Time, Energy, and Money: My Soft Luxe Philosophy on Managing Resources

 

What comes to mind when you hear the word, "resources?" I bet it's natural resources, right? 😁And you get a picture of trees and nature in your head? 😁 Some people think about money though. But in my soft luxe journey, I’ve learned that time, energy, and money are equally precious currencies — and how I choose to spend them shapes not only my lifestyle but also my healing.

Luxury for me isn’t about excess. It’s about managing these three resources with intention, so that they actually support my values and bring me joy instead of draining me.

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⏳ Time: Honoring My Pace

Time, for me, is the most luxurious resource of all. We live in a culture that treats “busy” as a badge of honor, but I’ve found that rushing only leads to burnout.

I'm a night owl, so I sleep in the wee hours of the morning and wake up before noon. I churn out some of my best work late at night. Like tonight. It's 12:45 am right now and I've only started writing. 

I hate being rushed. Don't get me wrong. I don't move slowly. My friends actually call me a whirlwind or cyclone. I just don't like being rushed, especially in the morning. For example, I would give up a breakfast buffet in order to sleep more. I don't like to be reminded of the time because I'm perfectly aware of it especially if we have to go somewhere early. When I wake up, I prefer to do things for myself first before I tackle the chores and my task list. 

I've only accepted this side of me this year. For as long as I can remember, I've been forcing myself to fit in with the larks. It was only when I accepted the fact that I'm a night owl that my days and nights began to flourish. With that acceptance,  I started  structuring my days with softness. I allow naps when my body asks for them, take pauses between chores, and choose slower, more mindful routines. A reset day, for example, isn’t wasted time—it’s an investment in my clarity and focus for the week ahead.

Stopping work to share some tornado potatoes while watching some crappy creature movie with my son rejuvenates me

By pacing myself, I’ve learned that even ordinary moments—painting my nails, making a foot soak, or sharing Netflix and some tornado potatoes with my son—become time well spent.

Prepping my foot soak ingredients

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🌿 Energy: Protecting My Flow

If time is how I schedule my life, energy is how I experience it. I only have so much mental, physical, and emotional fuel in a day, and spending it wisely has become part of my soft luxe practice.

I am very protective of my energy.  I’ve learned to stop comparing my energy to other people’s. I’m built different. Even as a child, my body was always sensitive. My nervous system runs bright and fast — like a sports car that burns fuel quicker than most.

That’s why I can walk, shop, and explore the whole day without feeling tired in the moment. I’m fully present, fully alive. But the truth shows up after: once I sit down, the crash comes. And when I do crash, it takes a full day — sometimes two — to recover.

We walked back and forth Calle Crisologo for hours and went to Mindoro Beach and back to Crisologo again without me getting tired

This isn’t weakness, it’s wiring. With ADHD rhythms, MCAS sensitivities, and a body that processes stimulation deeply, my energy naturally swings between hyper-drive and full stop. Naps aren’t laziness for me; they’re medicine. They’re how my body recharges the nervous system so I can get back up again.

It’s taken me years to see that this pattern isn’t something to fight — it’s something to honor. By respecting these cycles, I’ve actually found more balance than when I used to push past my limits. 

Instead of scattering my energy everywhere, I try to channel it into things that matter most—my son, my healing, my writing, and creating beauty in everyday life. I’ve also learned to say no without guilt, because every “no” protects my energy for a more meaningful “yes.”

Going out with my family on vacations and mini trips re-energizes me a lot. It's great for my mental and emotional health. 

At home, simple rituals help me refill my energy reserves: a calming foot massage, journaling, or even cooking nourishing food in batches so I don’t feel depleted later in the week. And when I batch cook, I really cook.  Check out my freezer

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💎 Money: Spending with Intention

Money, of course, is the resource that makes modern life possible. But rather than treating it as something to hoard or splurge, I view it through the lens of practical luxury.

November 2020 - I used to buy a lot when I go shopping, most of the time without having second thoughts. When I was single and working 3 jobs, I often rewarded myself with a shopping spree when I got paid. 

That means choosing fewer but better things: a bag or pair of shoes that last for years, stainless steel cookware instead of cheap aluminum, skincare that actually works for my skin instead of just buying what’s trending.

Present - All my purchases are curated to fit my soft luxe lifestyle. I still do impulse buys, but I make sure that I really love the item, I'll use it for a long time, and most important of all - it makes me happy. 

Even indulgences can be intentional—like treating myself and my family to a good meal or choosing products that bring joy and function. It’s not about the price tag, but about value over time.

✨ Soft Luxe Takeaway

At its heart, soft luxe living is about balance. I don’t need an overflowing closet filled with branded or designer clothes, endless to-do lists, or constant hustle to feel abundant. I just need to manage my time, energy, and money in ways that honor who I am today.

Because real luxury is not in how much you have, but in how gracefully you use what’s been given to you.

So, Glow Girl, how will you spend your time, energy, and money with soft luxe intention this week? 💖