Burnout doesn’t usually arrive with flashing lights or a dramatic breakdown.
It sneaks up quietly…especially on high performers.
It starts with being reliable.
Then capable.
Then indispensable.
And before you realize it, you’re exhausted and wondering what’s wrong with you.
In this episode of The Life Management System, Courtney Cecil breaks down why burnout is not a sign of incompetence and what it’s actually trying to tell you instead.
Through a powerful real-life story and years of experience working in culture, leadership, and coaching high-achieving women, Courtney reframes burnout as information, not failure. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still running on empty, this episode will feel like someone finally put words to what you’ve been carrying.
💡 Inside this episode, we explore:
🧠 Key insights you’ll want to sit with:
🔗 Resources & links mentioned:
✨ Quoteworthy reflections:
💥 Episode takeaway:
Burnout isn’t telling you that you’re broken, it’s telling you that something in your ecosystem needs to change.
When you stop treating burnout like a personal failure and start treating it like information, you can finally redesign your life and work to be sustainable, aligned, and human again.
You don’t have to figure this out alone.
📈 Keywords:
burnout in high performers, working mom burnout, burnout vs incompetence, capacity burnout, invisible labor, mental load for women, values based living, boundary setting, burnout prevention, imposter syndrome, emotional labor, women and burnout, high achieving women, career burnout, leadership burnout, life management system, Courtney Cecil, working moms movement, boundaries and burnout, redesigning life after burnout
What if the reason you’re overwhelmed isn’t a lack of discipline…but a calendar that’s quietly working against you?
In this re-aired (and still incredibly relevant) episode of The Life Management System, Courtney revisits Episode 20 to talk about calendar hygiene and why it’s one of the most powerful (and overlooked) tools for helping working moms reclaim their time, energy, and priorities.
Despite shared calendars, flexible work schedules, and endless productivity tools, most working moms Courtney coaches are still stuck in reaction mode. And nine times out of ten, the fastest way to spot the problem is a calendar audit because your calendar tells the truth about what you value, protect, and sacrifice.
This episode isn’t about squeezing more into your days.
It’s about building boundaries, aligning your time with what you value, and finally putting yourself back on the calendar…without guilt!
💡 Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
🧠 Key Takeaway
Calendar hygiene isn’t about productivity.
It’s about intention.
When your calendar reflects your values – not just your obligations – you stop reacting all day and start living with more clarity, boundaries, and breathing room.
Your time is a resource.
And your calendar is where we start protecting it.
🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned:
📈 Keywords
calendar hygiene, time management for working moms, calendar audit, working mom burnout, mental load, invisible labor, values based living, prioritizing yourself, work life balance for moms, boundaries for moms, overwhelmed working mom, productivity without burnout, family scheduling systems, self care for moms, calendar organization, stress management for moms, life management system, Courtney Cecil Anderson, Working Moms Movement
What if losing the job you gave everything to… was actually the thing that finally gave you back to yourself? 🤯
In this replay from The Middle podcast, host Megan and I dig into the “messy middle” between a corporate layoff and the life you actually want...the part no one posts about on LinkedIn.
We talk about what happens when your identity is wrapped up in your job, what it feels like to be unexpectedly cut loose from a company you loved for 16 years, and how that shock forced me to rethink burnout, boundaries, and what I was willing to sacrifice as a working mom.
If you’ve ever felt blindsided by a layoff, quietly burned out, or torn between your paycheck and your purpose… this conversation will feel very close to home. 💛
💡 Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS:
Connect with Courtney:
Connect with Megan:
💬 FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Burnout wasn’t just about working too many hours, it was the moment I realized my life no longer matched what I said I valued.” – Courtney
“When you wear burnout like a badge of honor, you’re usually trading your health and your family for someone else’s goals.” – Courtney
💥 EPISODE TAKEAWAY:
Your layoff, burnout, or “what now?” moment isn’t the end of your story, it’s a loud invitation to realign.
When you stop giving yourself away for free and start building your life around what you value, the messy middle becomes the bridge to your next chapter… not the end of the last one.
