Several years ago a friend of mine and I were working on an outline for a book sharing tips on life management. We loved the working title: How to Handle Your Hustle.
I’ve always been a busy person. My first business offered all kinds of beauty services. I was involved with local business networks and my chamber of commerce, and I still work as a personal trainer and life coach. On top of all that, I make training and my job of teaching jiu-jitsu and running my school a priority almost every day. That’s helped me get very meticulous when planning out my schedule. Some may say I’m obsessive when it comes to organization, but I don’t hear the complaints when all is said and done lol.
That creates so much less stress in my opinion and I will definitely get back to you all soon with some tips and tricks on that end.
Because I’ve always had to book clients weeks ahead, looking forward always made time seem to move really fast. Before I knew it, my calendar would be full and I would have no personal time. And while I am a huge believer that scheduling is the key to making shit happen, I also believe you need to schedule your off time. Self-care, family time, hobbies, exercise -- whatever it is, put it on the calendar to make sure it happens. Of course, sleep has to be part of that schedule, if not the most important thing. Eight hours a night baby!
Some of you may be thinking. “there’s no way you get that sleep consistently,” or, “how about living on the edge and not having to micro manage everything, Jen?” Sure, I get it, but listen: it’s all up to you. I’m not talking about perfection here. We all have nights when we don't get enough sleep. We all have days where life throws a wrench into our routine. What I’m saying is that if you manage and plan, for the most part, your days will definitely be more productive, more satisfying, and ultimately more relaxing!
My intention on this post is not to tell you how to handle your hustle, though. I may circle back on that soon. I thrive on that and I’d love to share my thoughts on how consistency with small time slots can bank so much extra time in your week.
BUT…
After living the hustle for so many years, I may honestly be over it.
Let me clarify. I am NOT dissing the organization and planning piece. It’s the hustle I am talking about. The hustle is not negative, you need to put in that time and hustle to achieve your goals, no one will do it for you. I think I’m at a place where everything I’ve hustled for has become my reality. That may change in the future, but in the present I’m doing what I love and really focusing on preserving that balance. I told Jeff, my true friend and awesome jiu-jitsu coach, years ago that I want to work in gi pants all day, being on my computer and doing jiu-jitsu in between. It’s funny, but trust me, what you put out there and work toward can definitely manifest. Living the life baby!
I used to think doing more was always better, like I had to prove how much I could take on and that it would make me more accomplished or successful. People would always ask me, “how do you have time for all that?!” Honestly, I think I was my busiest during my first marriage as a way to cope and avoid what was going on at home. A great way to keep myself busy and preoccupied was to grind through each day, even though I was truly unhappy inside. That was one aspect, but I have always been super determined and self-motivated, so I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t just part of who I am. I thrive on the good kind of stress! It empowers me to push forward and never give up. And I always loved figuring out just how I could make everything work out or fit in, even if it was too much (one of my favorite quotes is “No.” Is a complete sentence. We will revisit that goodie soon enough, too lol)
But man, I’m tired! I’m a little older, a little wiser and feel like I don’t want to constantly be hustling all day long. Is that ok? That’s the question I ask myself and I ask my partner, not for his permission, but as a sounding board as he knows me pretty darn well. Is it really ok to focus on just the things I love if it means letting go of some stuff that may even be financially beneficial? As hard as it may be, my gut tells me the answer is YES!
The thought of being more present throughout the day and each task at hand sounds so refreshing! Getting to focus more on my own jiu-jitsu training to get back into competition, to focus on our school and students, helping them to be their best in a great training environment filled with all the good vibes, to put my energy into creative outlets like writing and podcasting, and of course being there for my husband, step-daughters and my family. That’s what I want! And I have a hunch that being in a healthy marriage and happy place in my life has me yearning for more family and partner time. Now I want more of that time to enjoy life and each other. Who would have thunk it??!! LOL!
Now you might say, “Well geez Jen, you figured it out. Why write this piece?” The answer is that sometimes we need to write things down to know they are attainable. It’s hard to keep the big picture up in your head. And if you are like me, you need to work through the process of letting go, along with setting aside the guilt that goes with that release. Even if it’s the best decision, I think we still tend to have guilt around not doing something anymore or making everything fit in, even though it leads to chronic stress. So, just like I asked myself if this was all ok, I am telling you: It’s ok!
What hustle are you struggling with lately? I would love to hear about it and offer some tips in a future post.
Until then, stay amazing my friends!