PODCAST S:2 EP:10 “Breaking the Workaholic Cycle”
Hey everyone! Welcome back to another episode of ‘Mourning Tea’ where I wanted to share a realization I had the other day that’s been on my mind a lot. So, if you don’t know me, I absolutely love to read. I probably own close to 700 books, and my goal is to hit 1,000 because having a personal library is just so cool in my opinion. Recently, my fiancé Steven and I moved from California to Denver, and let me tell you, I didn’t think I could love a place more than California, but I was wrong. Denver is amazing. I mean, I’ve seen elk, a bobcat, deer, and even chipmunks in my yard. It’s just fantastic.
As we’ve been unpacking, Steven has been building me this custom library for my 700 books. He’s a sweet angel, making all the shelves just the way I want them. While unpacking, I came across two and a half large boxes of non-fiction books, mostly self-help ones. These books are all about being better, doing more, making more money, and focusing more. And honestly, it just hit me—why is there always this pressure to do more?
I’ve heard so many people say things like, “If you have time to watch Netflix, you have time to grow a business.” But really, why can’t we just enjoy watching Bridgerton without feeling guilty? Why does everything we do need to push us professionally or make us more money? Enough is enough.
A couple of years ago, I decided to stop reading for growth. Now, I read for fun. I read because I enjoy it and it makes me happy. My Instagram is pretty professional, but I wanted my TikTok to be a space where I could just be me, talk about books, and have fun. And guess what? My TikTok following grew from 37,000 to 77,000 in two weeks because I was just being myself.
So, I’ve decided to get rid of most of my non-fiction books. I don’t want everything in my life to revolve around work. I love my job, but it shouldn’t be the only thing I do or talk about. I want time off without guilt. It’s okay to just sit and enjoy life without always pushing to achieve more.
Even with social media, I posted for 196 days straight and then chose to take a couple of days off. It made me realize that I don’t want to be constantly obsessed with posting and engagement. I want balance. I want to enjoy my life.
I remember talking to a friend about a subscription I’m working on for hairstylists and the beauty industry. I realized I could’ve had it done sooner if I worked more hours, but I’m not willing to sacrifice my happiness for it. I’ve been so stressed in the past that it affected my health, and I refuse to live like that anymore.
So, I’m re-evaluating my business and making sure I have time off. I don’t want my clients to be so obsessed with work that they can’t enjoy life. Instagram should be a tool, not your entire life. It’s okay to take time off and do nothing. It doesn’t make you a bad entrepreneur or business owner.
This realization has been freeing for me, and I hope it helps anyone else who might need to hear it. You’re allowed to take time off and enjoy life. It’s okay to do nothing and just be happy.
Thanks for reading, and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to shoot me a DM on Instagram at coach_annie. Let’s continue the conversation and support each other in finding balance and joy in our lives.
xo Ani