📈 KEYWORDS:
career layoff story, job loss recovery, messy middle podcast, corporate burnout, working moms podcast, work life balance for working moms, career pivot after layoff, identity and career, mental load and to-do list, wish list vs to do list, burnout symptoms for working moms, women in corporate, culture and engagement leader, supporting working parents at work, corporate culture gaps, boundaries at work, people pleasing at work, high achieving working moms, Working Moms Movement, life management system, Courtney Cecil
This week on The Life Management System, I’m welcoming the wise, grounded, and deeply empathetic Diane Sorensen.
Diane’s background spans early education, behavior science, motherhood, step-parenting, grandmotherhood, and now a powerful late-career transition into life coaching and hypnotherapy.
But what makes this conversation so impactful is why she stepped into this work.
Her story begins with a personal crisis – her daughter’s mental-health struggle – that cracked her open, exposed the unsustainable pressures she was placing on herself, and led her to redefine motherhood, connection, and self-worth.
This episode is for any mom who has ever feared messing up, felt the weight of perfectionism, or wondered how to shift from reactive parenting to relational, grounded presence.
💡 INSIDE THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED:
💬 FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Parenthood isn’t here to define us, it’s here to grow us.” – Diane
“Our children become our greatest teachers when we stop trying to be perfect.” – Diane
“We can’t connect with our kids if we’re constantly abandoning ourselves.” – Courtney
💥 EPISODE TAKEAWAY:
You can’t build connection from a place of reactivity.
When you stop performing for approval and start living from your inner truth, everything shifts – your relationships, your parenting, your peace, and the emotional climate of your home.
📈 KEYWORDS:
reactive parenting, connection-based parenting, motherhood pressure, mom perfectionism, emotional regulation for moms, parent-child connection, Diane Sorensen Chaos to Connection, self-worth for moms, anxiety in teens, parenting mental health, behavior science parenting, mother wound, generational patterns, hypnotherapy for motherhood, working moms podcast, emotional resilience, modern motherhood support, boundaries and parenting, Life Management System podcast, Courtney Cecil Anderson
If the holiday season leaves you feeling equal parts festive and frazzled… this episode is your pocket coach to a warmer, grounded season. 🎄✨
This week on The Life Management System for Working Moms podcast, I’m joined by Michelle Tangeman – licensed therapist, board-certified behavior analyst, co-host of the Parenting Understood podcast, and an expert in helping families navigate anxiety, behavior change, and emotional regulation.
Between the pressure to “make memories,” the Pinterest-perfect expectations, and the invisible labor of managing everyone’s feelings, parenting through the holidays can feel like a full-body sport.
So I brought Michelle on to help us make this season a little lighter, more intentional, and infinitely more sustainable.
If you’ve ever needed someone to officially grant you permission to do less, enjoy more, and stop performing holiday magic at your own expense, this one’s for you.
💡 INSIDE THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED:
💬 FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Take what feels good to you and be consistent with it.” – Michelle
“It’s OK to break up with traditions that don’t serve you, even if it’s just for this year.” – Michelle
“When moms are depleted, the holidays stop being holidays for us.” – Courtney
💥 EPISODE TAKEAWAY:
Holiday magic doesn’t come from doing more.
It comes from doing what matters, and letting go of everything that doesn’t.
📈 KEYWORDS:
holiday stress for moms, parenting through the holidays, holiday perfectionism, overwhelmed working moms, family behavior expert, emotional regulation for kids, holiday anxiety, parenting boundaries, mental health for mothers, breaking holiday traditions, Pinterest pressure, sustainable holiday planning, managing holiday expectations, working moms podcast, Michelle Tangeman interview, Parenting Understood podcast, behavior analyst tips, mom burnout, values-based parenting, holiday overwhelm solutions, Life Management System podcast
This week on The Life Management System, we’re doing something a little different…we’re bringing a man into the conversation. 😮💨
But not just any man…
A full-on champion of working moms who has built his entire business around supporting healthier, more equitable partnerships.
Meet Brian Page, founder of Modern Husbands and dad of three who has lived the real push-and-pull of dual careers, domestic workload, and time scarcity.
In this episode, we unpack how couples can work as a team – not just emotionally, but operationally – across home labor, financial management, and the systems required to “run the home like a business.”
