When I was in high school I would go to bed at 9pm on the dot because I had to wake up early (circa 5:30) every morning and there was no way I was sacrificing my sleep. My sleep time is sacred.
My family would make fun of me, they joked they never knew a teenager who would put herself to bed so early. I would stop doing homework even if I wasn’t finished, so I could get my 8 hours in. I was 100% happy to be a B student if it meant I was also rested and healthy. (Art & English were my “A” classes and those were all I really cared about anyway… they’ve served me well!)
Fast forward to 2012 starting my photography business full-time and working like a crazy. I still got my sleep, but I worked like 60 hours a week - in hustle mode, networking, learning and shooting for not enough money.
I wouldn’t say I ever hit burn out, but at some point I realized I wasn’t getting the results I wanted and so I stopped. I stopped doing the business tasks others said I should if they felt forced, uninspired and weren’t bringing the results I wanted. I raised my prices. I spent time off with my boyfriend (now husband) I let myself off the hook and chilled the f*ck out and remembered I should have FUN with this creative business.
In 2015 when I launched my coaching business I again went into overdrive working because, honestly, I was SO FLIPPIN’ EXCITED to get my message out into the world and help other creatives. But, again, I found myself feeling like I was doing a lot of work and still not receiving the results I was really craving. Recenter, reevaluate, realign.
As I’ve gone full-time with my coaching, speaking, and now retreat hosting- I’ve had MAJOR resistance to adding to my work schedule. I fear the hustle. I fear burn out SO badly, even though I’ve never really been there. But I’ve heard the horror stories of other entrepreneurs going into adrenal fatigue, losing love for their work, experiencing anxiety & depression, and generally living an unhealthy lifestyle because of overworking. I also have a chronic pain condition and know stress and physically overworking is harmful.
I like spaciousness, I like calm, I like sleep, I like me time. I feared taking on more clients meant I’d lose all that. I feared I would spend nights ignoring my husband and working. I feared I’d not take care of my body.
So often, when inspiration to work would hit I’d RESIST going to meditate or write or send an email because I thought '“No, Sonya, don’t be one of those workaholics! Take your playtime, don’t work after dinner, don’t work weekends, don’t fall into the trap.” But I realized-
I was actually keeping myself from receiving what I wanted- which was more opportunity to do the work which energizes and lights me up so much! More clients who I adore and feel so honored and excited to support. More money which would support my self care, my travels, my goals, and mean my work was having a bigger impact in the world. I blocked myself from receiving all that because I feared being overrun by work and losing my spacious schedule.
Now I know, I don’t have to fear that because I’ve already made it a habit to get my sleep in, to take time for me every morning before I work, to break for lunch and workout, to shut the laptop when I’m tired and to not push, but rather, flow. My theme this year was “Power Flow” and to me that means leaning into all the things I’m being drawn to create, offer, host and how I expand my reach into the world- while maintaining a deep sense of self, of sacred downtime, of spaciousness. That’s all part of my work now. I’ve mastered it, and I no longer have to fear burn out.
I’m primed for massive receiving. I’m ready for more. I’m eager to power flow into my next levels of joy, wealth and impact. And it’s already happening.
Need to recharge, receive and create some intentional space for clarity to come through? Check out my Expansive Experiences Costa Rica retreat! Early bird ends 12/12! Join us for a 5 day spiritual biz retreat for women March 12th-17th 2020. (Bonus community & group coaching program included and kicks off 1/20/20.)