Apparently, We Can All Stop Hustling Now
How a trip to the desert reminded me that I don't have to hurry through life.
Last week, we packed up the car and took the kids on a West Texas road trip—Marfa for a few days, then deeper into the desert to Terlingua and Big Bend. On our second evening, after a full day of exploring, we took a slow walk down a dirt road in Marfa, the sun casting its golden hour glow over the mountains. My hair was still damp from the shower, and the desert air was warm against my skin. And for the first time in a while, I realized I hadn’t thought about work or my to-do list in hours.
There’s a moment in every great trip when something shifts—I stop glancing in mirrors, I barely wear makeup, and I throw on whatever’s easiest from my suitcase. I’ve noticed it’s often when I feel most like myself. Sun-kissed, unhurried, fully present.
Lately, I’ve realized that the greatest luxury isn’t time itself—it’s choosing not to hurry through life. So often, I’m rushing to finish a project so I can move on to the next, even though I love my work. I’m rushing through a meal, even though I love food. I’m rushing through the kids’ bedtime routines, even though it’s the time of day I treasure most.
Sometimes, it takes a change in our environment to remind us: we don’t have to be in such a hurry. When we step outside of our routines—away from the endless productivity loops—we remember what it feels like to just be. And when we do, we open ourselves to more creativity, clarity, and new possibilities.
This is the real gift of travel. Not just an escape, but a reset—a reminder that slowing down doesn’t have to be about sipping margaritas on a beach somewhere. It’s a mindset that we can adopt, wherever we are.
Change Your Environment, Change Your Mind
Since getting home, I can’t stop thinking about the idea of eliminating hurry from my daily life. It’s wild how deeply our surroundings shape our state of mind—while I was in West Texas, my body and mind naturally slowed down. And interestingly, my Oura Ring stats backed it up: my stress levels were way down, and my sleep quality was way up. These are two key health metrics that I want to prioritize every day, not just on vacation.
So how do we bring that less hurry, more peace feeling into real life? Answering that question was what inspired Breathing Space in the first place, and one of the most powerful tools we can use to shift our mindset is changing our environment.
A few ways I’m integrating this into my daily life:
Slow Down Wherever You Are
We don’t have to book a big vacation in order to bring a feeling of spaciousness into our days. When we infuse life with small rituals, it slows down time and makes every moment feel more special. A few ideas:
Start your day slowly. Instead of checking your phone the moment you wake up, give yourself 10 minutes to stretch, breathe, or sip coffee in silence. My morning routine is the most sacred part of my day—it’s my wellness non-negotiable.
Build in buffers. This one’s a struggle for me—I have a tendency to rush from one thing to the next all day, and by the time evening rolls around, I’m often drained. My new goal: try and leave 5 - 10 minutes between commitments—whether it’s a short walk or a few minutes of breath work, when I’m able to fit this in it’s the biggest boost to my energy.
Turn habits into rituals. Light a candle while you work, eat dinner without distractions, put on music while you cook. The way we frame everyday moments has the power to reshape how they feel.
Digital Detox
One of the most powerful parts of this trip was the absence of screens. No notifications pulling me out of the moment, no mindless scrolling filling up the in-between spaces. Creating regular, consistent times to disconnect from our screens is one of the simplest ways we can bring more peace into our daily lives. Some ideas:
Try a No-Screen Saturday. We’ve been doing this as a family each week and it’s been so game-changing—read more about it here. Set your phone aside for the day and allow yourself to just be present.
Get intentional about your phone use. Move distracting apps off your home screen, set time limits, and turn off unnecessary notifications. You’ll be amazed at how much mental space this frees up.
Create phone-free spaces. No phones in the bedroom. No scrolling at the dinner table. Small boundaries create truly major shifts in how present you feel.
Take a Micro-Getaway
The simple act of changing your scenery can bring fresh energy and excitement to your life—and it doesn’t take a lot.
Take a walk or hike somewhere new. Pick a new trail or a neighborhood you’ve never walked in before—it’s so refreshing to just mix it up.
Plan a “personal retreat” day. Spend a day solo—head to a coffee shop with your journal, take a walk, treat yourself to a delicious lunch. (Read about how to plan a Personal Retreat Day here). I’m planning to do this quarterly as a time to reset and review my personal vision for the year.
Book a one-night getaway. A one-night trip somewhere close by can feel like such a welcome break from routine. Pause your emails and allow yourself to not be on a schedule.
Sometimes, we don’t need a break from our lives—we just need to shift how we’re living them. I don’t want to “live for the weekend” or count down to my next vacation. I want to love my everyday life, to move through my day with intention, and to go to bed feeling like I fully lived it.
A change in scenery can wake us up and pull us out of autopilot. But the real work—the part that matters most—is bringing that feeling home. Finding small ways to integrate slowness, spaciousness, and joy into the life we already have.
Because the goal isn’t to escape—it’s to build a life we don’t feel the need to escape from.
Weekly Recos
Podcast I loved: A great episode about the hidden habits and mindset shifts of successful people. Listen to this one on a walk where you can really tune in.
What I’m reading: Re-reading Bel Canto, one of my favorite books of all time. It’s one where you can get lost in the plot and savor truly good writing.
Currently listening: This playlist inspired by sun-drenched days and desert nights—perfect for laid-back hangs all season.
Recipe on repeat: After several days of food on the road, I came home feeling excited to cook simple healthy recipes! This salmon salad with grapefruit and avocado is my obsession right now—I’ve been making it once a week.
Quiz: Spot the ultra-processed foods. (I couldn’t believe how many I got wrong.)
Yes to all of this. My Word of the Year for 2025 is Yutori. It’s a Japanese term for giving everything the time it needs. One of my non-negotiable this year is “no rushing.” During my end of year reflection, I realized a huge hidden source of stress for me was rushing everywhere.
This year I have been adding buffers, including putting the time it takes to drive to and from the gym, feed my dog, etc in my schedule so people don’t try to book things in these windows.
I have also started experimenting with Subtraction Scheduling. At the end of every week when I sit down to plan the next one, I get really picky about what’s on it and try to find at least three things to cancel/subtract. My goal by the end of the year is to have trained my brain enough to not put those “auto-yes” items on my schedule in the first place.
Less rushing = More energy.
"Lately, I’ve realized that the greatest luxury isn’t time itself—it’s choosing not to hurry through life." This hits!! What a great article. I'm glad we are moving on from the girlboss and hustle culture too