NAVIGATING 9–5 LIFE WHILE BUILDING A BRAND: A CHICAGO GIRL’S TRUTH

Let me be real for a second: navigating a 9–5 while building a brand is not for the weak. Especially in Chicago — where the mornings hit different, the trains got their own attitude, and the weather will humble you before you even clock in. But here we are, still showing up, still dreaming, still pushing.

Some days I feel like I’m living two lives: the woman I am from 9 to 5, and the woman I’m becoming from 5 to whenever my body taps out. And somewhere in between all that, I’m supposed to take care of myself? Yeah… that part took me a minute.

But this year, I promised myself I would do better.

Waking Up With Purpose (Most Days…)

I’m not gonna lie — some mornings I hit the snooze button so much my phone should call HR. But other days, I get up early on purpose. Not because I’m a morning person, but because having even 20 minutes to myself before the day starts feels like breathing room in a crowded train car.

I sit with some tea, say a prayer, maybe read a few pages of the book I’ve been trying to finish for three months. It’s not perfect, but it’s something.

Going to the Gym… Even When I Don’t Want To

The gym has become my grown-woman reset button. Not the cute “I’m training for a marathon” gym journey — nah, I’m talking about the “I just need to clear my head before I cuss somebody out” type gym trip.

Some days it’s cardio, some days it’s lifting, some days it’s just me stretching and listening to Sade like I’m in a movie. But moving my body reminds me that I’m not just working — I’m living.

Cooking Instead of Ordering Takeout

Listen… Chicago takeout will have you in a chokehold. Harold’s, Jerk 48, sharks, even your corner taco spot will call your name after a long day.

But I had to get real with myself. I can’t be building a brand, chasing my dreams, and letting UberEats drain my whole account.

So I’ve been cooking more. Simple meals, nothing fancy. Salmon, veggies, pasta, those little air-fryer chicken bites I swear I perfected. There’s something grounding about cooking for yourself. It feels like a small act of love — like telling your future self, “I got you.”

Therapy: The Space I Didn’t Know I Needed

I used to think being strong meant carrying everything alone. Chicago culture will do that to you — we grow up thinking we gotta be tough before we ever get a chance to be soft.

Therapy gave me permission to be human.

It’s the one place where I can take off the “I got it” coat I wear everywhere else. I can talk about the frustration of feeling behind, the pressure of wanting more, the guilt of wanting rest, the pride of building something from scratch. And my therapist always reminds me: you are allowed to want joy that doesn’t require struggle.

Reading Books Like It’s My Little Escape

I forgot how good it felt to read until I picked up a book again. There’s something magical about getting lost in someone else’s words, especially after scrolling through a thousand opinions on Instagram and TikTok.

Reading reminds me that inspiration doesn’t always come from grinding — sometimes it comes from slowing down.

Building a Brand After Work

By the time my workday ends, my brain is fried. But I still push myself to show up for my brand — not because of pressure, but because it feels like home.

Some nights I’m editing content. Some nights I’m brainstorming new ideas. Some nights I’m staring at my laptop like it personally offended me. And that’s okay. Consistency doesn’t always look pretty. Sometimes it looks like doing 15 minutes of work when you only wanted to do 5.

What keeps me going is remembering that everything I’m building is bigger than the tired version of me. It’s for the woman I’m becoming — the one who wakes up excited, rested, aligned, and in her purpose.

The Balance Isn’t Perfect — But It’s Mine

I don’t have it all figured out, and that’s okay. What I do have is:

• A job that pays the bills
• A dream that feeds my spirit
• A gym routine that keeps me sane
• Meals that come from my kitchen instead of a delivery app
• A therapist who helps me connect the dots
• Books that keep my imagination alive

And a brand that is slowly — beautifully — becoming everything I knew it could be.

So if you’re a Chicago girl navigating your 9–5 while building your empire, just know: you’re not alone. We’re all out here figuring it out, one gym session, one home-cooked meal, one therapy breakthrough, and one dream at a time.