From Hustle to Human: The Challenge of Transitioning Out of 14-Hour Days
When you're used to running at 110%—juggling a full-time HR leadership role and building a fitness studio from the ground up—slowing down isn’t just difficult. It’s confusing. You finally get the time you’ve been craving, and your brain says: "Cool, now what can we build?"
Spoiler alert: The shift doesn’t automatically come with peace. Or balance. Or a perfect Google Calendar.
But it does come with lessons.
1. Slowing Down Feels Weird… and That's Okay
For years, your identity has been tied to productivity. You’ve been needed, relied on, and in demand. Letting go of that feels like a loss—even when it’s what you asked for. You’ll hear the voice in your head whisper:
“Shouldn’t I be doing more right now?”
It takes time to unlearn urgency as a metric of success.
Learning Point: Give yourself permission to be unproductive sometimes. Rest is not wasted time. It’s preparation for what’s next.
2. Time Management… Still a Thing
You thought leaving the 14-hour days meant floating through your schedule like a boss lady butterfly. Surprise: your to-do list still fills itself.
Now the challenge isn’t time scarcity—it’s time freedom. You’re in charge of the structure, and that means you have to be intentional.
Learning Point: Try themed days or time blocks. For example:
Admin Mondays
Creative Thursdays
No-Meeting Fridays
Let your calendar reflect your new priorities—not your old pace.
3. Keep the Passion, Drop the Pace
You still love your work—you just don’t have to grind like you did when you had two full-time jobs. The transition isn’t about stopping—it’s about sustaining. You’re not done growing. You’re just growing smarter.
Learning Point: Choose one big focus at a time. You don’t have to scale five mountains at once. Clarity breeds momentum.
4. You Built a Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From—Now Live It
This part might be the hardest: actually enjoying what you worked so hard to create.
Studio C is thriving. The foundation is there. You’ve poured yourself into it. Now it’s time to be in it—to teach the classes you love, spend time with your community, and go to lunch on a random Tuesday without guilt.
Learning Point: Success isn’t more hustle—it’s more alignment.
So… Slow Down or Keep the Pace?
Maybe the answer is: Redefine the pace.
Not slow. Not fast. Just right for this version of you.
You’re not burning out to prove you can anymore. You’re running a business, living your mission, and showing others how to do it with grace, humor, and a killer playlist.
Your Turn:
Feeling this transition too?
Still trying to find your new rhythm?
You’re not alone. Whether you’re exiting corporate life, scaling back, or stepping into something new—you’re allowed to make it feel good.
Let’s normalize not being busy 24/7. Let’s choose alignment over exhaustion. Let’s build lives that light us up.