my overwhelm wake up call came this week
Lately, I’ve been feeling overwhelmed—trying to grow my coaching business, develop my side-hustle, working four days a week, and trying to be present for my family. It reached a point where my husband, seeing the road to burnout I was on, sat me down for an honest conversation. That conversation was a bit of a wake-up call. It made me realise that I needed to re-evaluate how I was doing things, not just for my business but for my well-being and my family life.
I know I’m not alone in this and it's why I want to share my journey. So many women (especially entrepreneur mums) juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, trying to do it all. But what if we could create more ease in our work and life without sacrificing success? Here’s what I’m learning in the process.
1. Rethinking Work-Life Balance: Integration Over Perfection
We often hear about “work-life balance” like it’s a perfect equation with equal parts work and personal time. But the reality is much messier. Instead of striving for balance, I’ve started thinking about work-life integration. This means intentionally blending work and life in a way that feels sustainable, aligning my business and personal life with my values.
✔ What this looks like in practice: Scheduling deep work sessions when I’m most productive, setting clear boundaries, and making space for quality time with my family without the guilt of unfinished tasks looming over me. I've also been asking myself, 'Is this a needle-mover?' activity when I realise I am busy scrolling, or tinkering with little details on things that don't matter yet.
2. Simplifying My Schedule: Doing What Truly Matters
One of the biggest shifts I made this week is evaluating how I spend my time. I was spreading myself too thin. I was saying yes to every idea that popped into my head, chasing every opportunity, and constantly feeling behind.
What helped:
Identifying the needle-movers—the tasks that actually contribute to business growth and well-being.
Letting go of unnecessary busywork.
Setting weekly priorities instead of overwhelming to-do lists.
Now, I focus on three core tasks each week—what truly matters for my business, my side hustle, and my family life.
3. The 2-Minute Rule: Clearing Mental Clutter
One of my favorite productivity hacks is the 2-minute rule: originating from David Allen's book, "Getting Things Done." If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. This has helped me clear mental clutter and prevent small tasks from piling up into overwhelming to-dos.
✔ Examples of 2-minute tasks:
Replying to a quick email.
Putting something away instead of leaving it out.
Writing down an idea instead of keeping it in my head.
4. Decluttering Mornings for a Smoother Start
For me, mornings set the tone for the entire day. When I am feeling overwhelmed, knowing that I have an intentional morning routine really helps me to feel grounded and have clarity on what is important in my day.
✔ Simple shifts that made a difference:
Prepping the night before (gym kit, outfits, meals, bags packed).
During my morning journalling session, writing down the most important thing I want to achieve that day.
Minimising morning decisions with a simple, repeatable routine.
Starting my morning with clarity, rather than chaos helps me to start the day how I want it to go on.
5. Making Self-Care a Non-Negotiable (Even in Small Ways)
Self-care is often the first thing to go when life gets busy, but I’ve learned that even small acts of self-care can help prevent burnout. The biggest shift? Treating self-care as essential, not optional.
✔ What’s working for me:
A 30-minute movement activity every day - sometimes it's lifting weights in my makeshift home gym, other days it's a walk or a bike ride with my kids
Protecting one evening a week for myself - no work, no commitments, just something I enjoy.
Daily gratitude journalling to stay grounded and present.
Final Thoughts: Creating Ease with Intention
The biggest takeaway from this experience? Ease isn’t something that happens on its own—we have to create it with intention. Re-evaluating how I work, setting clear priorities, and making small but meaningful changes have helped me feel more in control and less overwhelmed..
If you’re feeling stretched too thin, I encourage you to take a step back and ask yourself:
➡ What truly matters?
➡ What can I let go of?
➡ How can I create ease in both my work and life?
If you’re ready to create a more intentional, sustainable way of working and living, I’d love to support you. As a coach, I help entrepreneur mums build a successful business with intention, balance, and less overwhelm—so they can thrive in both work and life. If this sounds like what you need, let’s chat!
