Let’s be clear: Every job is hard. However, as someone who works from home as a writer and professional blogger, I know all too well that being your own boss can make it practically impossible to separate your work life from your downtime; that it can be hard to turn your brain off at the end of the night because you’re buzzing with ideas. Is it worth it? Absolutely—there’s nothing as rewarding as doing what you love and are passionate about. But can it take a toll on your mental health? Yes, it can.
I know I’m not alone in this sentiment. In fact, Kelsey Formost—former actress turned copywriting and marketing expert, podcast host, and mental health advocate—isn’t shy when it comes to discussing the intersection of mental health and entrepreneurship. And I got the chance to ask her my most burning questions about it—which includes everything from work-life balance and hustle culture, to mental health, and advice for those looking to make it on their own.
That said, if you’re looking to branch out on your own—whether it be starting a business, building a side hustle, and so on and so forth—turning to Kelsey’s guidance can help you set yourself up for success. Keep reading to learn Kelsey’s answers to my burning questions in her exact and own words.
MEET THE EXPERT
Kelsey Formost
COPYWRITING & MARKETING EXPERT, PODCAST HOST, AND MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE AT KELSEYFORMOST.COM
1. “Hustle culture” is slowly becoming a thing of the past thanks to more and more people emphasizing the importance of “work-life balance.” How vital is balance in your life, and how do you stay balanced?
Kelsey: “Unpopular opinion: there’s no such thing as “work-life balance.” In fact, I think the term work-life balance can be a slippery slope, shaming us into thinking that if something requires a large dose of our attention then we must be doing life “wrong.” “Balance” implies that all things are getting equal resources at all times which is simply impossible and, frankly, not always the healthiest way to approach life.
Sometimes there’s a particular area that requires our full attention, sometimes we have seasons of being uninspired, and sometimes we’re in a time of intense transition. All of that is completely normal and completely human.
What I strive for instead is “harmony,” thinking of all the areas of my life—work, romantic relationship, mental health, friendships, creative projects, family, etc.— as voices in a choir that make up my life. Sometimes, one voice will be very loud and require my focus. But if I’ve invested in the other areas and taken care of them well, those voices will work in harmony to support the area that needs my attention. Going even further with this metaphor; if there is “discord” in my life, then that means I need to stop the music and see what needs a tune up to get everything back to working in harmony.
We cannot be all things to all people at all times. There has to be room for forgiveness and flexibility, and we must allow ourselves to listen to what we need most in any given moment.”
2. As a mental health advocate, how crucial do you think taking care of your mind is when running a business? Can you pinpoint where mental health and entrepreneurship intersect?
Kelsey: “The more I’ve explored mental health and career “success,” the more I realize how inextricable they are from one another. To put it simply, taking care of our mental health is the only way we can ensure we show up as our full, authentic, most creative selves at work.
If we come to our business with a frenetic, anxious mind, we will create a frenetic, anxious work environment. In this state we miss deadlines, become short-sighted, get trapped in comparison, and eventually burn out. Conversely, if we first do the mental health work necessary to ground ourselves, we can create a work environment that is calm, confident, and open to creative ideas.
In the hundreds of conversations I’ve had with successful entrepreneurs, every single one of them credits their success to the work they did on their mindset and mental health. Sure, you can “hustle” your way to a big pay day, but that won’t be sustainable. If you’re hoping to truly give yourself the freedom to do what lights you up inside (and do it for years in a sustainable way), you cannot skip the mental health work.”
3. What advice do you have for those looking to make it on their own without sacrificing their mental health?
Kelsey: “Stop “should-ing” all over yourself. You don’t have to become a meditating yogi overnight in order to have a successful career. In fact, that’s another recipe for burnout! Instead, pay attention to your intuition; what do you feel would be truly helpful right now? Whether it’s talk therapy, positive affirmations, naps, exercise, journaling, or being in nature— take one small step each day to incorporate more of what feels nourishing. Then, slowly add more.
