Hustle, hustle harder, good things come to those who hustle… Make. It. Stop.

Let’s discuss what you REALLY should be doing instead.

What does the word “hustle” mean?

Let’s break this down.

Based on the simple definition of hustle, we’re telling people to FORCE things in an unceremonious manner (meaning lack of courtesy)?! Sounds successful, huh? Yeah, me thinks not.

Forcing things to happen isn’t going to make you successful in the long run.

Let’s take this as an example: you buy new shoes and they don’t fit you, but you really like them so you shove your feet into them. You manage to force them in. From the outside, they look cute. On the inside, your toes are curled over, you’re quickly forming blisters and your feet will be sore after you take them off. It’s not a sustainable solution.

Hustling is like forcing your foot in a shoe that doesn’t fit. It might look good from the outside, but it’s detrimental on the inside and isn’t sustainable.

Let’s choose the word “ALIGN” rather than hustle.

Aligning means giving support to your life and bringing all aspects of your life together in agreement.

Doesn’t that sound much better than forcing something to happen?!

What using the word align allows you to do:

Aligning allows you to avoid burnout and have a sustainable lifestyle  

Generally, when you hustle, you’re going all in on one thing which results in other aspects of your life falling to the wayside.

Enter burnout.

When you align, you determine your process based on all aspects of your life, not just one thing.

It means your work ebbs and flows, you make time for self care and the other aspects of life that are important to you. This process is setting you up for sustainable success.

Aligning is more productive than hustling

Hustling often means working endlessly on one thing or making it happen very quickly. Here’s the thing, your results eventually plummet with that.

Think of it like running a marathon. When you’re “hustling”, you’re essentially trying to sprint the race. When you do this, you might get the lead at first, but eventually you get tired and end up slower than could have gone – sometimes unable to finish the race.

When you align, your productivity increases because your brain is in a better place by stimulating it in a more balanced manner. You’re running the race at the pace that works best for your body to ensure you reach the finish line in the healthiest way possible.

Aligning makes you happier

When you align, you make time for rest, relationships, a healthy lifestyle, etc. Aligning gives you the room to enjoy the journey, not just the destination.

Insert happy heart. Literally and figuratively.

Interested in getting more help aligning? Neha is a Career Coach helping women pursue their passions in harmony with their personal life. Book a complimentary consult to learn more about how you can align you career with your personal life.