35. The Play Ritual: Why the Most Successful Women Are the Most Deprived of Play
Elevate Daily · Alexia Usgaard
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Show Notes
When was the last time you lost track of time doing something purely for joy? Not productivity. Not growth. Not optimization. Just…delight. If it feels hard to answer, you're not alone.
Entrepreneur burnout and leadership depletion don't always show up as overwhelm. Sometimes, they show up as the quiet absence of joy.
The most accomplished women entrepreneurs I work with share a similar pattern: Somewhere between scaling their business, leading their teams, and holding everything together…play disappeared. Not intentionally. Not consciously. It just stopped feeling like a priority.
And when play disappears? Everything starts to feel heavier than it should.
In this Elevation Dose, I'm exploring why high-achieving women often feel depleted even when everything is "working," and why the solution isn't more optimization - it's a return to play.
Because the truth is simple: The most successful women are often the most deprived of play. And that deprivation is quietly costing you your intuition, creativity, presence, and magnetism.
Inside I share:
- Why entrepreneur burnout often comes from doing too little of what brings joy - not too much
- My personal moment of realizing I had no idea how to rate "play" in my life
- Why play is a leadership competency and burnout prevention strategy
- The Play Ritual: a 30-minute weekly practice for sustainable performance
- How to identify your unique play personality
This episode is for the accomplished woman entrepreneur ready to lead from devotion, not depletion
Resources Mentioned:
Work with Me
I'm opening select Concierge spots for 2026 - private advisory for women entrepreneurs where your business expands while your leadership becomes sustainable, embodied, and delicious.
→ DM me "concierge"
→ Or apply at: alexiausgaard.com/concierge
If this Resonates
Share what form of play you're trying this week - DM me @alexia_usgaard
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And of course, until next time I hope you elevate your life, one intentional day at a time.
With love & devotion,
Alexia