July was the month I decided to take a step back from work—specifically coaching. For 15 months, I had been deeply immersed in mindset coaching, guiding others to embrace their power and stop hiding in the shadows. Leading up to this path, I had mastered the “no pain, no gain” mentality. As a coach, this relentless drive served me well. But as a human? It was anything but sustainable.

During this time, I had the privilege of working with incredible clients who completely transformed their lives. Alexa launched her own coaching business after we worked through her fears and limiting beliefs. Sheldon embraced a more spiritual path, letting go of control to pursue his business passion after years of a rigid work schedule. Chris learned tools to manage debilitating anxiety that kept him isolated, while Lora reframed her negative thought patterns and started feeling confident in her body. Ava made the bold decision to leave her career in Boston and move across the country to San Francisco for a fresh start.

Looking back, I’m filled with so much gratitude and pride for the breakthroughs my clients achieved. Each of them taught me invaluable lessons and helped me grow as a coach. But as fulfilling as this work was, by July, I could no longer ignore the burnout that had been creeping in.

Alongside the exhaustion, I carried a constant, silent anxiety about my health. How could I keep helping others when I couldn’t even help myself? My friendships felt neglected. My relationship lacked space for love and connection. My hormone health showed no signs of improvement. I was halfway through the year and on a steady decline.

**“Change” — if this wasn’t a sign, i don't know what is.**

I always preach “human first,” yet I’d been prioritizing the external world and my goals over my own mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Admitting this to myself was a hit to my ego, but I knew I needed to make a change. By the end of July, I wrapped up my client commitments and took a necessary pause.

Stepping back from your vision as a business owner is one of the hardest things to do. There’s a lot of toxicity in the young entrepreneur and wellness spaces, with messages like “You only fail if you quit” or “Never stop and you’ll never fail” dominating the narrative. While these might sound inspiring, they’re harmful when they glorify working 100% of the time and chasing money at the expense of your health. What I’ve learned is that your health is your wealth. What’s the point of achieving financial success if it costs you your well-being? Silly me, getting caught up in the influence of social media… Hi, I’m human.

Taking space from coaching brought me so much clarity. Here’s my unsolicited advice: If something isn’t working, change it. If you’re forcing it, stop. There is always an easier way.

August was glorious. For the first time in over a year, I didn’t have to serve anyone but myself. Selfishness, I’ve learned, is okay sometimes. If you’re a people pleaser, this message is for you. During that month, I hired a coach, restarted therapy, and booked a weekend yoga retreat to gain clarity on my next steps (shoutout to Camp Yoga!). I spent time in nature, ran outdoor yoga classes, attended concerts, and just let go of control. Unsurprisingly, this led to incredible outcomes (you’ll notice this theme).

**humankind x Saje Natural Wellness**

One of those outcomes was humankind. Born from a desire to separate myself from my personal brand, humankind was my way of finding balance between work and life. I knew it wasn’t sustainable to share every moment of my life with the world forever. At the same time, I wanted to continue creating spaces for humanity to connect, be mindful, and vibe out in the healthiest of ways.

At Camp Yoga, I met Claire from Sunday Flow. The universe clearly had plans because we instantly clicked and decided to create a Mindful Festival together (coming to life in Q4!). During this retreat, I also rediscovered my love for fitness and nutrition coaching. For years, I’d put this passion on the back burner, feeling unconfident in my own relationship with food and my body. But hiring a coach and looking inward reminded me of the depth of my knowledge and the power I had to help others. I decided then and there to share what I knew, even if it wasn’t perfect or polished.

The end of August and all of September were what I call “grind time”—but this time, it came from a deeply aligned place. Over five weeks, I built a new coaching program while prioritizing my fitness and nutrition and maintaining a healthy social life. I committed to never reaching burnout again.

Q3 2024

Q4 2024

Q2 2024