If you’re exhausted from managing everything (or wishing your partner would step up without you having to micromanage!), you’re going to want to take notes. 📝
💡 Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED:
• Explore Brian’s Official Website
• Connect with Courtney on instagram
• Free guide: How to more productively manage your to-do list • Join REtreat (yo’ self): A luxury weekend for working moms
💬 FAVORITE QUOTES:
“I didn’t want to slip into my new role, I wanted to be exceptional at it.” – Brian
“You can’t run the business of the home when only one person has the operating manual.” – Brian
“The domestic safety net matters as much as the financial one.” – Brian
“If it only works when you do it, it’s not a system, it’s a dependency.” – Courtney
💥 EPISODE TAKEAWAY:
Healthy, equitable partnerships aren’t built on guesswork.
They’re built on systems, shared responsibility, and intentional conversations about home labor and money – the two areas that quietly shape most of your stress.
📈 KEYWORDS:
home labor inequality, invisible labor, mental load for moms, Fair Play method, Brian Page Modern Husbands, equitable partnerships, couples financial management, running the home like a business, domestic workload balance, working moms podcast, marriage communication, partnership roles, family money management, dual-career couples, emotional labor, home systems, household management, mom burnout prevention, values-based living, working moms support, Courtney Cecil Anderson, Life Management System podcast
This week’s episode of The Life Management System is more raw, vulnerable, and personal than anything I’ve ever shared.
I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the life experiences - specifically from my tiny hometown in Tazewell, VA - that shaped one of my deepest core values today: relationships.
If you’ve ever wondered why you care so deeply, love so hard, or guard your inner circle, this episode will meet you right where you are.
💡 In this episode, I share:
If you’ve ever been...
✖️ excluded
🗡️ betrayed
🗣️ talked about
💀 misunderstood
🖤 or blindsided by people you trusted…
...this episode will help you understand why those experiences still echo into your adult life and how they can become the very reason you value relationships so deeply today.
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS:
• Free guide: How to more productively manage your to-do list • Follow Courtney on Instagram
• Join Courtney's REtreat (yo' self), a luxury weekend for working moms
💬 FAVORITE EPISODE QUOTES:
“I lean in as far as someone else is willing to lean, because connection is a choice, not an accident.”
“Scar tissue doesn’t define you… but it does guide what you protect.”
“My goal is to build a relationship with my boys that outlasts my roof.”
💥 EPISODE TAKEAWAY:
Your past doesn’t just shape who you are, but it shapes what you value.
And when you build your life around those values, everything becomes clearer: your boundaries, your priorities, your relationships, and the life you’re meant to build.
📈 KEYWORDS:
relationships and values, childhood scar tissue, working moms podcast, emotional resilience, work life balance for moms, values based living, toxic friendships, high school bullying stories, personal growth journey, why values matter, motherhood mindset, family relationships, connection with kids, life management system, vulnerability podcast, healing past wounds, building healthy relationships, gratitude and reflection, Thanksgiving episode, Courtney Cecil Anderson, Working Moms Movement
What if the real key to work–life balance has nothing to do with time hacks… and everything to do with what you value? 🤯
In this special replay of my interview from The Busy Vibrant Mom Podcast, Michelle Byrd and I dive into the unseen forces that shape your balance, your marriage, your parenting, and your peace, and why so many working moms feel like they’re drowning even when they’re “doing everything right.”
Michelle is a productivity coach for moms and host of The Busy Vibrant Mom Podcast. Our conversation unpacks the small moments (and surprising blind spots!) that determine whether you feel aligned or overwhelmed.
If you’ve ever wondered why you’re exhausted despite a color-coded calendar… this episode shines a light on what’s happening underneath the surface.
💡 Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
• The hidden reason so many moms feel “off track” even when they’re checking every box
• The silent patterns in marriage that create resentment and why couples often miss them
• The difference between what you say you value and what your life is actually built around
• The small decisions that slowly shift you out of balance without you noticing
• Why your to-do list keeps growing (and the surprising thing that doesn’t belong on it)
• The boundary mistake that makes balance harder, not easier, for busy parents
• The one question that reveals what really matters in your day, your marriage, and your family
🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS:
• Connect with Michelle Byrd
COURTNEY'S LINKS:
• Free guide: How to Productively manage your to-do list
• Follow Courtney on Instagram
💬 FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Most moms don’t have a time problem, they have a clarity problem.” – Courtney
“Priorities always have winners and losers. If everything matters, nothing does.” – Courtney
“You can’t row in the same direction if you don’t know what boat you’re in.” – Courtney
💥 EPISODE TAKEAWAY:
Balance isn’t built from productivity, it’s built from alignment.
