Why The Hustle Ain't So Fabulous + 6 Soul Nourishing Tips
My Burnout definition goes something like this…you feel depleted, fatigued and exhausted. You’re too tired to think and you’re a walking body filled with brain fog. Your nights consist of insomnia, your schedule and to-do list are out of control, you don’t know how to say “NO” to anyone and your mind never turns off.
Sound familiar?
Here’s how to get your booty back into gear, save your adrenals before you ruin your health and start to take the reins of your life instead of letting life drag you along. I am going to share with you 6 tips to give yourself a little TLC and soul nourishing.
The “HOLY Hustle”.
We’re all familiar with it.
We’ve all done it.
And we’re over it.
I’m over it.
“Hustling” or the "Holy Hustle". I called it the "holy hustle", because at the time, it made it a feel little bit less yucky. But guess what? I was still burnt me out. I had depleted my adrenals, tanked my thyroid, and I was stressed me out to the max.
And I know I am not the only one experiencing this, because I have more and more clients sharing their experiences and looking for guidance to end the struggle. They are tired. And I totally get it.
There’s an incredible quote by Bene Brown below that pretty much sums up what ‘the hustle’ is all about. It’s that crazy-busy lifestyle that keeps you pushing yourself harder and harder and harder and harder until we feel like we’re worthy and we’re achieving success. Somewhere along the line we forgot to remember that this is the perfect way to have a nervous breakdown because you’re ignoring and shoving down all of your feelings and not sitting with yourself in silence to really feel what’s going on inside of you.
It’s also how we keep a smile on our face even though shit is hitting the fan in our life, but we want everyone to think we’re happy. It’s the non-stop go, go, go mentality that is all over social media and is making young women and men push themselves far too much- to the point that they’re eating their meals at their computers and getting less than 6 hours of sleep a night.
Well, I've been there. And not too long ago, either......
I pushed.
And pushed.
And pushed.
I pushed for years and “Hustled.”
To make my parents proud, to make myself proud and to feel worthy. Worthy of what? I’m not really sure. But, it took me 10 years to build my body back up to perfect health to start to realize how my ‘crazy-busy’ lifestyle that I LOVED (yes I loved it because it kept me, well, busy and I loved what I was doing), was really killing me on the inside.
“Crazy-busy’ is a great armor, it’s a great way for numbing. What a lot of us do is that we stay so busy, and so out in front of our life, that the truth of how we’re feeling and what we really need can’t catch up with us.”
I’m sure you all know someone (or many people…or yourself and your family) who is ‘always crazy-busy’. It makes us feel important to be busy and to constantly be DO-ING instead of BE-ING.
Why can’t we feel worthy and important when we’re not trying to juggle a million and one things? It’s kind of sad, isn’t it?
So, why do we do this to ourselves?
According to Psychology Today, “Given how the human psyche operates, it’s almost impossible not to parent ourselves similarly to how we were parented originally. If our caretakers dealt with us in a hurtful manner, as adults we’ll find all kinds of ways to perpetuate that unresolved pain onto ourselves”.
Interesting, isn’t it? Just a little food for thought.....
Hustle Definition
Hustle: [huhs–uh l]
verb (used without object), hustled, hustling.
1. to proceed or work rapidly or energetically.
2. to push or force one’s way; jostle or shove.
3. to be aggressive, especially in business or other financial dealings.
Burnout Definition
Burnout: [burn-out]
verb
1. The reduction of fuel or substance to nothing through use or combustion.
Neither of these sound good to me. They sound awful, actually.
When I was in my 20’s, I was ALL of these 3 things. Then, I hit a super rough patch with health and mindset, so I started learning (and practicing) how to soften and let go and BE instead of DO because my body simply couldn’t push any longer. It was a blessing in disguise- even though at the time, I thought my life was going to end (I'm so dramatic sometimes). Now, I am really standing up for my belief that I think the struggle and the “Hustle” is a bunch of crap.
I want less struggle and way more joy in my life. And I know I am not the only one!
So, how can you pull yourself into “Hustle” Rehab?
To me, “Hustle” Rehab is a journey and takes time.
But you can start today by practicing one of the 6 Soul Nourishing Tips I am going to share with you so that you can remain calm and centered without feeling so scattered and in fear of everything- such as moving forward in your life or doing something that scares you because you don’t think you’re worthy or good enough. Once you start to experience an inner calm and more centered feeling, you’ll see how you have less of a need to “Hustle” and more of a need to let go, flow and allow life to work for you instead of always having to push for everything or work so hard that you feel like you’re drained.
Another step is to stop feeling like you have to prove yourself to everyone else and stop trying to ‘stay busy’. Take time for YOU. Be with yourself. Sit with yourself. Look at your stuff. What stuff, you ask? The scary feelings and thoughts that start to surface when you sit alone by yourself and start to feel your emotions.
It’s not easy and it sure the heck doesn’t feel good but if you don’t look at your emotions and you keep shoving them down inside of you, you can guarantee at some point in your life, you’ll hit a wall or have a breakdown not only from ignoring your feelings so they bottle up…but also because you’re “crazy-busy” and you forgot what it feels like to connect with yourself.
