Running on a 5th Gear as a Default?

This morning, as I sat down, I found myself observing the endless hustle within me. It was like my brain had been stuck in "5th gear". If you've ever felt that way, you’re not alone. Many women entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals share the same experience of constantly rushing from one thing to another, operating on autopilot. You might wonder why we’re so stressed when there’s so much advice out there about how to manage stress and overwhelm. But before we talk about managing it, let's step back and ask ourselves: Why do we create stress in the first place?

The Root of Overdrive and Stress

Stress doesn't just happen. Often, it's a product of our own thoughts, habits, and subconscious patterns. Below are a few key reasons why many of us create unnecessary stress for ourselves:

• "It’s quicker to do it myself."

  Taking on too much responsibility can feel like a time-saver in the moment, but it leads to exhaustion in the long run. Delegation feels risky, but it's essential for sustainable growth.
  

• "The more I work, the more I achieve."

  This mindset leads to working long hours without breaks. But we all know that productivity isn’t about how long you work—it’s much more complex and a change in mindset is key to start with.
  

• "I have to do everything on my own."

  Not asking for help because it feels like a weakness or failure?

  Many entrepreneurs fall into this trap, thinking they need to carry the entire load on their shoulders. This is a habit, often with underlying subconscious patterns around having to prove ourselves.
  

• "There’s no time to rest; there’s too much to do."

  This belief leads straight to burnout and perpetuation of working. If we only allow ourselves to rest when everything is "done," we’ll never stop. Often, it takes a new perspective and to help us to pause.
  

Shifting to Sustainable Productivity

So, how can we start moving from this constant "5th gear" to something more sustainable? The solution is not just to work harder, but to work holistically - meaning leveraging your full set of resources. Here are some key strategies to help you slow down while increasing your business’s effectiveness:

• Energy Management:

  Understand the types of energy available to you (physical, mental, emotional) and learn how to use them wisely. Working smart isn't just about time management—it's about energy management.
  

• Self-Awareness:

  Start recognizing the subconscious patterns that drive your behavior. You might consciously want to slow down, but if your subconscious believes that you need to work 150% to feel "good enough," you’ll stay stuck in overdrive.
  

• Resting Productively:

  Learn to differentiate between distraction (e.g., scrolling through social media) and genuine rest. True rest should recharge you, not drain you further or just distract you from the overwhelm you have been experiencing.
  

• Balancing "Doing" and "Being":

  Learn how to balance productivity with presence. True success comes from the ability to produce results while maintaining a sense of ease and fulfillment.

Why We Create What We Don’t Want

It might seem odd, but many of us unconsciously create the very stress we try to avoid. The conscious mind may want to slow down and stop work at 5 p.m., but the subconscious mind—trained over years of habits and beliefs—keeps us stuck at the desk.

Once we recognize this pattern, we have the power to change it. Awareness is the first step. We can stop creating stress and instead, start creating flow, ease, and joy in our business and life.

Taking the Next Step

Imagine running your business like clockwork, with more time for what matters most to you. It’s possible to be productive without being in overdrive. The real work begins when you decide to stop, observe, and choose a different path—a path that nurtures both your success and sense of inner completeness.