Breaking free from hustle culture and other people’s expectations to find work-life balance
Work-life balance is something many of us struggle with. Too often the drive to succeed doesn’t bring self-care along for the ride — and that neglect often stalls career growth. Sometimes it takes a crash to realize the importance of prioritizing wellness alongside work.
Putting the spotlight on work-life balance this week, we’re revisiting three Catalyst stories that offer wisdom and guidance for bringing your personal and career needs into harmony.
Learning to let go
Looking back, Hitha Palepu, a mother of two, CEO, angel investor, speaker and author realized, “I was a quintessential victim of hustle culture, because I firmly believed I could do it all and I should do it all.”?
The revelation came after she spent a Thanksgiving neglecting family she’d traveled across the country to be with to instead work on a project that ultimately didn’t work out. Palepu recalled, “I felt awful. I also felt like I was failing at home. I wasn't the mom I had wanted to be and I wasn't the daughter, niece, cousin I wanted to be to my incredible family who had gathered on that day to celebrate. I really knew that something had to change, and that day I realized that I literally can't do it all and I shouldn't try to do it all.”
Check out Palepu’s full story and how she found a way to live and work “with greater intention, focus and purpose” here.?
Picking the right circle
Alyson Stoner kicked off a film and television career at the age of seven, going on to act, dance and sing for the likes of Disney, Fox, and Nickelodeon.?
After a decade of working up to 20 hours a day, Stoner said, “I started to notice I was over-exercising, I was under-eating, I wasn’t getting the proper sleep. I had stress seizures, panic attacks, hair loss, and isolation.” Collapsing onto the floor in a cold sweat coming off an audition, Stoner recalled, “I knew If I wanted to keep moving forward, something was going to have to change.”
Stoner founded Movement Genius to help others improve their mental, emotional, and physical health through somatic movement techniques they found helpful in their own recovery.?
Learn more about Alyson Stoner’s journey here.
Battling burnout
When his flower delivery startup UrbanStems hit a financial snag, Ajay Kori threw himself into saving the business, neglecting his well-being in the process. He burned himself out and came off looking overwhelmed to his investors, who asked him to step down as CEO.
He founded two new businesses but also started working with a therapist, meditating and journaling. “As I did those things,” he said, “I realized, ‘Wow, I’m happier and not only that, I seem to be getting more and more effective at running these companies.’”
“If you’re really not taking care of yourself and you're burnt out, it puts you in a situation where you’re just not as good of a leader.”?
See Kori’s full story here.
Do you have tips for balancing your professional needs with your personal ones? Share them with us in the comments!
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This is a powerful reminder that work-life balance is essential for long-term success. It's inspiring to see how these individuals have overcome challenges and prioritized their well-being. I'm curious to know how others have found balance in their own lives, especially in today's fast-paced world. What strategies or practices have you found effective in managing stress and achieving a healthier work-life balance? Let's share tips and support each other in this journey.
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1 天前Smruti Bhalerao
Coordinator manager at Bellevue Hospital Center.
2 天前I'll keep this in mind
LinkedIn Top Voice | INC 500 Winner | Founders: Spending too much time in sales? Feeling Founder overload? I can fix that without breaking the bank. I have been where you are now. Book an introductory call.
2 天前Ask 10 people to define work-life balance and you’ll probably get 10 different answers. So, why do we have such a difficult time balancing our professional and personal lives? To start with, we’re using the wrong phrase. Instead of trying to balance one with the other, we need to support each at their own time.? Everyone wants to be good and effective at their chosen field while also feeling like they’re having a great life with family and friends. We need to look at work and life as separate entities that need their own attention, intention, and focus. We need to separate work and life and put boundaries around them. When we’re working, we focus on our work. When we’re with family, friends, or just playing, we need to focus on that. The real culprit is guilt. Too often we feel guilty we haven’t put in enough hours in on the job. Or we’re spending too much time enjoying ourselves. Cast the guilt aside, separate your work and your life, and forget the balance. Just support each as needed. Put in the time in the direction and with the effort where it’s needed.?? And don’t feel guilty about anything.
I educate 10,000+ CRUSH confusion by turning complex ideas into simple ways to win ?? Change your behaviors, finances and career ?? 13 years of research
3 天前Balance is where true growth happens. I’ve found that prioritizing wellness helps me be more present for both work and family.