Joanna Gaines, the well-known interior designer and former HGTV personality, recently shed light on the intense “soul weariness” that compelled her and her husband, Chip Gaines, to step away from their Magnolia brand for a three-month sabbatical. In an interview on the September 7 episode of Hoda Kotb’s “Joy 101” podcast, Joanna explained that the decision was a direct response to a loss of perspective after nearly a quarter-century of continuous operation.
Reflecting on their journey, the 48-year-old noted that after 25 years, the couple had reached a point where they were no longer clear on their purpose. “We stopped remembering, like, ‘Why are we doing this?'” she told Kotb. The couple, who share five children—Drake, 21, Ella, 19, Duke, 18, Emmie, 16, and Crew, 8—initially started their business in Waco, Texas, in October. This venture eventually expanded into a massive media and retail empire, significantly bolstered by their hit renovation series “Fixer Upper,” which ran for five seasons on HGTV between 2013 and 2018.
The decision to pause operations three years ago was not without its drawbacks. Joanna acknowledged that stepping away necessitated disappointing their team and disrupting various projects. “It cost us something,” she admitted, adding that the break was essential for them to regain clarity and re-evaluate their motivations for building the company.
Joanna described the condition that triggered this hiatus as a deep sense of “soul weariness,” which she distinguished from simple physical fatigue. She explained that while she can typically push through physical tiredness, soul weariness represents a deeper, more dangerous depletion. Recognizing when one’s spirit is running dry is crucial, she noted, because it signals that the individual is no longer in touch with the core vision of their work.
Since returning from that break, Joanna has adopted a more disciplined approach to her professional life. She emphasized the importance of monitoring her well-being to prevent future burnout, noting that she now practices a daily discipline of checking in with herself if she feels that familiar sense of weariness creeping back into her routine. She credited this period of reflection with helping them reignite their passion for the brand and stay aligned with their long-term objectives.
The couple, who married in 2003, have successfully navigated a career that moved from local storefront beginnings to widespread fame. By sharing their struggle, Joanna highlights the challenges of balancing a high-profile business with personal well-being, ultimately reinforcing that even the most successful leaders must occasionally pause to ensure their work remains rooted in purpose rather than just momentum. The report also notes that the “Fixer Upper” star, 48, appeared on Hoda Kotb’s ” Joy 101″ podcast and explained why she and her husband Chip Gaines, 51, decided to take a three-month sabbatical from their lifestyle and retail brand.