When you get clear on what you value, your choices get easier, your guilt gets quieter, and your life starts to feel like it actually fits you.
📈 KEYWORDS:
work life balance for moms, working mom podcast, Busy Vibrant Mom Podcast, values based time management, invisible load, domestic labor imbalance, mom guilt, marriage communication, resentment in marriage, working mom burnout, simplifying schedules, boundaries for moms, productivity for working moms, family values, to-do list overwhelm, wish list vs to do list, parenting balance, outsourcing household tasks, life management system, Working Moms Movement, Michelle Byrd
What if the most overlooked key to thriving at work and at home isn’t productivity, strategy, or hustle… but curiosity? 🤔
Debra Clary - author of The Curiosity Curve, TEDx speaker, and former Fortune 50 culture and leadership executive - joins to explore how curiosity transforms the way we lead, connect, and parent.
Dr. Clary spent decades inside powerhouse organizations like Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, and Humana, helping teams and leaders build stronger performance through better culture. Now, she’s on a mission to help people rediscover curiosity as the foundation of empathy, innovation, and belonging, both in the boardroom and at the dinner table.
Whether you’re leading a team, raising kids, or trying to reignite your spark after burnout, this episode will remind you that curiosity isn’t a soft skill, it’s a superpower.
💡 Inside Episode 59, You’ll Learn:
🧠 How curiosity drives high performance, creativity, and connection
💬 What separates cultures that reward curiosity from those that shut it down
🧱 The link between curiosity, belonging, and psychological safety at work
👶 Why toddlers ask 298 questions a day — and what happens when we stop
❤️ Why so many working moms lose touch with curiosity (and how to get it back)
🌱 How to lead yourself, your family, and your team through the “Curiosity Curve” framework
🔗 Resources & Links:
• The Curiosity Curve by Dr. Debra Clary
• Connect with Dr. Debra Clary
• Courtney’s free guide for more productively managing your to-do list
• Connect with Courtney on Instagram
💬 Favorite Quotes:
“When leaders leave space for questions and dissent, that’s when performance and belonging happen.” – Dr. Debra Clary
“We’ve been taught to be incurious, but curiosity is how we grow, connect, and lead differently.” – Dr. Debra Clary
💥 Episode Takeaway:
You’re not broken for feeling stuck, you’re just disconnected from your natural curiosity.
Ask better questions, and watch everything - from your work to your relationships - start to change.
📈 Keywords for SEO:
curiosity in leadership, workplace culture podcast, psychological safety, diversity of thought, working moms podcast, Dr. Debra Clary, The Curiosity Curve book, leadership development, Fortune 50 culture, empathy at work, burnout recovery, how to build belonging, career growth for women, communication and connection, corporate culture transformation
You don’t need more hacks - you need healthier conversations. In this episode, Courtney sits down with communication expert and Career Civility founder, Jenna Rogers, to explore how intentional communication can transform your work, home, and mental load.
Together, they unpack:
✨ How overthinking and poor communication waste time
💬 Why emotional intelligence is the key to sustainable success
⚖️ How to set healthy boundaries without guilt
🧠 The mindset shift that helps working moms thrive
🔗Resources & Links:
• Jenna's Instagram: @careercivility
• How to more productively manage your to-dos: workingmomsmovement.com/todo
• Top 10 time-wasters: workingmomsmovement.com/time-wasters
• Courtney's Instagram: @workingmomsmovement
💥 Episode Takeaway:
You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel better at work, you just need better tools for communication, clarity, and boundaries.
Start by aligning what you value with how you spend your time, and everything else gets lighter.
💬 Favorite Quotes:
“Healthy workplaces don’t just happen, they’re built through empathy and everyday communication.”
“People assume time wasters are social media or TV. But overthinking? That’s the sneaky one that drains you the most.”
🔍 Spotify Keywords:
communication skills, working moms, burnout prevention, workplace culture, emotional intelligence, setting boundaries, professional women, leadership development, time management, healthy communication
Ever look around a room full of executives and realize… no one else looks like you?
