Can You Hustle and Heal at the Same Time?
This is a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately.
Because I’m 30, building a brand, running a business, and—if I’m being honest—still healing from the damage my 20s did to my gut, nervous system, and relationship with rest. It’s not glamorous. It’s not linear. And it’s definitely not aesthetic.
But it’s real. And if you’ve ever found yourself choosing between doing what’s best for your body and doing what’s needed to keep your life on track—you’re not alone.
The Hustle That Broke My Body
In my 20s, I was the definition of high-functioning. Corporate career, content creator side hustle, real estate investing, constant forward motion. My days were full. My calendar was full. My body? Depleted.
On paper, I was successful.
Behind the scenes, I was bloated, exhausted, anxious, overstimulated, and burnt out.
At 28, the crash came. Not all at once, but quietly: trouble sleeping, painful periods, random skin flare-ups, panic for no reason, a gut that couldn’t digest much of anything. I spent the next two years rebuilding—my health, my nervous system, and my beliefs about what success should look like.
Why Hustling Feels Non-Negotiable (But Comes at a Cost)
The truth is, in today’s economy—especially as a woman of color, in a big city, trying to build something of value—hustling doesn’t feel optional. It’s survival. It’s protection. It’s a coping mechanism.
But constant hustle comes at a cost: your energy, your gut, your hormones, your mental clarity, your joy.
And here’s the thing no one tells you: even when you know it’s hurting you, it’s still hard to stop. Especially if you’ve tied your worth to your productivity. Especially if you were taught to push through everything. Especially if your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight.
What I’ve Been Diagnosed With (and What It Feels Like)
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, I’ve got Spleen Qi Deficiency, Damp-Heat, and Liver Qi Stagnation. It sounds dramatic, but it actually explains everything.
Spleen Qi Deficiency → fatigue, loose stools, brain fog, difficulty absorbing nutrients
Damp-Heat → acne, bloating, skin inflammation, heaviness
Liver Qi Stagnation → tight chest, anxiety, irritability, hormone issues, digestive slowdown
Here’s a breakdown of what these patterns mean.
It’s not a quick fix. It’s a daily commitment to not ignoring the subtle signs anymore. My body has been whispering for years. Now it’s speaking louder.
What Toxic Productivity Looks Like in Real Life
Even now—after everything I know—I still catch myself:
Eating while working
Forgetting to breathe for hours
Measuring my worth by how much I crossed off my to-do list
Feeling guilty for taking a full lunch break
Assuming rest is only deserved when I’ve “earned it”
This is toxic productivity. And if you’re Type A like me, you probably don’t even realize you’re doing it until your body forces you to stop.
If you relate, this article on signs of toxic productivity might hit close to home.
Why Energy Feels Different in Your 30s
I used to be able to function on 5 hours of sleep, back-to-back meetings, late-night editing, and weekends filled with "just one more thing."
Now? One bad night of sleep and my gut revolts. My skin flares up. My mood drops. I’m not as resilient anymore—and that’s not a bad thing. It just means I have to be more intentional. More gentle. More boundaried.
This piece from Goop explains the biological shifts that happen in your 30s. And honestly, it validated a lot.
What I’m Doing to Heal (While Still Building My Business)
No, I haven’t stopped working. But I’ve restructured everything around nervous system regulation and digestive support. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Shaking + breathwork in the morning to move stagnant Liver Qi and wake up the body
Warm breakfasts (no more skipping meals or iced lattes on an empty stomach)
Legs up on the wall after lunch to support digestion and reset my nervous system
Fennel + pear tea to calm bloating and keep things moving gently
Strict cutoff times for work, even if I didn’t finish everything
Learning to stop without guilt — this one’s still in progress
Small things. Repeated consistently. That's the work.
The Hardest Part? Untangling Work from Worth.
This is the part that gets me.
Even on days when I’m gentle with my body… I still find myself counting. How many hours did I work? Was it “enough”? Did I earn the right to rest?
That mindset doesn’t leave overnight. It’s not just mental—it’s somatic. It’s embedded. And unlearning it is slow and uncomfortable.
But I’m doing it. Day by day.
This piece on why productivity isn’t your worth helped me reframe a lot.
Final Thoughts
I’m not here to sell you a soft life fantasy. I’m still hustling. I’m still ambitious.
But I’m also healing. And trying to make sure I don’t sacrifice my body for my goals ever again.
If you’re someone who’s navigating the same thing—know that you’re not alone.
Healing while building isn’t easy. But it’s possible.
And honestly, it might be the most important work we do.
💌 Join the Journey
My bi-weekly newsletter is a curated note from me to you — for high-functioning women learning to honor their bodies without giving up their ambition.
Every issue includes:
🧠 One belief to unlearn
🌿 A nervous system healing protocol
🥣 A recipe I’m loving for my gut health
📚 A product or book that’s actually helped
No fluff. Just real tools for real life.
→ Join the newsletter