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10 Ways To Slow Down And Enjoy The Entrepreneurship Hustle

Instead of zipping through life and sacrificing what’s most important to you, slow down and enjoy the process of creating your success.

Photo: Noelle Bloom, Founder of Live the Fabulous™; Source: Courtesy Photo
Photo: Noelle Bloom, Founder of Live the Fabulous™; Source: Courtesy Photo

Let’s get straight to it.

The path of entrepreneurship can feel like a roller coaster ride with lots of ups, downs and gut-wrenching turns. The daily workload of running a business can create a hectic life.

With so much to do and so little time, it’s easy to catch yourself working 12-hour days and getting lost in the 24/7 hustle and bustle of entrepreneurship. Before you know it, it’s the end of the day, week, month and eventually the year!

A big part of modern entrepreneurial culture is figuring out how to take the fast track to success. The increasing pressure to become an overnight success and do everything faster can feel like you’re thrown into a nonstop frenzy; and the truth is it’s just not sustainable! There’s a hefty price tag that comes along with speeding through the process of creating your success.

 

Thriving in a Culture of Speed

Putting the pedal to the medal can cause you to lose sight of the bigger picture. Consider these wise words from anti-war activist Mahatma Gandhi, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” Racing through life not only creates unnecessary stress and anxiety, but you’ll also find yourself missing life-defining moments.

When you’re feeling the motion sickness of the entrepreneurship roller coaster, give yourself permission to slow down, or even hop off a moment to enjoy life. In journalist Carl Honore’s TED Talk, “In Praise of Slowness”, he talks about the world’s obsession with speed and the dangers of cramming more and more in less time.

 

Photo: © nenadaksic, YFS Magazine
Photo: © nenadaksic, YFS Magazine

Honore makes the case that “we’re so marinated in the culture of speed that we almost fail to notice the toll it takes on every aspect of our lives—on our health, our diet, our work, our relationships, the environment, and our community.”

For high-achievers, the thought of slowing down can be nerve-wracking. Even as a highly driven and ambitious woman myself, I find every so often I have the nagging urge to slow my roll. However, slowing down doesn’t mean you have to completely stop working and compromise your results.

 

Creating Sustainable Success

Slowing down is all about taking the time to reconnect to the essential parts of your life, which can ultimately accelerate your success. Taking the time to enjoy the journey will not only help you create sustainable success, but it’s the best way to reclaim your lust for life!

Here are 10 ways to slow down and enjoy the entrepreneurship hustle:

 

1. Unplug and reconnect with yourself.

When there’s chaos on the outside, there’s most likely chaos on the inside, and vice versa. Take time to tune out all of the noise around you and listen to your inner voice. A heightened sense of self-awareness helps you navigate life in a way that honors both who you are and your business objectives.

 

2. Invest in personal growth.

When life gets busy, prioritizing yourself is challenging. Investing in yourself intellectually, emotionally and spiritually will put you in a better position to serve, impact and inspire others.

 

3. Commit to doing less.

Over-committing and cramming everything into one day creates overwhelm. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are successful businesses. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, then take some time to cut out the fluff in your life will make you feel more productive and energized. Doing less means you can slow down and focus on what truly matters.

 

4. Create space for inspiration.

Scheduling time for creativity and to explore things that inspire you can be a game-changer. When you’re inspired, new ideas spark and innovation takes over. All it takes is one inspirational moment to change the course of your life.

 

Photo: © JackF, YFS Magazine
Photo: © JackF, YFS Magazine

 

5. Learn and practice a new skill.

When you’re so focused on work, personal goals and aspirations tend to take a backseat. Whether it’s learning a new language, playing an instrument, or gaining more knowledge in a new topic, spend time exploring personal interests. Being challenged by learning new and exciting things will help you progress in every area of your life.

 

6. Focus on your health.

Eating nutritious foods and exercising will give you more energy to be productive and think clearly. Honoring your health not only makes you feel good, but it’s an awesome remedy for dealing with stress.

 

7. Connect with like-minded, positive people.

When work gets crazy your family and friends can easily be neglected. Taking the time to nurture healthy relationships that are near and dear to your heart will keep you connected to what matters most in life, the people you love!

 

8. Express gratitude daily.

Take a few seconds to show appreciation for all of the little things in life that you take for granted. Practicing gratitude can quickly change your outlook on any challenge in front of you.

 

9. Find the joy in everything.

Challenge yourself to find the joy around you. If you can’t seem to find it, create it! Start by asking yourself, “How can I make this more enjoyable?” Using your creativity to infuse fun in daily activities will keep you feeling alive, engaged, and excited.

 

10. Celebrate small wins.

Success is a journey and all of the small wins along the way lead to your destination. Celebrating mini milestones will help you sustain momentum and keep you motivated. Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist, lecturer and poet said it best, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”

As the visionary leader behind your brand movement, sometimes it’s not all about goals and business objectives, but about the journey itself. Enjoying the journey is just as important, if not more, than any success you’ll have in the future. Instead of zipping through life and sacrificing what’s most important to you, slow down and enjoy the process of creating your success.

 

This article has been edited and condensed.

Lifestyle expert Noelle Bloom helps passionate leaders create sustainable success in business without sacrificing their sanity. She’s the founder of Live the Fabulous™, where she helps high-achieving entrepreneurs around the world have fun, live free and feel fabulous. She has a serious lust for life and believes that people can live extraordinary lives today, instead of waiting until someday to finally start living. Connect with @noelle_bloom on Twitter.

 

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