How I’m Learning How to Stop Hustling in Business: Reflections From My 3-Year Journey as a Mompreneur
December always makes me a little sentimental. Maybe it is the slower mornings, the Christmas lights, or the way everything seems to exhale a little after Thanksgiving. But I always find myself reflecting this time of year, especially on what has shifted and what still needs to.
This December marks three years since I started Social EllaMents Marketing. Three years since I stepped out of the corporate world. Three years since I chose something new and scary. And three years since I decided I wanted a business and a family life that supported each other.
And here is the honest truth. I am not writing this from a place of having it all figured out. Instead, I am writing this as someone who is still learning how to stop hustling in business, one choice at a time. I am not on the other side of this lesson. I am right in the middle of it.
These days, I am shifting my own business model. I am moving from doing everything for clients to wanting to teach business owners how to simplify their marketing. I am building toward an online marketing course and a podcast in 2026. And because of all this change, I am craving a business that feels lighter and more aligned.
So this is not a story of perfection. It is a story of progress. And maybe that is exactly what makes it worth sharing.
The Early Days When Hustle Felt Normal
In the beginning, hustle felt normal. Expected. Almost like the only way.
I said yes to everything. I answered messages all day. I worked during my kids’ school hours, after school, and well into the late evenings. As a result, I built everything on my own because that is what I believed I had to do.
And I know so many moms reading this have done the same. We think working harder is the path. We think showing up everywhere is required. We think exhaustion is part of the deal. However, if I am honest, all that hustling was taking me further away from the life I wanted, not closer to it.
The Moment I Realized Something Needed to Change
There was not one big dramatic moment. It was the small ones that added up over time.
For example, checking client emails during my son’s baseball game and realizing I was not actually present. Or feeling guilty for resting, even when I was overwhelmed. Or noticing that the more I pushed, the less clear and creative I felt.
Eventually, one day I asked myself a question that shifted everything.
“Is this really the business I wanted, or did I accidentally build someone else’s version of success?”
That question created space. It made me look at what I was doing and why. It helped me see how easy it is to fall into hustle culture without even noticing it.
Choosing Intention Instead of Exhaustion
The more I talked with other moms in business, the more I noticed something. We were all tired. Tired of pushing. Tired of pretending everything was perfect. Tired of juggling motherhood, business, and endless tasks.
Over time, I realized something important. We are not lazy. We are not unmotivated. We are not behind. We are building a different kind of life.
A life where presence matters. A life where our kids get more than leftovers. A life where success does not require self-sacrifice. Because of this, I made a decision to start shifting my business from hustle to intention. Not overnight. Not perfectly. But slowly and steadily. The more I leaned into intention, the easier everything became.
What I’m Learning About How to Stop Hustling in Business
Here is what has made the biggest difference for me these past three years. Not because I mastered these things, but because I practiced them.
1. Doing less, but doing it better
Simplifying my offers, content, and systems created more space for creativity and clarity.
2. Understanding my audience on a human level
Not just demographics, but their emotions, struggles, and daily challenges. This is what helps me support them without burning myself out.
3. Prioritizing what matters long-term
For me, that looks like improving my email list, building simple strategies, and focusing on what actually supports growth, not noise.
4. Building trust instead of chasing trends
Showing up honestly brings the right people into my world. It is a magnet without me forcing anything.
5. Allowing myself to be a mom first
And noticing my business did not fall apart when I chose my family, rest, or my own mental health. In fact, it got stronger.
These are the things I am taking with me into 2026. More clarity, more peace, more connection, and less pressure.
Where I’m Heading Next
I am simplifying my business model. I am preparing to teach instead of doing everything myself. I am moving toward a business that feels sustainable. I am building a podcast and an online course in 2026. And I am learning how to build a business that fits my life.
And yes, I am still figuring it out. If you are too, that is more than okay. We get to learn as we go.
If You Want a Softer, Calmer Way to Grow Your Business, You Are In the Right Place
If you are ending the year feeling behind, you are not. If you are craving simplicity, you are not alone. If you are overwhelmed by the juggle of business and motherhood, I see you.
You can grow without hustling. You can succeed without burnout. And you can build a business that supports your life.
If you want more simple and supportive marketing content for the real-life, busy mom version of business, join my email list. I send two to four calm and practical emails a month that help you find clarity without chaos.
No overwhelm. No pressure. Just real support from someone who is learning and growing right alongside you.
About the Author
Written by Alishia Egenhoff, Founder of Social EllaMents Marketing — helping small business owners grow through clarity, strategy, and authentic digital advertising.