084: Why I Walked Away From Hustle Culture

April 4, 2025

Elena Ringeisen

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Mama of four, business builder, and lover of bold ideas. I’m here to share the behind-the-scenes of building businesses, launching what lights me up, and creating a life that feels aligned every step of the way.

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my story

I used to think burnout was just part of the job. Back in my early “girl boss” days, I thrived on late nights and weekend work marathons. I chased deadlines like gold stars. I believed that the more I did, the more I hustled, the more “successful” I’d become. And while that season taught me a lot, it also led me to a version of myself that felt stretched thin, disconnected, and constantly behind.

It took time—years, honestly—to unlearn that. To understand that rest isn’t a reward for hard work; it’s a vital part of doing it well.

These days, I’ve rewritten the rules. I’ve gotten really clear on what matters most. My kids always come first. Work comes second. And everything I build, every decision I make in my business, is rooted in that order of priority.

I’ve spent the last 16 years building a business that allows me to be home with them full time. To homeschool. To create a rhythm for our life that feels peaceful and fulfilling. But it hasn’t come without challenges. I had to learn to say no. To honor my limits. To let go of the guilt that used to creep in when I chose slow mornings or unplugged weekends.

I’ve chosen to move intentionally through life instead of rushing through it.

And the truth is, I’m not here to compete. I’m not chasing the next big thing. I’m not trying to scale to seven figures or land on the cover of a magazine. I’m trying to live a life I love. One that feels deeply aligned with who I am.

I love my quiet life. I love being home. I love spending my days doing work I care about and still having time to bake muffins with my kids or wander out to the garden in the middle of the afternoon. It feels like such a gift.

And here’s the beautiful part: it’s made me a better business owner.

I take on a limited number of clients each month. They get my best work—not the version of me that’s worn out or stretched too thin, but the version of me that’s rested, present, and truly excited to pour into their business. I’ve found that the more I protect my energy, the more creative and impactful my work becomes.

Burnout is not a badge of honor. And over time, I’ve realized that saying yes to everything means saying no to the life I want.

So if you’re feeling stretched, if the hustle is stealing your joy, I hope you know this: you’re allowed to slow down. You’re allowed to say no. You’re allowed to build something beautiful without burning yourself out to do it.

You don’t have to prove your worth by how tired you are. You don’t have to keep up with anyone else’s pace. You get to create your own rhythm—one that honors both your dreams and your well-being.

Because a life that feels good? That is the goal.

084: Why I Walked Away From Hustle Culture

084: Why I Walked Away From Hustle Culture

084: Why I Walked Away From Hustle Culture

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I’ve built brands from the ground up, sold software, launched tools like Wordsmith and taught thousands how to run ads that actually convert. I care about building businesses that create freedom — not burnout — and I’m here to help you do the same. Strategy, simplicity, and a whole lot of heart.

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084: Why I Walked Away From Hustle Culture

084: Why I Walked Away From Hustle Culture

I used to think burnout was just part of the job.

Back in my early “girl boss” days, I thrived on late nights and weekend work marathons. I chased deadlines like gold stars. I believed that the more I did, the more I hustled, the more “successful” I’d become. And while that season taught me a lot, it also led me to a version of myself that felt stretched thin, disconnected, and constantly behind.

It took time—years, honestly—to unlearn that. To understand that rest isn’t a reward for hard work; it’s a vital part of doing it well.

These days, I’ve rewritten the rules. I’ve gotten really clear on what matters most. My kids always come first. Work comes second. And everything I build, every decision I make in my business, is rooted in that order of priority.

I’ve spent the last 16 years building a business that allows me to be home with them full time. To homeschool. To create a rhythm for our life that feels peaceful and fulfilling. But it hasn’t come without challenges. I had to learn to say no. To honor my limits. To let go of the guilt that used to creep in when I chose slow mornings or unplugged weekends.

I’ve chosen to move intentionally through life instead of rushing through it.

