Whether you’re running a business, furthering your education, working in a fast-paced environment, or running a household and raising a family, it seems in today’s busy world, the ‘hustle’ mentality is commonly glorified. This constant notion of non-stop hustle can quickly lead to burnout, and within this workaholic lifestyle burnout seems to be something that is often encouraged or even celebrated – almost like a badge of honour for running ourselves ragged.
Let it be clear that this is not how we, at MVMT ONE, choose to live our lives. And these are not the values we believe in or promote within our community..
Ultimately, we strive to work hard and play hard, and to be driven by our passions which fuel us to keep going. However, we also want to completely bask in the ability to enjoy sufficient downtime on a regular basis. And by doing so, it certainly doesn’t equate to loving our work less!
As the founder of the newly launched MVMT ONE platform, I wanted to provide some insight on how to live a productive and successful life without burning yourself out, ultimately leading to greater health & happiness.
01. Create your own timeline: As I was just starting to enter into my entrepreneurial journey, I recall seeing a quote that said something along the lines of the following: “Turning an idea into a business within 6 months – entrepreneur. Turning an idea into a business after 6 months – wantrepreneur.” This quote certainly didn’t resonate with me. Actually, the more time I had to refine my business plan, the journey and the experience, the more pleased I was with the final outcomes. MVMT ONE would have been a much different, and less complete version of what it is today. Overtime, I witnessed things falling into place in a way I could have never imagined. And it definitely did not happen within a 6-month timeframe. Ensure that you go at the pace that feels right for you. And never let the internet rush you.
02. Don’t give up the things that you love: In the midst of planning my launch, I made sure to maintain a fairly regular gym and yoga schedule. That was non-negotiable – initially, for my sanity – but more importantly, it was necessary in order to be a leader in the fitness and yoga industry. I also attended regular massage appointments, travelled often to spend time with family and friends, and managed to watch the entire Harry Potter movie collection (yes, all eight films!), all whilst preparing for the pre-launch phase. If you’re working long hours in order to get something done, remember that you still owe it to yourself to take an hour per day for you. Whether that includes, reading, working out, meditation, a bubble bath, going for a long walk or grabbing a favourite coffee – do not give up the things that will ultimately keep you going. Yes, deadlines matter. But so does your health.
03. Don’t let notifications rule your life: Would you be surprised if I told you that I have all notifications turned off on my phone? Except phone calls. And calendar items which only appear during my set, focused business hours. All other notifications – social media, iMessage, emails, etc – do not have notifications set. You may ask “how can one possibly run a business without being locked into their phone at all times?” I have found that it works best for me to open my phone and check apps throughout the day as I have time. I don’t want to be owned by my mobile device. If there is anything urgent, I know I will receive a phone call. Otherwise, all other notifications can wait. This also allows me to respond mindfully, only when I have the time to do so; then the person on the receiving end has my full attention. This also helps me to avoid burning out by not allowing every buzz and ding to rule my life. Make sure you own your phone and don’t let it own you!
04. Find some time to sit in stillness and simply, just Be. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, overloaded, burnt out, and overall useless, there is one method I can recommend that starts to snap me out of the funk. And I hope it can work for you as well.
That method: Practising solitude.
Whether you prefer to sit, lie, or go for a walk – preferably in silence – solitude will always bring you back to yourself.
For me, sometimes it’s on a meditation cushion, in silence. Sitting with your thoughts long enough, will eventually bring some light and some clarity. Sometimes it’s lying in bed, with light music playing, and allowing for full rest until the overwhelm goes away. And sometimes it involves a silent walk in nature alone. It takes practice, because often we want to distract ourselves from experiencing our thoughts and emotions. Let them appear, and you will improve your tolerance to work through the tough stuff. You will bounce back quicker, and become more resilient.
05. Trust in fate and divine timing: There were many times prior to my 2022 launch when I wanted to launch something, anything! However, I didn’t quite have the full picture yet. It felt somewhat incomplete. And although I was still creating content, and occasionally engaging with interested clients, I didn’t have the full picture of what MVMT ONE would become. If I launched anything at that point, it probably would have felt rushed. But overtime, it all came together. There were times I had to step away from it completely, and let it form. And in time, it started to fully blossom and grow into a comprehensive plan that I could see unfolding, with the hopes of continuing for years to come. Whatever you have in progress currently – a new job, busy home life or projects, new courses, or new business projects – simply trust that it will all come together in divine timing. Most often this is beyond what we can even see. Trust the process.
Was I always a professional in avoiding burnout? No. I remember when I was in my teens, I constantly had many things on the go. This included working two or three part-time jobs, attending school and eventually full-time university, attending and teaching dance lessons and also playing on multiple sports teams. Regularly, I would burn myself out and my mother would remind me that everytime I had a day off, I managed to fill it up somehow. It’s the bust and boom phenomenon: personal life edition.
I have learned a lot since then, and I am not the same adult. I have learned to be much more relaxed. Now that I’m running a business, I assured myself that I would not burn myself out during this process, even if it meant that everything would take a bit longer to come together.
After all, how could a founder of a wellness company be constantly burned out, tired, miserable, and sick?
Therefore, I have vowed to practise what I preach in staying healthy, and I welcome you to do the same. Let’s do ourselves a favour and stay productive, but well, on our life journeys!
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