To whomever this concerns, I want you to free yourself from the need to appear busy all the time. Let it go. Release it. Permit yourself to exist without constantly proving your productivity. Let me be clear: There’s nothing wrong with being ambitious. Goals? Love them. Hard work? Necessary. But somewhere along the way, we were sold a blatant lie: that our worth is tied to how much we’re doing, how many projects we’re juggling, how little sleep we’re getting.
Contrary to the rules of hustle culture, I regret to inform you there’s no trophy for being the busiest. No gold medal for exhaustion. No standing ovation for running yourself into the ground.
The Pressure to Always Be “On”
If you’ve ever caught up with a friend or acquaintance and felt that familiar pressure to answer the inevitable question—“What have you been working on?”—then you know exactly what I mean. It’s rarely “How are you feeling these days?” or “What’s been bringing you joy?” Nope. It’s always about what you’re doing, never about how you’re doing.
And for creatives? Whew. The pressure is even worse. The unspoken rule is that if you’re not constantly creating, promoting, or producing, you’re falling behind. But as the kids say, the gag is: If you’re not careful, you’ll hustle your way right into an unfulfilling life—one where you’re so obsessed with checking off boxes that you miss out on the beauty of everyday moments.
It’s OK to Just BE
We live in a world that glorifies the grind. Resting feels indulgent. Stillness feels unproductive. But life is happening right now, not just in the moments when you’re achieving something.
It’s OK to pause. To take a breath. To enjoy a day that isn’t packed with deadlines and obligations. It’s OK to:
- Lay in a hammock and just watch the clouds pass.
- Take a walk without tracking the steps.
- Sit in a coffee shop and people-watch instead of answering emails.
- Meditate. Daydream. Stare out the window and do absolutely nothing productive.
Not every moment needs to be optimized for efficiency. Some moments are just meant to be lived.
Shift from Hustle to Harmony
What if, instead of striving for more, you aimed for balance? What if success wasn’t measured in overbooked calendars but in joy, peace, and deep connections?
When you stop equating your value with your level of busyness, you open yourself up to a richer, more fulfilling life. One where rest is just as important as work. Where presence matters more than productivity. Where you can breathe, exist, and thrive—without the pressure to prove anything to anyone. So this is your reminder: You don’t have to earn your rest. You are enough, just as you are. Eff hustle culture.
Now go take a nap. Or don’t. Either way, you’re still amazing. 😉
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