Let go of the outside world for a minute and go inwards. Sit with yourself in silence, see what feelings and emotions come up and look at them- that’s how you’ll start to release what’s wound so tightly inside of you and then you can break through those emotions to experience real, true depth in your life.I promise you, you’ll see your whole life start to shift and a whole new way of life open up to you.
6 Soul Nourishing Tips For The Season
Here are some soul-nourishing tips to make sure you are giving yourself a healthy dose of TLC that will help you take care of a body that you love and not try to shrink a body you hate. I promise, the more you live a full and playful life, you can have a body and life that you love! It's a life liberation people!!
Honor your body. It is no secret that when you eat well you feel good. What you put in your body plays a huge part in determining your mood, energy level, and mental clarity. Feed yourself quality foods to feel your best. Exercise and physical movement is also extremely important. Physical exercise obviously has tons of physical benefits, but it has also been shown to increase levels of happiness—and who doesn’t want that?
This doesn’t mean you need to sign up for a marathon or immediately get to your nearest boot camp. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly. This could be walking, dance classes, tennis—anything that will get you moving! Last but definitely not least is sleep. Adequate sleep is a key part of a nourishing lifestyle and can benefit your body, mind, and so much more. Make sleep a priority and make sure you are getting a minimum of seven hours a night.
I've been on a long journey with my body. After I had my baby I wanted to hide. I believed that once I could lose the baby weight, I'd feel less depressed, more myself and accepted by society. This lasted for a few weeks until I realized after a session with my therapist that "HELLO Anne! stop waiting on the weight. The more you strive to live a soul nourished life right now and focus on being more playful then I will naturally start to weigh less.
Date yourself. Doing certain things alone can be quite intimidating, especially activities that you may be used to sharing with a friend such as going to the movies or out to dinner. There is something very powerful and liberating about being able to do the things you enjoy on your own. Now I’m not saying to abandon all of your friends in favor of solitude, but make an effort to have a “date “ with yourself every once in a while. Whether it’s a spa day or just a stroll around your neighborhood, make that time for that quality me time and cherish it.
Create healthy boundaries. Whether you are a workaholic, a self-proclaimed people pleaser, or somewhere in between, we all need healthy boundaries in our lives. Be honest with yourself and think about the people and places that tend to drain you. If you feel that work is sucking you dry, make a vow not to check work email outside of the office—and stick to it! If you feel that you give too much of yourself to needy family and friends, identify your limits and learn to say “no” when that limit is reached.
Quiet time. Also know an meditation could be the single greatest gift you ever give yourself. There are a million benefits of meditation: emotional balance, reduced stress, and increased immunity, just to name a few. If you already have a meditation practice, that’s great! Challenge yourself and continue to grow that practice with consistency and curiosity. If you are a beginner or feel as though you’re “not good at meditation,” don’t give up yet. All you need to do is sit quietly and comfortably, close your eyes and focus your attention on your breath. That’s it! When your mind starts racing (and it will), acknowledge it without judgment and bring your attention back to the breath. Start by carving out five minutes a day and build from there.
Shhhhh your inner critic. You know that voice inside your head that says your not good enough, creates mountains of self-doubt, and compares you to others? Well, that voice is a liar. The truth is, you are perfect just the way you are and it’s time you start believing the truth. Most of the time, we’ve become so accustomed to these criticisms, we aren’t even fully aware when our critical voice is speaking. Start paying attention and identify when such thoughts arise. When one does come up, acknowledge it’s presence and let it go! Replace that thought with an opposing thought; something positive, nourishing, and compassionate.
I asked myself, "What would I do if I wasn't waiting on the weight?” And without listening to that inner critic, I decided that I wanted to buy a new bathing suit and get into the water with Theo at his swimming lessons. Each time I get into the water, I think about how much I appreciate my body and how strong it is. Do I look like I did before I got pregnant? Nope. Am I still beautiful? Yep. Do I deserve to be the full expression of myself? Absolutely. And so do you. If you are holding back, if you are waiting. Stop. Silence that inner critic. Your life is happening now, so get after it.
Write yourself a love note. It is so easy for us to praise, honor, and admire others, but what about us? Try writing a note to yourself acknowledging your accomplishments, efforts, and personal qualities that you think are pretty damn cool. Step outside of yourself for a moment, as though you are a loved one writing a note acknowledging everything that they love about you. The key here is to acknowledge and truly appreciate yourself for the treasure you are.
When we take the time to practice these acts of self-love, it opens us up to not only flourish on our own, but also in all of the loving relationships that surround us. It’s a beautiful place to be. You can Eat. Drink. & Shrink. by living a life that you love now and not waiting on the weight. Go ahead, create a body and life that you LOVE!
GET EVEN HEALTHIER!
Are you curious about how to harmonize your health goals? How to fit wellness into your busy schedule? Let’s talk! Schedule an initial coaching session with me today – or pass this offer on to someone you care about!
It would be an honor to join you on your journey!