And the truth is, I’m not here to compete. I’m not chasing the next big thing. I’m not trying to scale to seven figures or land on the cover of a magazine. I’m trying to live a life I love. One that feels deeply aligned with who I am.

I love my quiet life. I love being home. I love spending my days doing work I care about and still having time to bake muffins with my kids or wander out to the garden in the middle of the afternoon. It feels like such a gift.

And here’s the beautiful part: it’s made me a better business owner.

I take on a limited number of clients each month. They get my best work—not the version of me that’s worn out or stretched too thin, but the version of me that’s rested, present, and truly excited to pour into their business. I’ve found that the more I protect my energy, the more creative and impactful my work becomes.

Burnout is not a badge of honor. And over time, I’ve realized that saying yes to everything means saying no to the life I want.

So if you’re feeling stretched, if the hustle is stealing your joy, I hope you know this: you’re allowed to slow down. You’re allowed to say no. You’re allowed to build something beautiful without burning yourself out to do it.

You don’t have to prove your worth by how tired you are. You don’t have to keep up with anyone else’s pace. You get to create your own rhythm—one that honors both your dreams and your well-being.

Because a life that feels good? That is the goal.

I used to think burnout was just part of the job.

Back in my early “girl boss” days, I thrived on late nights and weekend work marathons. I chased deadlines like gold stars. I believed that the more I did, the more I hustled, the more “successful” I’d become. And while that season taught me a lot, it also led me to a version of myself that felt stretched thin, disconnected, and constantly behind.

It took time—years, honestly—to unlearn that. To understand that rest isn’t a reward for hard work; it’s a vital part of doing it well.

These days, I’ve rewritten the rules. I’ve gotten really clear on what matters most. My kids always come first. Work comes second. And everything I build, every decision I make in my business, is rooted in that order of priority.

I’ve spent the last 16 years building a business that allows me to be home with them full time. To homeschool. To create a rhythm for our life that feels peaceful and fulfilling. But it hasn’t come without challenges. I had to learn to say no. To honor my limits. To let go of the guilt that used to creep in when I chose slow mornings or unplugged weekends.

I’ve chosen to move intentionally through life instead of rushing through it.

And the truth is, I’m not here to compete. I’m not chasing the next big thing. I’m not trying to scale to seven figures or land on the cover of a magazine. I’m trying to live a life I love. One that feels deeply aligned with who I am.

I love my quiet life. I love being home. I love spending my days doing work I care about and still having time to bake muffins with my kids or wander out to the garden in the middle of the afternoon. It feels like such a gift.

And here’s the beautiful part: it’s made me a better business owner.

I take on a limited number of clients each month. They get my best work—not the version of me that’s worn out or stretched too thin, but the version of me that’s rested, present, and truly excited to pour into their business. I’ve found that the more I protect my energy, the more creative and impactful my work becomes.

Burnout is not a badge of honor. And over time, I’ve realized that saying yes to everything means saying no to the life I want.

So if you’re feeling stretched, if the hustle is stealing your joy, I hope you know this: you’re allowed to slow down. You’re allowed to say no. You’re allowed to build something beautiful without burning yourself out to do it.

You don’t have to prove your worth by how tired you are. You don’t have to keep up with anyone else’s pace. You get to create your own rhythm—one that honors both your dreams and your well-being.

Because a life that feels good? That is the goal.

084: Why I Walked Away From Hustle Culture

MODERN MARKET

084: Why I Walked Away From Hustle Culture

MODERN MARKET

I used to think burnout was just part of the job.

Back in my early “girl boss” days, I thrived on late nights and weekend work marathons. I chased deadlines like gold stars. I believed that the more I did, the more I hustled, the more “successful” I’d become. And while that season taught me a lot, it also led me to a version of myself that felt stretched thin, disconnected, and constantly behind.

It took time—years, honestly—to unlearn that. To understand that rest isn’t a reward for hard work; it’s a vital part of doing it well.

