Ah the hustle. When you’re a business owner, you can easily get caught up in the grind. Problem is, sometimes, it grinds your gears.

I believe the hustle mentality needs to shift. We need to take pause. This isn’t to say that we stop working on our business, but you do have to set time aside to break away from your business needs to make sure your personal needs are fulfilled. Because entrepreneurship is a human experience too.

The last year and a half has brought much reflection. Some of us haven’t made many changes, while some of us discovered “normal” was never really normal at all for us as individuals. Are other ways to live life more fully, and effectively?

A lot of this leaves people searching for mindset hacks. Bravo to you! It’s great to expand your mind and evolve. Just be sure you do you cover your personal needs first. You can’t start your engine with an empty tank.

Good vibes only – Only? I’m a pretty positive, grateful dude. I was even identified as an optimist during one of our morning huddles. But ONLY positive, ALL the time? Is this realistic? After a while, your “only good vibes” are going to start looking and feeling very fake. There are books upon articles upon courses regarding how to maintain a positive outlook and how to keep hustling. Some degree of that is great! But it can’t be all you practice or you’ll end up with entrepreneurial burnout. That’s not going to secure your impact, or your legacy.

Remember, as much as our entrepreneurial spirit wants to contribute to the world every moment, no one gets a badge of honor for driving themselves into the ground. And, if every there were a time to restructure your time for the betterment of you, it’s now.

What I’m doing:

Giving pause -My friend and someone I look up to, Darren Virassammy, taught me this. Don’t give up on your business or your goals, but do give pause. Giving pause allows you time to catch your breath and nourish who you are as a person, removed from your business. Do whatever relaxes you most. Reconvene with nature, spend time with family, work out, read, whatever feeds your soul. And for crying out loud, unplug when you’re doing this or it’s cheating. I mean really.

Want a mindset hack? You are your biggest asset. When you invest in yourself, you will have more to give.

Give yourself time to live. To catch your breath. Take time to decompress. Be gentle and kind with yourself. It will reflect in everything you do.

-Mike