The Power of Strategic Disconnects

Welcome to the Calm Hustle! For the digital entrepreneurs, creators, and freelancers out there grinding a little too hard — this newsletter is for you. Because let’s be honest: what’s the point of running a business if you’re too depleted to enjoy it?

Each week, I’ll drop bite-sized tools, insights, and prompts to help you grow your business and protect your well-being — without the toxic stress.

This newsletter is your weekly permission slip to do things differently — to slow down without falling behind.

What you can expect:

Success does not have to come at the cost of your happiness and wellbeing.

Glad you’re here. Let’s calm the hustle, together.

For better or worse, we now live in a world that’s always on.

For digital entrepreneurs, that means you're either plugged in... or on standby—never truly off. No wonder you're bleary-eyed at the end of each day.

Here’s a simple framework that could save your energy, your business, and perhaps your sanity:

This is what I call a strategic disconnect—purposeful pauses that let you reset, refocus, and prevent burnout instead of managing it with green juice and memes.

Because when you do not disconnect, burnout isn’t just likely—it’s inevitable.

You don’t just feel tired. You start to feel resentful. Disconnected. Disengaged.

And that shining business you once loved? You begin to loathe it.

So let’s fix that—before your nervous system lawyers up and files for divorce.

🕒 Momentary (15 seconds–5 minutes)

An intentional breath. A guitar strum. A phone-less jaunt around the block.

Recently, after feeling flooded due to task management, I walked outside for 5 minutes with no phone, no agenda. Came back calmer and clear-headed.

The alternative is to stay in what I call the “swirl and spin” where you can’t seem to get good work done, task switching frenetically. Not an ideal state of mind.

🧘‍♂️ Daily (15 min–90 min)

Move, meditate, chat with a friend. Anything to quickly unplug and recharge your batteries.

For me, it’s an afternoon workout after a full day of screen-staring.

🌳 Weekly (2–4 hours)

No Slack. No computer. Just spaciousness.

My early Thursday mornings = leisurely bike ride to a coffeeshop. Yes, it sounds indulgent. In reality, it fuels me through the end of the week and weekend.

🧭 Quarterly (1–3 days)

Travel, retreat, reflect. These breaks help realign your direction and focus four times per year so you don’t veer off course too much.

At the start of each quarter, when possible, I carve out 1-2 days to realign my focus and set goals for my next 12-week Year.

🌅 Yearly (4–7 days)

Your big-picture reset. Escape. Disconnect. Reconnect with your values and your “why”.

I like to take a camping trip each Summer or travel down to Mexico at the beginning of the year for an annual recalibration.

For me, that’s a trip—Mexico in the winter or camping in the summer. No emails. No “shoulds”. Just reconnecting.

Strategic rest isn’t slacking. It’s how you sustain success and full-engagement over the long-term.

Entrepreneurship should equal freedom—so why do we treat rest like a guilty pleasure or privilege?

Yes, sometimes you sprint. But if you never stop to breathe, the crash is coming…bigly.

You know those days when everything seems to be going wrong.

“Ugh, this design sucks. My electricity bill is HOW MUCH? God slept like garbage. My back hurts. I have 47 tabs open.”

Enter the prompt:

“What’s the good news?”

It’s my mental pattern interrupt. Of course my inner gremlin immediately replies with, “There’s no good news, you fool! We’re drowning!”

But after a breath (or three), I usually find it:

Well the good news is..

It’s a lifeline when I’m spiraling—and a reminder that things are rarely as bad as they seem in the moment.

There’s always something worth celebrating. Even if it’s just that you didn’t spill your coffee this morning.

As an entrepreneur, you’re always chasing the next milestone. That relentless pursuit pulls you out of the present. It’s like you’re on a long hike without taking a moment to stop and fully take in the beauty you are witnessing.

Personally, I’d give anything to relive a quick catch-up phone call with my late mom.

If you’re like me and tend to live in the future, take a moment this week to really be here—whether it’s with your partner, your dog, or simply washing your hands. Savor the moment.

Big accomplishments are what drive us. But the ordinary stuff? That’s what makes up 95% of our lives.

✅ Book: Rewilding: Meditations, Practices and Skills for Awakening in Nature – A must-read if you spend a lot of time indoors and in front of the computer. Here’s a great podcast with the author as well.

✅ Tool: Cube Pomodoro Timer – This nifty little gadget helps my ADHD brain stay focused and productive during work.

✅ Podcast: The Life Coach School Podcast, Episode #4 - How to Fail – An interesting perspective on the importance of failing and learning how to fail.

✅ Sleep Aid: Herbal Sleep Extract – As someone who has trouble staying asleep through the night, I have found this herbal extract to be very effective and affordable.

Vote by clicking your response, or reply to let us know your thoughts!

Thank you for trading a slice of your life for these thoughts. My hope is that something here nudged you back to the present—or at least made the hustle feel a little less relentless.

Remember: Pause. Breathe. Enjoy the process just as much as the achievements.

Questions, epiphanies, cosmic musings? Hit reply—I’m all ears.

Until next week, keep your ambition flexed and your nervous system relaxed.

— Captain Koala 🐨