Side Hustle Burnout Is Real, Here’s How I'm Bouncing Back

Chile, I’ve been riding the burnout express, and it’s made a few too many stops lately.

Between major work projects at my 9 to 5, managing rising costs in my boutique, mourning a family loss, and keeping up with daily life, I hit a wall. And not a cute Pinterest-style vision board wall. I mean a full-force, “why am I crying in the Starbucks drive-thru?” kind of wall.

When the Hustle Stops Feeling Empowering

I’ve always prided myself on juggling multiple passions: running House of Charlotte, growing SouthernDivaKP, launching digital products, and staying fly while doing it. But lately, everything started feeling heavy.

Tariffs looming, shipping delays dragging out, and product costs climbing. At work, I’ve been working on large-scale projects that require big-picture strategy and a lot of attention to detail all at once. Then, losing a loved one shook me to my core, reminding me just how fragile life really is.

And somewhere in the chaos of orders, deadlines, and grief, I realized something powerful: I was no longer creating, I was just coping.

What I’m Doing to Bounce Back

Burnout doesn’t disappear with a bubble bath. I had to get real intentional:

1. I gave myself permission to rest.
I took a pause, no content, no launches, no expectations. Just quiet time to feel, grieve, rest, and recharge. And that was hard for me as someone who’s used to powering through. But rest is productive. Let me say it louder: Rest is productive.

2. I’m simplifying everything.
I’m reviewing my systems, removing fluff, and getting back to what feels aligned. Instead of doing all the things, I’m focusing on the right things. Weekly content is starting to become manageable again, and I’m finding ways to make my workload flow with my life, not fight against it.

3. I’m starting to look forward again.
One thing that’s helping to pull me out of the fog? My upcoming Greek Island cruise with Virgin Voyages. Just saying it feels like a deep exhale. Seven days of sunshine, crystal-clear water, and zero meetings? Yes, ma’am! It’s giving restorative luxury, and I plan to soak up every moment.

Final Thoughts: Grace Over Grind

If you’re feeling stretched thin, I want you to know this: You’re not lazy. You’re tired. And you deserve grace. Life will “life”, but you don’t have to lose yourself in the chaos. Give yourself room to fall apart and rebuild, stronger, softer, and more centered.

Burnout may have knocked me down, but I refuse to let it take me out. I’m still here, still dreaming, and slowly finding my way back to joy in the hustle.

Here’s to softness, boundaries, and choosing ease, one decision at a time.