In 2020, I took a leap of faith—I left my full-time job as an interior designer to pursue my own creative path, selling my artwork and hosting mindfulness & creative workshops. It was a thrilling shift from the structured 9-to-5 to the unpredictable world of freelancing and entrepreneurship.  Not knowing when my next paycheck would come became a constant source of stress. My need for control skyrocketed as I micromanaged every aspect of my life, believing that if I just worked hard enough, my chances of success would increase.

I hustled endlessly, taking on every opportunity that came my way—sometimes juggling up to ten gigs at once, hoping that at least one would generate something. Figuring out how to be an artist was already a challenge, but on top of that, I was also trying to establish myself as a teacher, facilitator, and community builder. I wore too many hats, and it took a serious toll on my nervous system and overall well-being. Eventually, the stress led to anxiety that often can be triggered by tiny little thing.

In 2023, after hosting a full-day workshop that earned me almost $800, the most I had ever made from a single session- I finally felt like I deserved a break. I went to a 10-day Vipassana silent retreat. What happened during those ten days changed everything.

While the outside world continued evolving without me, my inner world was in absolute chaos. Being in silence, with nothing to distract me, sounded like a beautiful dream at first. Then the reality was quite the opposite. Every day was an emotional rollercoaster, simply from being alone with my thoughts. But as I surrendered to the practice (by having no other choice lol), something shifted. Toward the end of the retreat, my mind felt quieter, my nervous system stabilized, and I experienced a deep state of calm. I had unknowingly been living in a constant "fight or flight" mode, but for the first time in years, I stayed in a "rest and digest" state for a while, allowing my parasympathetic nervous system to take over.

This was the magic of slowing down and mindfulness. From that moment on, I knew I had to design my life differently—not just to continue as an artist, teacher, and facilitator, but also to cultivate peace, stillness, and a deeper love for life itself. 

Something I know for sure is that I am never alone in this. My story is not the only story on this topic. For years, we’ve been told that success comes from relentless hustle—the early mornings, the late nights, the grinding, the never-ending to-do lists. The hustle culture glorifies busyness, equating exhaustion with achievement. But at what cost? Burnout, anxiety, and a lingering sense that no matter how much we do, it’s never enough.

The shift from hustle to mindfulness is about slowing down to recognise and focus on what truly matters. It is the practice of replacing the pressure to “keep up” with fully being here in the now.

I have been reflecting on this every now and then for the last two you. Here’s how I practice embracing a more mindful approach to work and life:

1. Redefine Your Own Success 

If we don't redefine success for ourselves, we can easily be influenced by society's conventional definition of it. But success isn't one-size-fits-all. It’s not about how much you do—it’s about how aligned you feel with your values and purpose. Shift the focus from productivity to fulfillment by asking yourself: What truly lights me up? What makes my life meaningful?

Here’s my personal definition of success in 2025: "My success is about deep connections and the joy of being creative."

2. The Power of Single-Tasking in a Multitasking World

Hustle culture thrives on multitasking, but mindfulness teaches us that being fully present leads to better results. Whether you’re working, eating, or spending time with loved ones, practice focusing on the moment instead of dividing your attention.

I multitask a lot—most of the time, it’s enjoyable, like having music playing while I draw. But every day, I also intentionally set aside time for single-tasking. I dedicate time to morning meditation in silence, outdoor runs without headphones, reading, and writing in complete stillness. These practices help me cultivate presence, clarity, and a deeper connection to the moment. They’ve become the most nourishing practices for my nervous system these days.

3. Listen to Your Body and Mind

The constant push to “do more” often comes at the expense of our well-being. Tune into your body—are you tired, stressed, or overwhelmed? Mindfulness invites us to slow down and respond with care rather than force.

From my personal experience, because I’ve constantly pushed myself to the limit and operated at a high level, I often fail to recognize the signals my body and mind send me to slow down. Sometimes, after a long day of work, my partner, Dean, and I sit down for dinner, and for some reason, we just can't seem to agree on anything. In the past, we might have thought we were simply too different. But these days, we recognize it for what it is—we're both exhausted. When we're drained, our minds naturally lean toward negativity, our tolerance levels drop, and we have little energy left to truly connect.

I've learned that these signals are often subtle. The good news? Even something as simple as taking a five-minute break for breath awareness or sitting quietly with a cup of tea can make a huge difference.

I know it's not always easy to slow down during a busy workday—especially if, like me, you love what you do. But that's exactly why it's a practice. By consistently showing up for ourselves, we can build the habit of checking in with our body and mind, creating a healthier, more balanced way of working and living.

The Freedom of Slowing Down

Shifting from hustle to mindfulness isn’t about giving up ambition—it’s about creating space for what really matters. When we stop glorifying busyness and start embracing balance, we find success that feels fulfilling rather than exhausting.

Sustaining Your Energy: Essential Tips for Wellness Facilitators to Avoid Burnout

One of the ironies of working in the "wellness" industry is that it isn’t immune to hustle culture. The image of the yoga teacher or wellness facilitator rushing from studio to studio, teaching to make ends meet early mornings, late nights, weekends, is all too familiar. Often, when we hold space for others as teachers, we give so much of our energy that it can leave us depleted. As an introvert, I’ve found that my rest time needs to be longer to fully recharge and replenish my energy.

Here are my little sharing on tips for wellness facilitators if you are in that position, you might find these helpful:

• Give yourself more buffer time and Prioritize Rest
  As a wellness facilitator, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of classes, events, and collaborations. But the key to sustaining your energy is having plenty of buffer time in between for rest and to accommodate when things don’t go as planned. Schedule regular breaks, ensure you have downtime between events, and make rest a priority in your routine. Your energy and well-being are your most valuable assets, so don’t sacrifice rest in the pursuit of "doing more."

• Simplify tasks & Create a good system
  You can't do everything yourself. If there’s anything that can be reduced or simplified, start there. Create a solid system from start to finish, and you'll be able to repeat it consistently. For example, be consistent with your offerings and classes. If something is working, stick with it instead of constantly reinventing new offerings.
  

• Quality over quantity
  Small, intimate classes are often underrated. While the financial pressure of running studios is real, if you survey your students, most would likely say they prefer a spacious class rather than one that's overcrowded. Another thing to consider is that if your community is small, offering too many classes too frequently can stretch your resources and pose a significant financial risk. Don’t expand too quickly. Focus on building your community with quality, intimate classes where students or participants receive so much value that they love being part of it.

Since the end of 2022, I’ve been hosting mindfulness tea ceremonies and art journaling classes across Auckland. There were times when I would run three or four events per month, along with a weekly free community class. These days, in 2025, I’ve chosen to focus on hosting just one event per month for a small group of up to 8 people. Prioritizing the depth of the experience over quantity has become a core value at The Grounded Circle.