Burnt Out, Still Here: A Real Talk on Balance

Balance in real life? Let’s be honest… it’s a bit of a joke sometimes.

Lately, I’ve been struggling. For what feels like forever, I’ve been juggling motherhood (my little girl is 2), a part-time job, my virtual assistant business, and all the household responsibilities – cooking, cleaning, and trying to create some kind of system to keep us afloat.

We don’t have family nearby, so it’s just me and my husband. No help. No backup. On top of it all, we are constantly looking for ways to increase our income because money is tight. It’s a lot. And I’m burnt out and exhausted.

I know I’m not alone in this.

There are so many business owners in the same boat – trying to grow something meaningful while holding everything else together. We’re constantly tired. We fantasise about sitting down for just five minutes of peace… but the washing is piling up, the kids are screaming, someone’s knocking at the door, and suddenly it’s dinner time again.

Weekends? What are those? If you have young kids – or you work in hospitality or retail – they don’t really exist. It’s just the same hamster wheel over and over again.

Sometimes I want out.
Sometimes I wish a fairy godmother would show up with a magic wand and make it all easier.

But here’s the thing I’ve come to realise:
I am the fairy godmother.

Only I can help me. If I want a life that’s free, flexible, and sustainable, I have to build it myself. That means getting creative, putting in the work, and learning how to manage my energy – not just my time.

That includes everything from eating well, getting enough sleep (I see you, fellow parents 👀), spending time in the sunshine, and carving out tiny pockets of joy when I can.

Most days, I’m running around like a headless chicken – nursery drop-off, business tasks, part-time job, more business work, nursery pick-up, dinner, bedtime routine, and then collapsing on the sofa. Right now, I can’t change the structure of it (I’m trying, but it’s a slow process), so I’m focusing on managing my energy better instead. Not in a perfect, Instagram-mum kind of way – just gently, in the bits of time I’ve got.

• Food has been a big one for me. I’ve had to get more mindful about my blood sugar levels – turns out stress and stress eating aren’t a great combo (shocking, I know 😅). So I’m being more intentional about cutting back on sugar and carbs. It’s not always fun, but it really does help with energy dips and mood. (As for feeding a toddler? Now that’s a whole other story… I won’t go there, but if you know, you know 😂).

• Sleep… if you’re a parent, you’ll know why I’m laughing as I write this. 😅. I dream of sleep. I also dream during sleep – usually about laundry or forgetting something important. But even the smallest improvements help, so I try to prioritise rest where I can.

• I also try to make the most of the walking I do during the day – usually between one job and the next. It’s not a relaxing countryside stroll, but I figure if I’m outside anyway, I might as well soak up some sunshine, grab a few deep breaths, and pop in a calming playlist or podcast.

• As for the housework, we’re learning to be more efficient. We tend to do most of it on the weekends (because let’s face it – there’s no time during the week). We’ve been trying to batch-cook and freeze meals so there’s always something easy to pull out when we’re too tired to think.

• And one thing that’s been surprisingly soothing lately? Making sourdough. Now let me just say – sourdough is not simple 😅 It takes time, patience, and more steps than you’d think… but for me, it’s a kind of therapy. The process calms me, the bread tastes amazing, it’s great for the gut, and it’s budget-friendly too – win-win-win.

So if you’re in the same shoes – juggling work, business, parenting, life – please know you’re not alone. I see you, doing your best with the time, energy, and capacity you have. I know how heavy it can feel to carry it all – the responsibilities, the mental load, the quiet pressure to keep everything running while still trying to build something of your own.

You’re not lazy. You’re not failing.
You’re doing something incredibly hard – and still showing up.

Even if you’re exhausted.
Even if the laundry’s winning and the to-do list never ends.
Even if you sometimes want to hide under the duvet and not come out.

You’re still here. You care. You’re trying.
And that matters – more than you know.

So be gentle with yourself. Rest when you can. Celebrate the tiny wins. And remember: you don’t need to do it perfectly. You just need to keep going, one small step at a time.

P.S. Feeling overwhelmed lately? Download my free one-page planner to help you reset your week with a bit more clarity and calm. 👉 Get it here