Dear Fellow Hustlers: It’s Okay to Take a Break

While I write this with my fellow entrepreneurs, side-hustlers, business people in mind, I encourage you all to give yourself permission to take a break. Take a break from the self-imposed craziness and just be. Live, breathe, relax, take it all in as another year comes to an end. 

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I’m sitting in my bed as I write this, simultaneously practicing gratitude, taking breaks from typing to sip my peppermint mocha coffee.

Last week I was in Costa Rica at a wellness & yoga retreat. I worked like a crazy person the week of Thanksgiving before jetting off in hopes to find some calm and relaxation before the holidays.

Even while I was in Costa Rica I had planned to work the weekend I got back home. I didn’t have time to plan much of this weeks content so I intended to get a couple of recipes photographed and blog posts written so I would “stay on track”. The schedule I make for myself where I do my best to hold myself accountable.

Fast forward to arriving back home last Friday at 3:30am after a delayed flight, and my plans for working during the weekend fell by the wayside.

But it wasn’t that I didn’t have the energy to work, it was more so I realized I didn’t necessarily have to work. I didn’t have to stress myself out on the weekend trying to get last-minute posts together. I also didn’t want to compromise on the quality of the recipe and work itself, just to stick with my self-imposed schedule.

I think back to this time last year and Drew mentioned I didn’t even go get a tree with him because I was too busy working.

“Too busy working.”

Granted I do remember being extremely busy and it was easier for him to get one on his way home from work, but still. 

I don’t want a repeat from last season. The stress, the long days, weeks…

I did my best to practice staying present while in Costa Rica and I think it carried over into the weekend, which allowed me to give myself permission to take a break. As soon as I said to myself,

“You really don’t have to work this weekend, you know… The internet and everything else will be there come Monday. Take this weekend to get settled back home. Get your Christmas tree, do holiday things. Enjoy time with loved ones this weekend. Oh, and maybe clean the house…”

And just like that I felt like a normal person again… A normal person doing normal weekend things like Monday-Friday 9-5ers do.

I got so used to working all of the time that I kind of felt like I wasn’t sure I knew what to do. But just like riding a bike it came back to me… and then I proceeded to clean out the fridge because Lawd knows how long it’s been since I wiped down the shelves and all that. I also cleaned the living room, putting away all of my food props on their shelves in the basement. Up until that point that were so lovingly kept in a laundry basket under the bar. 

It’s Okay to Take a Break

So what I am saying (to my fellow entrepreneurs, side-hustlers, solo-business people)  is that you can take a break. It’s OKAY to take a break from your never-ending to-do list. The breaks help us come back in full-out “let’s kick some ass” mode, which in turn can only help your business moving forward. Also, no need to compare your breaks to anyone else’s breaks. As entrepreneurs, our day-to-day looks different for everyone. So don’t let what others are doing make you second-guess yourself.

And the breaks help us stay creative. Which if you’re in a creative job like me, is very very important! I can’t do my best work when I’m feeling bogged down and I’m betting you’re the same way.

SO let’s give each other permission to take a break every so often, alright?

You don’t want to get so busy that you forget what it’s like to be living.