🌴Out of office (sort of)

To disconnect or not to disconnect… that is the question.

Hey. 👋 Alexis here from Hustle Global. I share inspiring stories about entrepreneurs, DIY marketing tips, notes on my personal experience as a solopreneur, and more. If you’re new here, join the list to hear from me 1x per week (no more, no spam).

I’m writing this from the balcony of an Airbnb apartment in Lagos, Portugal. I planned on unplugging for a full week, from all things work, including this online magazine/newsletter/side hustle of mine. But I find myself checking my work email, replying to messages from clients, and feeling tempted to “work” on something, mainly Hustle Global.

Until today (it’s Wednesday and I arrived Friday night), I’ve succeeded at avoiding the temptation to write/create something, but Kaan (my boyfriend) just left for a jog. So now it’s me, my iPad, and a beautiful view. I’m feeling the urge to jot down my thoughts and schedule the next newsletter, but I’m also feeling guilty about it (even though I genuinely want to do this). What’s up with that?

Sometimes I feel like an overachiever or workaholic, but on the other hand, I enjoy what I do and I feel particularly excited to work on building something of my own. I still don’t know 100% how Hustle Global will evolve, but I have so many ideas swirling around in my head that it’s hard not to think about it. From helping fellow entrepreneurs like you gain exposure through my founder interview series to DIY content marketing tips for solopreneurs (from me and contributors) to personal notes about growing a one-person business — it feels like there’s so much to share!

But I don’t think hustling means burning the candle at both ends until you have nothing left. I think it means putting energy into something that lights you up and makes you feel excited. And the thing that excites you can change and evolve over time. It’s not about getting rich quick, it’s about working at a slow, steady, and sustainable pace. It’s about working on something every f***ing day.

Spending a few days away from the daily grind of running my freelance business while trying to do everything possible to grow this Substack at the same time has given me a chance to reflect on how I view work and the fact that I often rank it as something more important than the other parts of my life like my love for padel, my weekly oil painting class, hanging out with friends and family, and making time for exercise.

I didn’t succeed at fully disconnecting, but I’m glad I was able to reflect and remember that I need to make more time for activities outside of work even when I’m not on vacation. What does that mean in daily practice? For me, it’s 4-5 hours a day at my desk, instead of 8+. After around 4 hours of deep focus, I’m pretty much useless anyway, so hopefully I’ll be even more productive. I’ll let you know how it goes!

💡How do you disconnect/recharge/get inspired regularly?