There’s a quiet movement happening among some of the world’s leading CEOs who’ve discovered that downtime is the key to productivity, and ultimately, greater success. From authors like Dan Sullivan (10x is easier than 2x) to renowned public figures like Mel Robbins to researchers like Dr. Judy Willis, many leading voices are shouting from the rooftops about the link between the state of our nervous systems and the state of our businesses.

Yet, when I can with my TCM, Naturopath, or other healers in this community, they say most of their clients are seeking support healing anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, disempowerment, and nervous system dysregulation- caused by toxic work cultures. Anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure… the toxic hustle culture is taking a toll on many.

This actually seems very obvious. Most of us can connect the dots between our stress, health and life issues quite quickly. But what about the flip side. Do rested and regulated people actually become more successful?

What does the research show?

There is a growing body of research that shows when we’re stressed out, we lose access to the prefrontal cortex (aka executive functioning and decision making part of our brains) which cuts us off from our ability to lead and make good decisions. In other words, operating from stress and overwhelm makes you less likely to make clear and empowered decisions or to lead well.

Additionally, there’s compelling evidence showing that when we learn to regulate our human operating system – through practices such as guided breathwork, meditation, and visualization- we gain access to greater clarity and creativity- not to mention all the physiological & health benefits. In this interview, Dr. Joe Dispenza cites research showing that meditation (including breathwork) changes our state of being, improving our blood chemistry, and boosting our immune system, brain function and capacity. There are countless studies on the connection between breathwork and improved health.

So, can we extrapolate that taking care of our own nervous system may just be the best thing we can do for our business and work success? I think so.

For those of us who grew up in the hustle culture aka toxic work culture (raising my hand), this is a big shift that many tend to only arrive at after hitting burnout or bed rest. However, the tide is turning, and even corporate spaces now offer weekly wellness classes, and seasonal workshops inviting teams to gather together in practices such as breathwork, yoga, group acupuncture, equine therapy, and even psychedelic sessions. Many leaders like Mel Robbins, Ben Hardy and countless others schedule rest and creative downtime into their daily, monthly, and annual calendars not because it’s a nice-to-have but because it’s essential for their business creativity. There are endless examples of why this works in books like The 4 Day Work Week and Slow Productivity. This is less about multitasking and more about cultivating our most rested, creative and clear state, from which the truly successful businesses grow and thrive.

If you’re reading this and curious how to heal from the hustle, and prioritize your nervous system so that your business can thrive, here are some resources:

  • Start your morning with meditation or in nature. Before you check emails or screens, begin each day giving your mind deep rest. Either go for a brisk walk outside, or try a guided presencing meditation, like this one. One of my fav courses is the Progressive Online Meditation course (with guided practices) by Dr. Joe Dispenza.
  • Create opportunities for your team to land in meaningful experiences together. As a Breathwork Facilitator, I’ve created customized Corporate Breathwork Meditation experiences, tailored to different teams including Emily Carr and companies like Conversion. There are many ways to create unique and meaningful team building experiences to support your team’s wellbeing- including weekly lunchtime meditations, brining in a wellness support like massage or acupuncture, group equine therapy, or group breathwork visioning. You’d be surprised how many leadership teams are doing psychedelics these days, too.
  • Re-set during your day. Maybe this means setting a timer at 1pm every day to take 30 minutes of screen free time, to breathe and connect with your body. To relax and re-set your nervous system. The key is to find practices that let your mind rest so you can come back stronger and more clear.
  • Practice perspective. Sometimes, in our workdays, we get so attached to deadlines and timelines and deliverables that we don’t realize there’s actually space within those to make shifts that will be better for our lives and teams. Giving yourself permission to create a timeline that supports the greater good is key. Sometimes it’s not taking the task quite so seriously so that we can bring a lighter touch to what we’re creating. To remember what brought you into this line of work in the first place, and to access that energy of ease and inspiration.
  • And for all of us, we need to be in aligned communities. To grow, we need to be around people who inspire and challenge us and are also committed to a more aligned path. I believe there are three keys to growing a successful business: Energetic alignment, a community of support, and backing yourself with the right strategy & structures. This is exactly why I created The Business Activation, a six-month accelerator that includes deep support, strategic guidance, and a mastermind community.

How to heal from Toxic Work Culture