Jess Massey is the host of The Hustle Sanely Podcast, a planner creator, and the founder of the community-centered productivity brand Hustle Sanely®. In this episode, we talk about strategies for how busy women can release overwhelm and prioritize their mental health while pursuing their goals! Plus, Jess is a wife and new mom. Tune in to hear how to she balances relationships while also running her business. It’s important for busy women to prioritize tasks and create a schedule that honors their energy! This episode dives into all of that and more! 

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About the Guest:

Jess Massey is the host of The Hustle Sanely Podcast, a planner creator, and founder of the community-centered productivity brand Hustle Sanely®. She uses The 5 Keys to Hustling Sanely™ to teach busy women how to release overwhelm and prioritize their mental health and relationships as they pursue their goals. Jess covers it all – from adopting a positive mindset to getting clear on your vision. Plus, how to prioritize your tasks and create a schedule that honors your energy. She is passionate about helping you create your most peacefully productive life.

Interview: 

Jess, what inspired you to start Hustle Sanely?

I started Hustle Sanely after realizing that my constant pursuit of big goals wasn’t bringing me fulfillment. As an Enneagram three, I tied my worth to productivity, but I hit a breaking point. I wanted a different approach to productivity that resonated with me. So, I created my own planner and opened an Etsy shop.

In 2019, I made significant changes to my business after my husband expressed feeling neglected. I left graduate school and focused on Hustle Sanely full-time. Inspired by the book “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry,” I developed the five keys to Hustling Sanely, emphasizing balance between productivity and self-care.

Hustle Sanely has since grown beyond my expectations, meeting the need for a lifestyle that prioritizes mental health and important relationships while pursuing goals. It’s about finding peace and productivity in a sustainable way, rather than putting life on pause.

What are the five keys to Hustle Sanely?

The five keys to Hustle Sanely are a framework I created to cater to individuals regardless of their roles or responsibilities. It’s designed to help them create a peacefully productive life. Let me break it down for you.

#1: Getting your mindset right

#2: Getting clear on your vision

#3: Define your priorities

#4 Creating your routines and schedule

#5 Implementing “Hustle Sanely Five” every day

“Hustle Sanely Five” represents five intentional habits that the Hustle Sanely community practices daily. It’s about ensuring progress towards goals while prioritizing mental health and nurturing important relationships. These habits serve as actionable steps to be taken each day.

The five habits of Hustle Sanely to practice ever day

The five daily habits of Hustle Sanely are:

1. Complete your Focus Three: These are your three most important tasks that will vary each day and each season, depending on your goals.
2. Move your body for 30 minutes: Engage in physical activity to prioritize your well-being.
3. Tidy for 15 minutes: Dedicate a short time to declutter and organize your surroundings.
4. Say or do one kind thing for yourself: Show self-compassion and nurture your own needs.
5. Say or do one kind thing for someone else: Extend kindness and make a positive impact on others.

I want to emphasize that HS Five is not just a to-do list. HS Five is a practice that encourages presence, intentionality, and the integration of healthy habits into your daily life. It’s not about starting from scratch or overwhelming yourself, it’s about being real about where you are, clarifying where you want to go, and making small changes each day to bridge that gap.

It’s encouraging to know that HS Five can be adapted to different life situations. Speaking of which, as a new mom, how did you make Hustle Sanely work for you?

When I became a new mom to my four-month-old baby, it was a transformative experience. The first six weeks were intense, and I felt overwhelmed and disoriented. That’s when HS Five became a lifeline for me. It provided a solid foundation to take care of myself amid the chaos.

Although the way I lived out HS Five as a new mom differed from before pregnancy, the habits remained the same. The key was adapting them to fit my new role. It made a significant difference in my well-being. It’s important to note that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to HS Five. 

Everyone can customize it according to their unique circumstances.HS Five serves as a guide to prioritize self-care and maintain stability even during significant life changes.

Can you explain how to choose the top three priorities for the day and the importance of being flexible with your habits in the context of Hustle Sanely?

When it comes to selecting the top three priorities for the day, I understand that it can be overwhelming for some people. But it’s important to note that it doesn’t mean you can only focus on three things throughout the entire day. The idea is to identify the three tasks that deserve your best time and energy. The HS Five guide helps bring intentionality to these priorities and prevents us from simply going through the motions.

Flexibility is key. We all have different seasons of life and varying circumstances. It’s crucial to adapt the habits of Hustle Sanely to what works best for you. For instance, the movement habit doesn’t have to be a rigid 30-minute workout at a specific time. It could be finding ways to move throughout the day, like taking short walks or bundling movement with other tasks. The goal is to make it accessible and tailored to your situation.

People often have preconceived notions about the habits. For example, with the tidying up habit, some may think it requires deep cleaning for a full 15 minutes. But it’s not about that. It’s about dedicating a focused 15 minutes to tidy up an area that will make a significant impact. Similarly, doing something kind for someone doesn’t mean going above and beyond your own boundaries or performing grand gestures every day. It’s about finding small acts of kindness within your capacity.

In the Hustle Sanely program and community, we emphasize understanding the individual interpretations of the five keys. Each person’s journey is unique, and we encourage them to define what each habit means to them in their current season of life. This approach allows for personalization and growth. It’s about finding balance and making small changes every day to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

What are some common roadblocks that busy women face when it comes to prioritizing their mental health and relationships

Busy women often face roadblocks when it comes to prioritizing their mental health and relationships. One common obstacle is guilt, as they feel guilty for prioritizing themselves over their numerous responsibilities. However, neglecting self-care leads to burnout and strained relationships. It’s essential to understand that self-care is necessary and not selfish. When we take care of ourselves, we show up better in all areas of life. The concept of Hustle Sanely encourages simple and sustainable self-care practices tailored to each individual’s season of life. By overcoming guilt and making self-care a priority, busy women can achieve a healthier balance between their well-being and obligations.

How routines and self care can help:

In terms of struggling with anxiety, routines and self-care play a crucial role. Being flexible with routines and periodically reviewing them is beneficial. Sometimes, we only fill ourselves up partially, leaving little room for enjoyment or giving attention to relationships. By giving ourselves the space and margin to fill up completely, life becomes lighter. Having systems and frameworks in place holds us accountable to self-care without excessive effort.

Using frameworks like HS five and the five keys simplifies the process, allowing us to focus on implementation rather than figuring out what to do each day. Trigger lists or banks of ideas can help when capacity is limited due to anxiety or depression. Providing suggestions and space to personalize them can alleviate the daunting feeling of showing up for self-care. Recognizing that life is full and responsibilities must be attended to, it’s important to be aware of the need for self-care even in busy seasons.

What if you need more support?

Hustle Sanely has a community of women just like you who work together to make sure we keep each other accountable. If you need more support I highly recommend therapy. Know that you are not alone and finding a therapist you can relate to and who can help you is a major game changer. 

Guest Contact:

To connect with Jess, follow her on Instagram at @jessmmassey. Or check out her website at hustlesanely.com

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