Less Hustle, More Peace

I recently spoke to a friend who told me that she’s been working on “less hustle” in her life. Having been there and done that, I couldn't help but feel proud of her. Once I stopped hustling, I saw positive effects on my health, my relationships, and how I serve others. Plus, pulling back on responsibilities has helped my “yes” become a “hell yes” because now I commit my full attention and energy to those obligations rather than hustling from one thing to the next. 

Hustle Culture

For years, I was a member of the hustle train-- so much so that I could have been the conductor. Hustle culture tells women that if we aren’t keeping busy, juggling our career and family responsibilities, volunteering and leading, taking care of everyone’s needs, and “doing all of the things” that we aren’t doing enough. I developed some toxic resentment and negative self-talk as I pushed myself to do more and more until I had nothing else left to give. If we stay with the train metaphor, it's as if I added train cars to the end of my train, and over time, the load was so heavy that I just couldn't move anymore. 

Social media is plastered with messages of the power of being a “hustler” or being “superwoman” as we “do all of the things.” Getting $hit done and going all out to do so--even at the sake of one’s health-- is portrayed as something to be proud of. 

I get it because I was there. I bought into the narrative that “I could do hard things”--because at the time, life just seemed hard-- and that “if I just kept hustling, eventually things would slow down and get easier.” But that’s a lie. Life doesn’t slow down. We do. Time moves on with or without us no matter the energy we exert or how much we can get done in a day.

Saying yes to everything was my fault-- I own that. I wanted to help, lead, and organize because I knew that it mattered to our community, our kids’ school, my job, and other organizations. And it felt good to help, lead, and create change. But it came at the cost of giving my time and energy to everyone and everything except myself. 

The Power of Saying No

When I realized that the stress of “doing it all” was causing me to physically hurt and slow down, I knew that I needed to make some drastic changes. The first change was saying “no” to the hustle and pulling back on certain responsibilities. Because in order to create “less hustle,” we have to hustle less. That means we need to slow down, say “no thanks” to things that don’t need our attention at that moment, and focus on the areas where we want our energy and time to actually go. 

For me, that meant that I needed to slow down and take things off my plate that didn’t actually serve me or my goals. I needed to hear my own voice instead of the never-ending to-do-list that was running through my head. I needed to actually get “selfish” for the sake of improving my own well-being, reestablishing where I spent my time and energy, and creating moments of peace. 

I hear similar stories from friends and women I work with: they have given everything to everyone that “the hustle” has caught up with them. They are tired, resentful, lack energy, and have lost their zest for life. Instead, their days are just on repeat as they continue to exhaust themselves being everything to everyone.

Steps to Achieve Less Hustle & More of What We Want

First, we have to identify our priorities: where is our yes a “hell yes,” where are there opportunities to say “no thanks, I have to pull back,” and where can we assist without leading. 

The next step is to communicate the “yes,” the “no thanks,” or “I’ll help but not lead.” Communication is key here. Don’t be afraid to be honest. In my experience, people will respect you for putting boundaries in place.

Once you’ve set the wheels in motion for less hustle-- think less train cars-- you should be able to feel less resistance. You will start to have more energy to do the things that are on your heart and you will have more time to pour into your own well-being. 

Then, you need to create more of what you want in life. 

For many individuals, they just want more peace and stillness among their full lives. Let’s be real: life is always “busy” and full when we are trying to navigate our professional, personal, and family responsibilities. Remember, time continues regardless of what we do or do not do. So it’s up to us to actually create the opportunities for whatever it is that we actually want.

For example, if we are looking for more peace, then we need to create more moments throughout our daily life to experience peace. If we want more connection, then we need to determine who we want to connect with and how. If we want to be more present with our children or spouse, then we need to focus on spending time with them, get rid of any distractions, and put boundaries in place when necessary to protect that time together. 

Less hustle creates more time and energy for the things that we actually desire for our lives. Without the hustle, life feels less heavy. Take off those train cars and I’m sure you’ll start to feel lighter too. 

5 Additional Ways to Embrace “Less Hustle”

1. Practice Intentionality

Each day, ask yourself: What do I truly want to accomplish today? Focus on what aligns with your values and longer-term goals, which helps avoid overcommitting and keeps you centered.

2. Incorporate Mindfulness

Mindfulness practices like mindful breathing or meditation can ground you in the present moment. Just five minutes of mindful breathing can help you reset and prevent you from getting caught up in stressful moments of life.

3. Leverage the Power of Routines

Establishing routines reduces decision fatigue and creates structure. These routines serve as anchors throughout the day, offering moments of calm and stability. Consider establishing a morning routine like my “10 Minute Power Practice” so that you can start your day centering yourself with intentions and gratitude.

4. Set Boundaries and Honor Them

Set clear boundaries around your time and energy. Stick to them consistently, and others will respect your decisions. This helps you protect your priorities and reduce overcommitment.

5. Embrace Imperfection

Let go of the need for perfection. Allow yourself to do things "good enough" rather than pushing yourself to do it all flawlessly, which creates more space for rest and peace.

One choice, and one day at a time, you will start to see the positive effects of “less hustle.” Then, it’s up to you to decide what you want more of, so whatever is on your heart, don’t be afraid to go find it. 

Want a copy of my FREE “Less Hustle, More Peace” Workbook? Subscribe to my email list and Reply with the word “HUSTLE” and I’ll send it over to you— right from my inbox to yours!

Photo credit Garrhet Sampson