If you’ve ever tried to answer emails with one hand while reheating last night’s leftovers with the other—and simultaneously fielding a question about where someone’s soccer cleats are—you already know: the juggle is very real.
For women navigating both work and family demands, “balance” can feel more like a myth than a goal. We are constantly recalibrating, shifting between roles—leader, caregiver, partner, friend—and trying not to drop any of the balls in the air. The juggle is real.
The hard truth we don’t say out loud often enough: We’re not failing. We’re just human.
Why Time Management Isn’t Enough
We’ve been taught to manage our time: block our calendar, make to-do lists, set alarms. All of those strategies have their place, but time management alone can leave us running on empty.
What we really need to manage is our energy.
Think about it: we can have a perfectly color-coded calendar and still end the day utterly depleted. That’s because some tasks drain us, while others recharge us. If we want to stay productive and present—at work, at home, with our kids, in our leadership roles—we have to start asking different questions.
Instead of: “How can I fit it all in?”
Try: “What matters most right now, and do I have the energy to show up for it well?”
Strategies for Managing Energy, Not Just Time
- Identify your energy leaks.
Maybe it’s the 6 p.m. meeting that could’ve been an email. Maybe it’s the expectation to make a home-cooked meal every night. Notice what consistently drains you—and ask yourself how it can be eliminated, automated, or delegated. - Honor your energy peaks.
Are you most focused in the morning? Use that time for your most mentally demanding work. Save lighter tasks for later. At home, do you get a second wind after dinner? Plan connection time then, instead of forcing it when you’re running on fumes. - Build in micro-rest.
A 10-minute walk. A moment of deep breathing. A real lunch break (yes, away from your screen). Rest doesn’t have to be long to be powerful. It’s the pause that helps you move forward. - Practice “priority presence.”
You can’t give 100% to everything, all the time—and trying to will only lead to resentment and burnout. Instead, give 100% to what’s in front of you in the moment. At work? Be fully there. At home? Put the phone down and engage. Presence is more powerful than perfection.
Let’s Talk About the Guilt
Ah, guilt. That nagging voice that whispers you should be doing more, being more, giving more.
Here’s a reframe: Guilt is often a sign that we care deeply. It’s not something to be ashamed of—but it also doesn’t have to be in charge.
Remind yourself:
- You are not meant to be everything to everyone.
- Your kids don’t need a perfect mom—they need a present one.
- Your career doesn’t require your soul to be successful.
Your worth isn’t measured by how well you juggle, but by the intentionality you bring to what matters.
A Final Thought
Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. And juggling doesn’t mean sacrificing yourself in the process.
If you’re exhausted, it’s not a sign you’re doing it wrong—it’s a sign that something needs to shift. Let go of the myth that you must do it all, all the time. Instead, embrace this truth:
You can lead powerfully, love deeply, and live meaningfully—without burning out. But only if you start managing your energy like the precious resource it is.
Connect with Michele on LinkedIn or read more of her articles on Plaid.