These days, I’ve rewritten the rules. I’ve gotten really clear on what matters most. My kids always come first. Work comes second. And everything I build, every decision I make in my business, is rooted in that order of priority.

I’ve spent the last 16 years building a business that allows me to be home with them full time. To homeschool. To create a rhythm for our life that feels peaceful and fulfilling. But it hasn’t come without challenges. I had to learn to say no. To honor my limits. To let go of the guilt that used to creep in when I chose slow mornings or unplugged weekends.

I’ve chosen to move intentionally through life instead of rushing through it.

And the truth is, I’m not here to compete. I’m not chasing the next big thing. I’m not trying to scale to seven figures or land on the cover of a magazine. I’m trying to live a life I love. One that feels deeply aligned with who I am.

I love my quiet life. I love being home. I love spending my days doing work I care about and still having time to bake muffins with my kids or wander out to the garden in the middle of the afternoon. It feels like such a gift.

And here’s the beautiful part: it’s made me a better business owner.

I take on a limited number of clients each month. They get my best work—not the version of me that’s worn out or stretched too thin, but the version of me that’s rested, present, and truly excited to pour into their business. I’ve found that the more I protect my energy, the more creative and impactful my work becomes.

Burnout is not a badge of honor. And over time, I’ve realized that saying yes to everything means saying no to the life I want.

So if you’re feeling stretched, if the hustle is stealing your joy, I hope you know this: you’re allowed to slow down. You’re allowed to say no. You’re allowed to build something beautiful without burning yourself out to do it.

You don’t have to prove your worth by how tired you are. You don’t have to keep up with anyone else’s pace. You get to create your own rhythm—one that honors both your dreams and your well-being.

Because a life that feels good? That is the goal.

I used to think burnout was just part of the job.

Back in my early “girl boss” days, I thrived on late nights and weekend work marathons. I chased deadlines like gold stars. I believed that the more I did, the more I hustled, the more “successful” I’d become. And while that season taught me a lot, it also led me to a version of myself that felt stretched thin, disconnected, and constantly behind.

It took time—years, honestly—to unlearn that. To understand that rest isn’t a reward for hard work; it’s a vital part of doing it well.

These days, I’ve rewritten the rules. I’ve gotten really clear on what matters most. My kids always come first. Work comes second. And everything I build, every decision I make in my business, is rooted in that order of priority.

I’ve spent the last 16 years building a business that allows me to be home with them full time. To homeschool. To create a rhythm for our life that feels peaceful and fulfilling. But it hasn’t come without challenges. I had to learn to say no. To honor my limits. To let go of the guilt that used to creep in when I chose slow mornings or unplugged weekends.

I’ve chosen to move intentionally through life instead of rushing through it.

And the truth is, I’m not here to compete. I’m not chasing the next big thing. I’m not trying to scale to seven figures or land on the cover of a magazine. I’m trying to live a life I love. One that feels deeply aligned with who I am.

I love my quiet life. I love being home. I love spending my days doing work I care about and still having time to bake muffins with my kids or wander out to the garden in the middle of the afternoon. It feels like such a gift.

And here’s the beautiful part: it’s made me a better business owner.

I take on a limited number of clients each month. They get my best work—not the version of me that’s worn out or stretched too thin, but the version of me that’s rested, present, and truly excited to pour into their business. I’ve found that the more I protect my energy, the more creative and impactful my work becomes.

Burnout is not a badge of honor. And over time, I’ve realized that saying yes to everything means saying no to the life I want.

So if you’re feeling stretched, if the hustle is stealing your joy, I hope you know this: you’re allowed to slow down. You’re allowed to say no. You’re allowed to build something beautiful without burning yourself out to do it.

You don’t have to prove your worth by how tired you are. You don’t have to keep up with anyone else’s pace. You get to create your own rhythm—one that honors both your dreams and your well-being.

Because a life that feels good? That is the goal.

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