goals to your vision, and give yourself the time you deserve for yourself, you’ll begin to find balance in the everyday hustle and not lose sight of your happiness in the shuffle.

Healthy Hustle Keeps You Happy.