Finding Joy In The Hustle
Finding Joy in the Hustle: Why Prioritizing Happiness Fuels Your Business Success
Running a business can be exhilarating, fulfilling, and deeply meaningful—but let’s face it, it’s not always sunshine and roses. Challenging times are inevitable, and while grit and determination often get us through, staying connected to your joy is what truly sustains you. Joy isn’t a frivolous indulgence; it’s a powerful, often untapped resource that fuels creativity, resilience, and ultimately, success in business.
This is a topic I dive into deeply in my latest podcast episode with Julie Begbie, where we explore how cultivating joyful success begins with understanding and shaping your identity—your beliefs, habits, and actions. But before you hit play, let’s explore how reconnecting with your joy could be the best business decision you make today.
The Science of Joy and Productivity
Positive psychology teaches us that joy doesn’t just make life sweeter—it primes the brain for optimal performance. When you engage in activities you love, your brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitters that enhance mood and motivation. What’s fascinating is that the neural pathways strengthened during joyful activities don’t stay in their lane. They spill over into other areas of your life, including your business.
So, while you might feel guilty for taking 30 minutes to paint, garden, or read for pleasure, neuroscience tells us that these moments of joy are rewiring your brain to think more creatively, solve problems faster, and approach challenges with greater resilience.
Here’s another perspective: 30 minutes a day of intentional "wasted" time—something that’s purely for you and not tied to productivity—adds up to roughly 15 hours a month. That’s over a full waking day of fueling your happiness, enhancing your neural connections, and recharging your energy. In the long run, those joyful minutes become the intangible foundation for the breakthroughs and wins in your business.
Why Joy Feels Like Slacking (and Why It’s Not)
As entrepreneurs, we often equate busyness with progress. The thought of stepping away from emails or projects for something that doesn’t directly impact the bottom line can feel indulgent or even irresponsible. But here’s the truth: your brain needs rest and pleasure to function at its best.
Think of it this way: the things you do just for the sake of joy—those hobbies, walks, creative endeavors—allow your brain to shift into a different mode. This “default mode network” is where big-picture thinking and innovative ideas thrive. Ever notice how your best ideas come when you’re doing something completely unrelated to work? That’s the power of giving your mind space to wander.
Building Joy Into Your Business Life
So, how do you bring joy into your day without feeling like you’re shirking responsibilities? Start with these simple practices:
Schedule Joy: Treat joyful activities like appointments. Block off 30 minutes to do something you love, guilt-free. It’s not an interruption—it’s an investment.
Choose What Feels Good: Joy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether it’s singing, cooking, yoga, or doodling, choose activities that genuinely make you happy.
Connect Joy to Your Work: Notice how the energy from joyful activities seeps into your work. That clarity after a hike or spark of creativity after journaling? That’s joy at work.
Reframe Rest as Productivity: Instead of seeing downtime as slacking, recognize it as the powerhouse of your long-term productivity.
Shaping Your Identity Through Joy
As Julie and I discuss in our podcast, creating joyful success starts with your identity. Who you believe you are shapes how you show up in your business. When you prioritize joy, you’re saying, “I’m someone who values balance, creativity, and fulfillment.” That belief shapes habits, and those habits shape actions. Over time, those actions create your reality.
Joy, then, isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s foundational to building a business—and a life—that reflects the truest, most vibrant version of you.
Join the Conversation
Want more empowering stories, expert insights, and practical strategies for building a business you love? Subscribe to my email list to get them delivered straight to your inbox.
And don’t miss my podcast episode with Julie Begbie, where we dive into joyful success, starting with your identity. Together, we unpack how your beliefs, habits, and actions shape your journey—and how to bring more joy into every step of it.
Because your joy matters, not just for your happiness, but for the incredible impact it has on everything you do.
