Here’s the thing: I know the hustle because I have lived the hustle.
I work a standard 9 to 4 job.
I teach up to ten spin and fitness classes a week.
I make my own clothes and take custom orders for others.
I run nutrition programs, write meal plans, teach webinars, and somehow try to keep my ADHD brain from spiraling into seventeen projects at once.
People ask me all the time where I get the energy. Honestly, half the time, I have no idea. My default setting used to be go, go, go because stopping felt like falling behind. Over time I have learned that constantly sprinting only leads to one place: burnout.
Here are the five ways I learned to slow down, stop glorifying busy, and start protecting my energy including why Sundays are now my non-negotiable reset day.
1. I Stopped Measuring My Worth by My To-Do List
For the longest time, I believed success meant filling every hour with something productive. If I was not multitasking, I was wasting time.
But busy does not equal better. Filling your schedule does not make your life fuller. It makes it heavier.
These days, I create a weekly schedule that actually fits me. I am early to bed at 9 p.m. and early to rise at 5 a.m. My brain works better when I start early, move my body, and have quiet time before the day explodes. Creating structure around my time helps me manage my ADHD and keeps me from getting lost in the chaos spiral.
I have stopped forcing myself into hustle mode just to keep up. My worth is not tied to how many boxes I check off. Neither is yours.
2. I Protect My Energy Like It’s My Job
Here is the truth: I cannot do everything without sacrificing myself in the process.
I used to say yes to everything. Every project, every class, every favour, every “quick” email at 11 p.m. I thought being the person who could “do it all” made me valuable.
Then came my wake-up call. I accidentally agreed to teach five cycle classes in 48 hours. Was I crazy? Absolutely. Did I somehow survive? Also yes. Could I walk up a flight of stairs afterward? Absolutely not.
That was my lightbulb moment. Just because I can say yes does not mean I should.
Now, I save my energy for the things that truly matter. The classes I want to teach, the clients I love working with, and the creative projects that make me excited to wake up in the morning.
3. I Made Sundays Sacred
This one changed everything.
I keep Sundays clear.
No teaching.
No client calls.
No squeezing in one more thing.
Sundays are for slow mornings, giant mugs of tea, playlists that make me happy, and quiet time where I let my brain catch up with my body. Sometimes I plan my week, sometimes I get creative, and sometimes I do absolutely nothing at all. That is the point.
Unless someone is really stuck and absolutely needs me, Sundays are off-limits. Protecting that space has been the key to avoiding burnout, staying creative, and actually enjoying the things I work so hard for.
4. I Stopped Romanticizing Burnout
Hustle culture told us exhaustion was a badge of honour, that rest was weakness, and that wanting it more means outworking everyone around you.
I used to brag about being busy. I thought it made me impressive, balancing ten plates at once like some kind of productivity goddess. In reality, I was constantly drained, running on caffeine and chaos, and giving everyone else my best while giving myself my leftovers.
Now, I celebrate balance. I celebrate the days where I say no, close my laptop, and choose rest over another deadline. Being well-rested, clear-headed, and inspired makes me better at everything I do.
5. I Reframed Rest as a Power Move
This was the hardest lesson for me to learn. For so long, rest felt like quitting. If I slowed down, I thought I would fall behind.
But here is what I know now: rest is not optional, it is essential.
A huge part of this has been building a sleep routine that actually works for me. I know I am at my best when I am in bed by 9 p.m. and up by 5 a.m., and sticking to that rhythm keeps me focused, energized, and less likely to spiral into chaos. And yes, I even have a built-in accountability system. If I try to push past my bedtime, I have a partner who looks at me and says, “Jess, it’s past your bedtime… what about your routine?” Spoiler: they’re always right.
When I protect my sleep, my brain works better, my creativity flows, and my body can actually recover from the demands I put on it. Resting is not falling behind. Resting prepares me to move forward with more focus and intention.
Keeping Sundays clear gives me space to reset, recharge, and come back stronger for everything I take on during the week. It is not a luxury. It is survival.
Your Reminder for Today
You are not a machine. You are not lazy for resting. You do not need to earn your downtime.
Protect your energy. Protect your peace. Protect yourself.
If you have been running on empty lately, maybe it is time to carve out your own Sundays. Make space for the pause. It is the best investment you will ever make.
With love and almond butter,
Jess 💜💜