Hustling with Hurt: What It Means to Be a “Productive” Business Owner with Fibromyalgia

Kicking butt and shattering stereotypes—one painful day at a time.

Hey Besties!

Let me tell you, I know all about suffering (and hustling) in silence. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia this month—but the pain started years ago. Since 2018, I’ve been living with this constant, shapeshifting ache and electricity that no one could explain. I’d wake up exhausted, sore, and foggy, even after resting. Every doctor visit ended with shrugs or vague suggestions. Eventually, I started questioning myself. Maybe I’m just weak. Maybe I’m just not built for this. I wondered if I just couldn’t hack it—mentally or physically. Was I lazy? Overdramatic? Broken somehow? It’s wild how quickly doubt can move in when you don’t have answers. But now I have a name for it. And with that name comes clarity, grief, and—strangely—relief.

As a business owner, people often see the work: the launches, the schedules, the strategy, the confidence. What they don’t see is that behind the scenes, im actually living with a chronic illness that causes widespread nerve pain, fatigue, and an invisible weight on every part of my being. And like many others with invisible illnesses, I’ve mastered the art of showing up while suffering quietly.

It’s a unique kind of resilience. And it's real.

Success With Struggle

Even the queen herself, Lady Gaga, has been vocal about her shared struggles with fibromyalgia. She got up-close and personal in her Netflix documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two, allowing cameras to capture moments of her physical pain to shed light on the syndrome. In a 2018 Vogue interview, she said:

“I get so irritated with people who don’t believe fibromyalgia is real. For me, and I think for many others, it’s really a cyclone of anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, and panic disorder, all of which sends the nervous system into overdrive, and then you have nerve pain as a result. People need to be more compassionate. Chronic pain is no joke. And it’s every day waking up not knowing how you’re going to feel.”

It’s the same for me. Sometimes I wake up ready to conquer the to-do list. Other days, I wake up feeling like my body’s been unplugged from its own power source. There’s no warning. No predictability. But as entrepreneurs, we’re told that hustle culture is the only way to make it—wake up at 5am, do the thing, crush the day, repeat.

But what if your hustle looks like getting dressed?
Or replying to just one email from under a weighted blanket?
Or writing a business plan with tears in your eyes and pain in your bones?

That’s still hustle.
That’s still courage.
That’s still you, doing the damn thing despite it all.

What Does “Being Productive” Even Mean?

In the productivity world, there’s this unspoken rule: if you’re not hustling, you’re not trying hard enough. But what happens when your body literally won't let you hustle the way they want you to? When every step forward costs you spoons you don’t have?

For me, productivity has had to take on new meaning. Sometimes, it looks like getting through emails and folding laundry. Sometimes, it’s just getting dressed. Other times, it’s planning out a week of client work from my bed with a heating pad on my spine. And that counts. Every small win counts.

The world likes to sell us a one-size-fits-all version of success. But if you’re living with chronic illness—mental or physical—your version of success might look wildly different. That doesn’t make it less valid. In fact, I’d argue it makes it more powerful.

Hustling Doesn’t Mean Ignoring Your Body

We’re taught that success requires pushing past pain. But real growth, sustainable success—it comes from learning how to listen to your body. From building a business that works with your limits instead of punishing you for them. From finding your own rhythm, even if it doesn’t look like anyone else’s.

Productivity, for people like us, doesn’t come from constant motion. It comes from intention. From knowing which days we can give 100%—and which days we can only give 10%, and that 10% is still worthy of celebration.

You’re Not Alone in This

I’m writing this because someone out there needs to hear it. Maybe you’re a business owner. A student. A parent. A dreamer. Maybe you’re all of those at once. And maybe your body doesn’t always cooperate with your ambition.

But you are not alone.
You are not lazy.
You are not broken.

You are living in a world that moves too fast for the kind of healing you deserve—but you’re still showing up. And that makes you a hustler in the truest sense. Not because you’re always grinding, but because you keep going when it would be so easy to give up.

You redefine what it means to rise.

And that’s a kind of success no one can measure—but you can feel it, in your bones, every time you get up and try again.

💌 Let’s Keep This Conversation Going

If you’ve ever felt like your body was holding you back from your dreams—I see you. I’m with you. And I’d love to hear your story.

