The Economy Is Spiraling. But You Don’t Have To.
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The Economy Is Spiraling. But You Don’t Have To.
When the headlines are chaos, let your decisions be calm.
The economy feels scary right now.
If you've been scrolling, applying, pivoting, planning—and still feel like nothing is quite landing—I see you. I’ve been there. When everything around me felt unstable, I tried to take control by over-functioning. I tweaked my résumé 17 times. I applied to jobs I didn’t want. I told myself I had to make something, anything, work. I did these things even when there wasn’t any alignment. I was desperate for certainty. For relief. I thought if I moved fast enough, I could outrun the fear. Spoiler alert: I didn’t. I crashed. And it wasn’t the economy that broke me. It was the pace and pressure I put on myself trying to avoid it.
This isn’t just about me, though. This moment we’re living in is real. You're not imagining it. There’s a lot to feel anxious about. If you’ve been laid off, fired, pushed out, or chose peace over a hostile work environment; you're a job seeker seeing rejection after rejection; you're a business owner watching your income dip while everything else costs more…That panic? It’s valid. But that panic shouldn’t be the GPS guiding your next move.
Fear-Based Decisions Feel Productive—But They Rarely Are
Fear convinces us that frantic motion is the same as forward motion.
It whispers:
“You need to act now before things get worse.”
“You better apply for everything—something has to stick.”
“You can’t afford to be picky right now.”
“You’re falling behind.”
If people are giving you this advice, lecturing you or telling you to push harder, hustle more, it may be their fear that’s fueling how they show up for you. And while fear might feel like a motivator in the moment, it usually pushes us toward quick fixes that don’t serve our long-term vision. You end up accepting jobs that drain you, starting businesses from burnout, or chasing money instead of meaning. Fear might get you out of the burning building, but it doesn’t help you build a better house.
Here's what to do instead.
Do What’s Within Your Control
This isn’t about toxic positivity or pretending things are fine when they’re not. This is about giving yourself the gift of strategy over scramble.
If you're employed right now:
Start putting money aside. A few dollars a week adds up, not just financially but psychologically. It’s your “I got me” fund.
Look into skills or certifications that could open doors later. Don’t just chase the trend, follow your curiosity.
Quiet quit the hustle, not your power. Stay grounded in your own goals, not someone else’s expectations.
If you’ve been fired, laid off, or stepped away from a toxic job:
First, take a deep breath. Then, get clear on what support you’re entitled to. Check into unemployment, COBRA, or local programs that can carry you through.
Don’t panic-apply to every job. Apply to what actually aligns with the kind of life and work you want to create.
And please give yourself space to grieve. Leaving something (even something bad) can still feel like a loss. That emotional honesty is part of your healing, not a weakness.
Take Care of You
Yes, you. Not your productivity. Not your professional brand. You.
Rest is a form of resistance in a culture that profits from your exhaustion. Take naps. Sleep in. Go to bed early. Whatever rest looks like for you, claim it.
Make joy non-negotiable. Dance to your favorite playlist. Walk in the sun. Call your funniest friend. Let the good stuff be loud, even when the world feels heavy.
Reflect without judgment. Write. Daydream. Ask yourself better questions. Not “What’s wrong with me?” but “What do I need right now?”
Learn something new. Not for a résumé line, but for your soul. Read something interesting. Watch a documentary. Try a new recipe. Expand in ways that make you feel more like yourself.
And remember: growth takes time. Not every seed you plant will bloom tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean it’s not growing.
You don’t have to match the energy of a spiraling economy. You can be the calm in your own storm. One breath. One boundary. One brave step at a time.
If fear or uncertainty is creeping in, download the free “Ground Yourself” worksheet—a simple but powerful tool to help you calm the panic, reset your thinking, and remind yourself what’s actually in your control. Then, check out my latest Hustle Rewritten Substack post “The Economy Is Spiraling. But You Don’t Have To.” for a real talk breakdown of what’s happening and how to move through it with intention.
Once you’re feeling more grounded, the Hustle Rewritten Starter Kit is your next step. It’s packed with permission slips, reflection prompts, mindset meters, and power moves to help you rewrite hustle on your terms. This isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what’s aligned. Grab the kit, reclaim your pace, and build a life that fits you.