Finding Well-Being as a High-Achieving Working Mom

Being a working mom can feel like trying to juggle a dozen glass balls—some are labeled career, parenting, relationships, self-care, home, health, friendships, growth, and yes—sleep. And somehow, you’re expected to keep them all in the air, all the time.

Many high-achieving moms I work with want to be everything for everyone. We want to show up at every school event, crush our goals at work, maintain the home, stay socially connected, nourish our bodies, care for our parents, be a present friend, and still find time to sleep a full eight hours (which, let’s be honest, rarely happens). But here’s the truth—something eventually has to give.

As a coach who specializes in supporting high-performing women navigating stress, disconnection, and burnout, I’ve learned this: the day still only has 24 hours. And if we want to function well, we need at least 7 or 8 of those hours to sleep. That means the key to well-being isn't doing everything—it's choosing what matters most.

The Power of Values-Based Choices

When you make decisions based on your values, you’re no longer just reacting to demands—you’re intentionally prioritizing. Your values become your compass in a world of competing demands. They help you decide what trade-offs are worth it and which things can be let go (at least for now).

For example, if “family presence” is one of your top values, you might consciously skip a networking event to be home for bedtime stories. If “career growth” is a priority, you might invest extra energy in a project while letting go of the guilt about not making homemade cupcakes for the school fundraiser.

There are no right or wrong values—only your values. And they shift with time. What’s most important during your child’s toddler years might evolve as they become teenagers or as your career enters a new chapter.

The critical point is: if you don’t make the trade-offs consciously, life will make them for you. And often, that leads to disconnection, burnout, and the nagging feeling that you’re failing at everything.

Avoiding Burnout by Choosing With Intention

Burnout doesn't always come from doing too much—it often comes from feeling like we’re not doing the right things. Like we’re always behind, missing something, or arriving late. That feeling of being pulled in every direction is exhausting.

But when you’re clear on your values, when you choose your “yes” and understand what that yes requires you to say “no” to, something powerful happens. You regain a sense of control. You feel aligned. You start to trust your own decisions.

That clarity brings confidence. Confidence in how you show up at work. Confidence in how you parent. Confidence in how you care for yourself—not just as a mom or a professional, but as a whole person.

Cultivating Clarity Through Mindfulness and Skill-Building

So, how do we get clear on our values? Through self-awareness. And the best way I know to develop self-awareness is through mindfulness. It’s a grounding practice that helps you hear your own voice beneath the noise. It’s how you reconnect to yourself when you feel scattered.

But mindfulness isn’t the only tool. Positive psychology gives us powerful skills to manage stress, regulate emotions, build resilience, and develop a flexible mindset—all essential ingredients in maintaining mental and emotional well-being.

Balance Is a Practice, Not a Destination

Let’s be honest—balance doesn’t mean everything is perfectly aligned all the time. It means you’re consciously adjusting and fine-tuning your life in response to what matters most right now. It’s a dynamic practice, not a fixed achievement.

And yes, it’s hard. It takes work. But it’s possible. Balance and well-being are not traits you're born with—they’re skills you build, day by day.

Eventually, the chaos quiets. Not because life is suddenly easy, but because you’re making the choices. You’re choosing your challenges. You’re living in alignment with your values. You’re struggling well when things get hard. And in that space, you discover something beautiful—self-compassion, moments of joy, and a deep, sustaining sense of meaning.

You don’t need to do it all. You just need to do what matters most. And that begins with knowing what truly matters—to you.