Share below if this post spoke to you. Let’s build a community where we normalize rest, honor our limits, and rewrite what it means to be successful—together.

If you or someone you love is living with chronic pain or mental illness, please know there are people and organizations that care. Here are resources with support for both physical and mental health challenges. I am here for you as well, and will offer assistance in any way I can. You deserve support. You deserve softness. You deserve peace—even on the days you don’t feel strong.

You’re still grinding. And that matters more than anything.

-LuLu 🩷

How Caffeine Is Secretly Sabotaging Your Productivity

Hey Bestie!

Be honest—do you ever find yourself reaching for a coffee (or an energy drink) way past noon, knowing full well it's going to mess with your sleep? Because... same.

I used to think I could power through, but lately, I've been rethinking my habits—especially when it comes to sleep. If I want to show up fully focused and productive, I need rest that actually restores me. So, I'm working on cutting down my caffeine intake (yes, even my beloved afternoon pick-me-up) and getting serious about better sleep.

Because let's be real—poor sleep = poor productivity. And if you've been feeling foggy, unfocused, or like your to-do list is never-ending, it might not be a time problem—it might be a sleep problem.

I recently came across an article that really caught my eye: Caffeine Can Disrupt Sleep Even 12 Hours After You've Consumed It. It breaks down just how much caffeine lingers in your system and messes with your rest. What the Research Says

What the Research Says

A study from the SPRINT Research Centre at Australian Catholic University put this to the test. Over a 21-day period, participants were given either 100 mg or 400 mg of caffeine—or a placebo—at different times: 12, 8, or 4 hours before their usual bedtime.

Researchers tracked their sleep using wearable monitors and diaries, and measured caffeine levels through saliva samples. The goal? See how timing and dosage affect sleep quality.

The Results Were Eye-Opening

When participants consumed 400 mg of caffeine (about two strong coffees) just four hours before bed, here’s what happened:

• It took them longer to fall asleep—on average, 14 minutes more

• They lost nearly 50 minutes of total sleep

• They experienced a significant drop in deep sleep (aka the restorative kind your brain and body really need)

So even if you fall asleep eventually, caffeine could still be quietly sabotaging the quality of your rest.

What This Means for You

If you find yourself feeling groggy during the day, unfocused, or like your productivity is dragging, your afternoon caffeine habit might be playing a role. It’s not always about how much sleep you think you’re getting—but how good that sleep actually is.

Try This Instead:

• Swap out your afternoon coffee for herbal tea or a walk outside

• Avoid caffeine at least 6–8 hours before bed

• Use a sleep tracker or journal to see if changes make a difference

This one is definitely a work in progress! If you're working on building better habits and need some accountability, let’s do it together. Send me a message—I’d love to hear what changes you're making!

Here’s to better habits (and maybe switching to afternoon tea).

-Lulu 🩷

Burnout? Never Heard of Her—How Gen Z Is Redefining Success

Being a Gen Z business owner just hits different.

Hey Bestie!

Let me tell you, I do not work the way older generations do—and honestly, I don’t want to. I build my days around what actually works for me. That means prioritizing my mental health, setting my own pace, and making productivity sustainable.

I used to think success meant running myself into the ground, always being “on,” and filling every second with work. But that’s not what builds a long-term business. Now, I work smarter—using automation, boundaries, and actual rest to make sure I don’t burn out before I even reach my biggest goals.

I came across this article, and it really put things into perspective: Why You Should Fear the Gen Z Business Owner. I'll let u read it for yourself, however, comparisons like "Just as Batman villain Bane quipped, “Oh, you think darkness is your ally. But you merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it,” it’s not too far off to see a 23-year-old start-up business owner thinking the same about someone twice their age who is launching a business, mimicking their behavior," no lies were told. We’re in high demand because we don’t just work hard—we work differently.

Here's how we're doing it differently (and why it's working):

1. We Use Tech to Work Smarter—Not Harder

Forget drowning in spreadsheets and endless task lists. Gen Z entrepreneurs are leveraging tools like:

• Automation platforms (Zapier, Make, Calendly) to handle repetitive tasks

• Project management apps (Notion, ClickUp, Trello) to stay organized without micromanaging ourselves

• AI assistants to brainstorm, write content, and speed up admin

By letting tech handle the busywork, we free up time for the big stuff—strategy, creativity, and rest.

