How to Get Off the Hamster Wheel as a Busy, Working Mom

If I asked you how you like to celebrate your wins in life, would you have an answer? 🤷‍♀️ Or would you say, "I don't know. I've never thought about it before."? We're taught to celebrate the big milestones in life. The birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. The firsts and the lasts. But the in-between, everyday wins, successes, and progress? Those aren't the celebrations we see very often.

And if we do, they can be seen as "too much" or "a little excessive".

But what if celebrating the smaller, in-between moments and experiences is actually the thing that makes life more enjoyable?

Working MomKatelyn DenningOctober 4, 2024celebrate, life feels like a chore, working mom, goals

Here's Your Permission to Work Less

I feel very strongly that one of the ways I was able to create better work life balance for myself, was by reminding myself of this very thing. My 70% is someone else's 100%. That acknowledgement gave me permission to breathe. To slow down just a little. To stop hustling so hard.

Trying to 'Figure Out' Life as a Working Mom?

"I need to figure it out"

It's a phrase I hear frequently and I want to talk about it because it's sneaky and often drains your mental energy.

How? Because it's not specific.

It creates open loops and unanswered questions that your brain desperately wants to close. And that constant scanning and thinking in the background takes extra energy that most of us don't have to spare.

Here's what you should say instead.

Finding Time to Pump When You Go Back to Work

In a recent conversation with Allison Tolman on her podcast, New Little Life, we talked about prioritizing and making time for the important things as a busy, working mom, including how to fit pumping into your day-to-day life.

Working MomKatelyn DenningFebruary 20, 2023working mom, pumping mom, time, pla

Coasting Versus Leaning In

Coasting at work or quiet quitting is getting a lot of air time these days. But the truth is, working parents have gone in and out of phases of coasting for years as we navigate returning from parental leave, co-parenting with a partner's demanding work schedule, or just daycare illness season each fall/winter. It can be necessary at times and life/career-saving too. But what if you're stuck coasting because you think you don't have the time or energy that "leaning in" to your career will take? And what if the truth is, it doesn't take that much more?

Make The Most Of Your Weekends as a Working Mom

So many ideas and expectations, so little time. Weekends can feel like an either/or decision: Do you plan the weekend out in advance? Or go with the flow, come what may? What if you didn't have to choose?

When Everyday Feels Like Groundhog Day

Are you taking "photos" of your life so that someday in the future you can celebrate how much has changed? How much you've changed and grown? And are you taking the time to dream about what it is you want to "plant" in your life? Take the photos. Set your intentions. Make progress. Celebrate.

ProductivityKatelyn DenningApril 7, 2022planning, setting intentions, lessons, working mom

To The Working Mom Who Thinks of Quitting

If there's one thing I've learned since becoming a mom, it's that everything changes - kids, jobs, schedules, feelings. And I've also learned that I can figure most things out when they do change. So whether you decide to continue working, to change jobs, to stay home, or go part-time, you will figure it out if it's what you want.

Working MomKatelyn DenningFebruary 24, 2022working mom, resignation, quit, should i quit

You Don't Have to Choose Between Work and Life

Do you ever feel like you have to choose between giving your energy to work - throwing yourself into creating results, serving clients, or hitting billable hour quotas - but having nothing left for your family? Or giving your energy to your kids - thinking constantly about them and their needs, being really present and playing, or taking care of all the things for them - but having little left for the work your job requires? Break the cycle.

Working MomKatelyn DenningJanuary 27, 2022choosing between career and family, working mom, planning

What To Do When Your To-Do List Is Always Growing

How many times a day do you think of something you need to do? It's no wonder our to-do lists grow faster than we can take action. But as much as you tell yourself that these things have to get done, that you have no choice but to do them, the reality is you'd rather do them than face the consequences.

Productivity, Simplifying LifeKatelyn DenningDecember 9, 2021to do list, working mom, overwhelm, priority, priorities, task

How to Transition From Home to Work

Switching your energy and focus to productive work can be trying when you have been dealing with the demands of your children. Often, time carved out for work is the only alone time you have in your day - so you find yourself checking out a bit before jumping into productivity. You end up frustrated with yourself because you’ve lost valuable time aimlessly scrolling the internet or socials. Try these actionable steps to make the transition easier.

Working Mom, ProductivityKatelyn DenningOctober 14, 2021transition, working mom, boundaries, work, time management, planning

Guarding Yourself Against the "Shoulds"

When life throws us a curveball - like sick kids - the feeling of loss of control can be a bit overwhelming. Amidst putting out the fire, you may find yourself thinking “I should really be doing…” [fill in the blank with pretty much anything you have on your list of to-do’s]. A shift in your mindset during these chaotic times might be all you need to feel a bit better about your situation.

Working MomKatelyn DenningSeptember 21, 2021working mom, sick kids, mom should, taking care of sick kids, be with your kids