I was taught to work hard at an early age.
My grandfather and grandmother owned a commercial cleaning service.
All I saw were regular people making their own way.
Ar Ducha Misfa’i
Working from sunup to sundownand sometimes through the nightto make ends meet.
It was no surprise that Id follow in their footsteps.
I got my first job at 15 and continued working throughout high school and college.
After college I immediately began my first full-time job.
Then, in 2008, the economy began to take a dive.
By then I had a lower-level job in corporate communications.
It would look great on a resume, but it was not the most fulfilling work Id ever done.
Then, in 2009, I was laid off from my corporate communications job.
This isnt a unique story.
This was all happening alongside another phenomenon I saw brewing among my peers: the accumulation of student debt.
Having multiple sources of income was not only a safety net, but a necessity for many college-educated people.
This is where thenewhustle generation began.
Sleepless nights were a badge of honor and something to brag about over brunch with friends.
The hustle had become cachet.
How much was this ingrained in my own life?
I wore a bracelet that said HUSTLE.
It was my anchor and a reminder that success meant sacrificing now and reaping the rewards latermuch later.
But, as I learned, theres a dark side to hustle culture.
It wasnt long before I turned in my two-week notice to pivot.
Ironically, the more I poured myself into growing the company, the more I suffered physically and emotionally.
Gastrointestinal symptoms and midday naps became the norm.
It dictated how I lived every moment of my life.
What made this all the more confusing was that I considered myself the poster child ofself-care.
I ate mindfully, avoiding foods that I knew would cause an adverse reaction.
Yet my symptoms were not improving.
And I wasnt alone.
Then one day I found myself walking to work with my eyes brimming with tears.
I was exhausted and frustrated.
I couldnt understand why my body seemed to be rebelling against me.
In that moment I knew that major changes were in order.
I began to think of my work, professionally and personally, differently.
These changes were helping, but they werent enough.
Thats when I realized that it was my idea and understanding of self-care itself that needed some work.
How could I show up for the most important people in my life if I felt this way?
The first thing I did was removehustleandgrindfrom my vocabulary.
I can still work hard, achieve success, and make money without sacrificing my health and well-being.
Nowadays I work hard, but relax even harder.
(Lets be honest, when is work ever done?)
Toni Carey is the cofounder of Black Girls RUN!, a writer, and an all-around creative.
She’s been internationally recognized and was named one of the 50 most influential people in running.
you could find her teaching yoga and walking her dogs in and around Washington, D.C.
Learn more about her atwww.tonicarey.com.