Tip: If you’re spending more time organizing tasks than doing them, it might be time to streamline your systems.

2. We Build Our Work Around Our Lives—Not the Other Way Around

The 9–5 grind? We’re not doing that anymore. Gen Z business owners are designing flexible workflows that reflect their actual energy, focus, and goals. That might look like:

• Working in short, focused sprints

• Taking intentional mid-week breaks

• Running businesses from our phones between creative bursts

We’ve learned that productivity isn’t about the clock—it’s about momentum. And we build momentum by honoring how we actually function best.

Mindset Shift: Your business should support your life, not swallow it. Period.

3. We Take Mental Health Seriously—Because Burnout Isn’t a Badge

We don’t glamorize all-nighters or being “booked and busy.” We know that rest is productive. That’s why Gen Z founders:

• Normalize therapy, rest days, and creative breaks

• Set boundaries around work hours and client expectations

• Use tools that protect their peace (Focus apps, phone limits, morning routines)

We don’t believe success has to hurt. It should feel aligned, sustainable, and worth waking up for.

Remember: If you’re constantly exhausted, it’s not a productivity issue—it’s a systems and self-worth issue.

People are paying attention to how we do things. They see the balance, the efficiency, the fresh way we approach success. And if you ever feel like you’re doing things your way instead of the “traditional” way? You’re not wrong—you’re ahead of the curve.

Let me know: which of these shifts have you made in your business? Or which one are you ready to try next?

Your Right Hand,

Lulu 🩷

I Scheduled Every Minute of My Day—And It Actually Helped Me Get My Life Back

How one simple productivity tool helped me reclaim my focus, reduce burnout, and get real about my time.

Hey Bestie,

So, I’ve been trying something a little intense lately—scheduling every single minute of my day. Like, down to the minute. Sounds like a lot, right? Honestly, I thought so too at first. But once I started using an app called Structured (not sponsored, just obsessed), I realized this wasn’t about turning into a robot—it was about getting my mental space back.

Why I Tried Time Blocking Down to the Minute

I’m someone who’s always had a love-hate relationship with to-do lists. They’re great until they become this never-ending scroll of chaos. I needed something more visual, something that forced me to choose where my time was going instead of letting it slip away between distractions.

That’s where Structured came in. It’s a sleek little app that lets you break down your day into blocks—like class periods, but for adulting.

Takeaways

Here’s what started changing for me once I began using Structured daily:

Clarity > Chaos

I stopped constantly asking myself “What’s next?” or flipping between five tabs. When your day has a clear flow, your brain can chill out and actually do the work.

No More Time Amnesia

Before, I’d get to the end of the day and wonder, “Where did all my time go?” Now, I can look back and actually see what I accomplished—and where I lost momentum.

I Schedule Breaks (Yes, on Purpose)

The app taught me to respect rest as much as work. I physically drag a little block onto my timeline that says "break" or "walk" or "breathe"—and I stick to it.

Pros + Cons

Lets be real, not everything is peaches, so lets go over some positives and negatives I’ve noticed personally. Having a system like this in place can helped reduce my decision fatigue and shortened my transition time between tasks. I know i’m accomplishing the most important tasks in my day, and it helps me build my awareness around how long it takes me to do a certain task. On the flip side, this type of rigidity can leave you feeling unmotivated or even stuck if you thrive on flexibility. Blocking out time to plan your days ahead of time is key to being successful, and unexpected interruptions may throw off your day.

That said, you don’t have to schedule every single minute to benefit. Even blocking out just your “focus hours” or your non-negotiables can go a long way.

Who This Might Work For:

• Artists building their own lane and juggling both creative flow and logistics

• Passionate business owners with big visions but not enough hours in the day

• Creatives who want more structure without losing their spontaneity or spark

• Go-getters trying to stay consistent without burning out in the process

Final Thoughts

This method has helped me feel more in control of my time. It’s not about being busy—it’s about being intentional. Whether you’re working toward a big goal or simply trying to build better habits, creating structure can help you protect your focus and energy.

If you decide to try it, I’d love to hear how it goes. Has scheduling your day helped you stay more productive and balanced? Let me know your thoughts—I’m always interested in how others are making productivity work for them.

Check out the Structured app here.

Stay focused,
Lulu 🩷