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I’ll say this a million times, the hustle culture doesn't favour women.
I'm not talking about hard work, I'm talking about being on this endless grind, chasing one goal after another without pausing for breaks or reflection.
That used to be me.
At some point, I got tired of rushing, of always going after the next thing without enjoying what I achieved.
I found myself drained, too exhausted to give anything to anyone because I wasn't at my best.
The hustle culture was deeply ingrained, and I was losing myself everyday.
So when I began craving calm instead of chaos, I quickly realized the life I was living wasn’t the life I actually wanted.
From there, I started researching and practising simple soft life habits. My life has never felt better.
I Start My Day Without My Phone
I stopped picking my phone whenever I woke up, and let me tell you, the mental peace is ahhrrggghhh…out of this world.
All that intense pressure and stress sitting in my chest disappeared like it was never there.
I now stick to a routine with a strict no-phone policy for 2 hours.
I needed to spend focused time with my Maker, do some journaling and plan my life.
Doing this has helped me start my day with ease and clarity.
It's not perfect though.
I still reach for my phone because I sometimes use it as an alarm clock, but I'll be changing that soon.
Until that happens, my no-phone routine lets me fill my cup before the world wakes up with its demands.
I Keep My Space Clean
I've lived in two versions: the scattered and the tidy.
The scattered version of me was chaotic. Her place was disorganized, chores kept piling up and clutter built up faster than the tower of Babel.
That version of me easily got tired and anxious. The chaotic state of my life made me unproductive because I was unfocused.
But the second version, my tidy self, she had a place for everything, and kept everything in its place. She had solid cleaning routines that kept her place looking clean and smelling sweet.
Obviously, the tidy version was the better me. I woke up without the familiar pangs of stress and anxiousness. I spent less time on chores, and found myself looking forward to the day.
In short, I could think better, function better, and feel healthier.
So I'm sticking with her.
I Prioritized Rest
I'm grateful for the gift of rest, to be able to take power naps with ease.
But it wasn't always like that.
In fact, I used to have this work to the death mindset, so I was always grinding. Rest to me was for nepo babies and people who had an inheritance waiting for them.
Well, my body showed me it wasn't a 24/7 machine. It needed some time off too.
That's why I deliberately schedule rests into my schedule.
Rest for me is a strategy, not laziness. It's a smart way to get my energy back for those never-ending tasks.
That's why I love power naps.
When I used to work remotely, I took 30 minute naps from noon. I miss that now that I'm no longer a remote worker. Sometimes, I wish I could take my bed to work.😂
Now I'm looking for other ways to take mental breaks.
I'm also working on sleeping on a consistent tired most days and staying away from my phone at those times.
I Practice Real Self-Care
Self-care isn’t just skincare for me.
It’s how I eat.
How I talk to myself.
How I slow down when my mind starts racing.
I noticed that on the days I poured into myself, everything flowed better.
You remember the routine I talked about, whenever I started the day doing that, I literally felt emotionally grounded.
I was soft, fun to talk to and present.
But when I started my day by putting fires out, answering calls, checking mails or Whatsapp messages, I felt drained before 10.
Never again!
I Move My Body Gently
This is one aspect of my life I still need to work on.
I don't gym, not yet, but I find little ways to move. I leverage chores, take the stairs (I don't even have a choice because there's no elevator) and sometimes take a stroll.
I know there's still more to do, but at least I'm making some effort.
What I like most is how I feel after those little workouts. I feel stronger, and impressed with myself.
I Spend Money Intentionally
The other day I mentally praised myself for how I handled my money. I loved how I executed my budget to the tea and even tracked my expenses from that day.
With the level of control and emotional ease I felt, I felt mature.
I love that I'm becoming more financially responsible, that I can manage my money well.
I don’t do “girl math,” I do budgeting, tracking and value-based spending.
I hate not knowing where my money is going. I love knowing that I'm stewarding my money right.
And this for me keeps me at peace.
I Romanticize My Daily Life
Honestly, this is something I’m still learning.
The other day I told a friend I want to start investing in beautiful things, not only functional things.
I want to be able to stir my tea with a beautiful golden spoon, or chop vegetables with a sturdy knife.
I want to sit on a plush couch and stir at a beautiful chandelier at my ceiling.
I want to have my bath with a sweet smelling soap.
I want to slow down, especially in the mornings and bask in the dawn.
I want every ordinary moment to feel intentional and beautiful.
So, I'm choosing to buy pretty things, to invest in quality items that last, to spend on toiletries that make me eager to do my skincare routines no matter how tired I feel.
Choosing these habits has made me more self aware.
I have goals, I still work hard but I do it from a calm place.
And I wouldn’t trade that peace for anything