Ditch Hustle Culture and Work With the Moon Instead

For years, I tried to live by hustle culture’s rules: always on, always producing, always “more.” It worked… until it didn’t. Eventually, I noticed that no matter how hard I pushed, my energy came in waves. Some weeks I could knock out a mountain of work; other weeks, it felt like dragging myself through mud. Hustle culture told me that made me lazy or undisciplined. But deep down, I knew that wasn't the case.

My first clue came when I learned that some women align their work schedules with their menstrual cycle. Planning, creating, and resting in sync with their body’s natural rhythms. Brilliant, right? Except as a menopausal woman, that wasn’t available to me anymore. So I went looking for another way.

And that’s when I landed (yes, pun intended) on the moon. For thousands of years, people have looked to the lunar cycle as a guide. It mirrors the rise and fall of energy I’d been feeling all along. And it gave me a practical framework to honor both rest and productivity...without guilt.

Here’s how I use the moon as a workflow guide:

🌑 New Moon (Dark Moon)

• Focus: Set intentions, plan, dream.

• Try this: Journal, brainstorm, set 1–3 clear goals for the next cycle.

• Energy vibe: Quiet, reflective, open.

🌒 Waxing Moon (Crescent → Gibbous)

• Focus: Take action, build momentum.

• Try this: Break your big goal into smaller steps. Reach out for support, gather resources.

• Energy vibe: Growing, forward-moving.

🌕 Full Moon

• Focus: Celebrate and release.

• Try this: Share your wins (yes, even the small ones). Reflect on what’s working. Let go of what isn’t.

• Energy vibe: Bright, charged, expansive.

🌗 Waning Moon (Gibbous → Crescent)

• Focus: Wrap it up, streamline.

• Try this: Finish lingering tasks. Review your progress. Declutter or simplify.

• Energy vibe: Slowing, reflective, preparing for rest.

🌘 Balsamic Moon (right before New Moon)

• Focus: Rest + restore.

• Try this: Step back. Sleep in. Meditate. Give yourself permission to do less.

• Energy vibe: Low, inward, dreamy.

Once I started paying attention, it clicked: I wasn’t broken for not being able to grind 24/7. I was simply out of sync with my own cycles. The moon gave me a rhythm that let me be productive and present, without burning myself out.

💡 Your invitation: This month, notice your own energy. Where does it rise, where does it dip? Then try syncing just one phase of your work with the moon. You might be surprised how much smoother things feel.

And if you’d like regular reminders (plus practical rebel tools for disrupting hustle culture and living in alignment), join my newsletter list. You’ll get fresh Breaking Normal right in your inbox. Zero hustle required. Head to the "Subscribe Button" on this page.