Mental health isn’t a quick fix—it’s the result of the compound interest of many small investments you make in yourself over time.”
In conclusion…
“Success” will look different for everyone. However, prioritizing and taking care of your mental health is the only way to set yourself up for success in life. In addition, striving for harmony over balance will also help keep things in order. This is essential because at the end of the day, we cannot be everything to everyone—including ourselves—at all times.
Doing little things that better yourself and your mind each day will compound over time and help you embody the highest, best, and most authentic version of yourself. Remember: Mental health isn’t a quick fix, but a series of small steps.
I loved reading the blog for the following reasons:
1. It was easy to read and comprehend
2. I am a firm advocate of Mental health at and after workplace timings. I have faced burnouts at multiple times in life so I know I cannot attribute my success only to monetary or social status.
3. I support a Wisconsin Based Accelerator that focuses on companies that enable mental health wellbeing at workplaces, so i have been reading a lot of stuff around it, of late!
Author
Thank you so much – it’s great to hear that! Mental health is the cornerstone of success in all aspects of life for sure.
Great read. Burnout in the workplace is real and we need to have more transparent conversations about it to effect change.
Author
Thank you! It is so important to be aware of so you can take care of yourself and perform well at work.
This was such a great post! I really loved reading what Kelsey had to say. And I totally agree with her unpopular opinion about a work-life balance. There’s only so much you can do, especially when you work from home as I do! I think setting aside specific time for things is what is really important and how you achieve that work-life balance. Thanks so much for sharing this it was a great read!
Author
Thank you so much! I agree with you—Kelsey’s insight about work-life balance is so helpful, and setting aside time for specific things is key to achieving that overall balance. Thank you for reading, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Great post!
Author
Thank you so much!
Your blog shared a very interesting perspective about the relationship between mental health and work life. Mental health affects every aspect of one’s life. I am not an entrepreneur; I work a 9-5. But I am sure either ways, effectively balancing work life is key to good mental health. I agree with the actress, there is no true work life balance everyday. To me, balancing work life is like riding the waves. Go with flow, the ups and the downs.
Author
Thank you! I love your metaphor about riding waves and balancing work life. There will certainly be times where work requires more of our attention and others where we can focus it elsewhere. Taking care of your mental health, no matter what you do, is vital.
Harmony seems to be the keyword to keep in mind. Sometimes intuition tells us this, but we don’t listen.
Author
100%! It’s so true; we often go against our better judgement and it backfires. Thanks for reading!
this is such a great post, thank you
Author
It’s so great to hear that! Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed!
I have been rethinking some stuff as well
Author
Always good to do that from time to time!
Great read. Work-life integration is the way to go!
Author
Thank you so much! It definitely makes our lives so much easier when we can do that. Thanks for reading!
This was a great piece! It’s so true, work-life balance is a slippery slope. I work from home part-time and it can definitely be a struggle to focus on work some days, and other days it’s difficult to stop working. Prioritizing mental health helps a lot.
Author
Thank you so much! I hear you; there are definitely times when working from home is harder than others. I’ve found that taking the time to meditate and journal helps keep my mind in check and helps me slow down and make sure I’m taking care of myself. You can’t do anything until you’ve taken care of your mental health!
Really cool post, very informative! Thanks for sharing!
Author
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed!
Great post. I think this is something most people are concerned with now but most people don’t know what to do about it.
Author
100%! I agree with you completely. Having information on the topic of work and mental health readily available definitely helps, especially when we can use it as a tool to better our mindset. Thanks for reading!
Great post, mental health is essential for everyone.
I think it is crucial to prioritize and take care of your mental health to succeed. It is also essential to strive for harmony over balance, which will help you be the best version of yourself.
Author
Yes, 100%! Harmony means all areas of your life can work together and give attention to whatever needs it in any given moment; and regardless of what your goals are, taking care of your mind should always be your top priority. Thanks for reading!