That’s exactly what happened to me...and it changed everything.
In this episode of The Life Management System, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it’s really like to grow a career after motherhood, from flexible work struggles to the quiet loneliness of being the only working mom at the table.
This one’s part pep talk, part strategy session, and part wake-up call for women who want to stay in the game… without losing themselves in the process.
💡 Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
• What it felt like to be the only executive mom in a dual-income family
• Why women are often squeezed out of leadership long before the top
• The truth about “flexible work arrangements” (and why they rarely work as promised)
• How to design systems that make your career sustainable, not just survivable
• Why outsourcing and support aren’t luxuries, they’re leadership strategies
• How staying in your career longer actually creates more freedom, not less
• The belief shift every working mom needs: your career growth benefits your whole family
🔗 Resources & Links:
📝 Free Guide: How to Productively Manage Your To-Do List
🎟️ Free Live Training - From Surviving to Thriving as a Working Mom (Oct 20, 12–1:30 ET)
🎧Episode 19 - "How to improve your decision making regarding your career path"
💌 Connect on Instagram @workingmomsmovement
📧 Email me: courtney@workingmomsmovement.com
🧠 Favorite Quotes:
“I looked around that room and realized I was the only executive married with kids in a dual-income family. That moment hit me hard — because it shouldn’t be rare.”
“The longer you stay in your career, the more freedom you earn to outsource what drains you and focus on what matters.”
“Willpower doesn’t build sustainability; systems do.”
🧭 Key Takeaways:
• You’re not broken, the system is.
• Flexibility without boundaries becomes invisible labor.
• Your career is not the problem; your systems are.
• You don’t have to choose between presence and progress. You can design both.
💥 Final Thought:
You deserve a seat at the table and the systems to keep it sustainable.
If you’ve ever doubted whether it’s possible to grow your career and raise your family with intention… this one’s for you.
And remember: you’re not alone in this.
📈 Keywords:
career after motherhood, working mom career growth, flexible work arrangements, sustainable career systems, burnout prevention for working moms, executive moms, women in leadership, work life balance for moms, mental load solutions, outsourcing for working moms, time management for working parents, how to thrive in a dual income family, remote work boundaries, work from home mom burnout
Let’s face it… fall gets feral.
Back-to-school. Sports tournaments. Work deadlines. Holiday pressure creeping in. If you're staring down a calendar that makes you want to scream (or hide)… you're not alone. In this snack-sized solo episode, I break down the simple survival tools I use with my 1:1 clients to help them get through the busiest weeks without falling apart.
If you're feeling buried under all the things, this one's for you.
Inside Episode 56, you'll learn:
✨ The first step to reduce overwhelm
📣 Why announcing your “busy season” can set expectations and release pressure
🧱 The non-negotiables that help Courtney protect her energy
📵 Why distractions (and guilt) must go
📝 The “Idea Parking Lot” method to prevent to-do list spirals
🧠 How to tell the difference between a real task and a wish list item
🫁 The shockingly effective power of this simple energy management tool
⚡️ Why survival mode needs an exit strategy
🔗 Resources & Links:
📝 Free guide on How to productively manage your to-do list
📧 Email Courtney directly: courtney@workingmomsmovement.com
📱 DM Courtney: @workingmomsmovement on Instagram
🎧 Podcast episode on sleep: DM "SLEEP" to @WorkingMomsMovement for podcast link and free guide on how to improve sleep
🙌 Favorite Quotes:
"The busy weeks won’t break you. But expecting yourself to run at that pace forever might."
"Survival weeks require intention, not perfection."
💥 If this week’s episode hit a nerve...
You’re not meant to white-knuckle your way through motherhood and a career. There are systems to support you, and they don’t include burning out.
👉 Join Courtney’s free live training on October 20 (or catch the replay):
🗓️ From Surviving to Thriving: 3 shifts that helped me go from burnout to breathing room
⏰ 12:00–1:30 PM ET
📍Save your seat NOW
📈 Keywords:
working mom burnout, fall busy season, how to manage time during peak weeks, ADHD time management tools, managing mental load, to-do list strategies, wish list vs to-do, productivity hacks for busy moms, executive functioning tips, deep breathing for stress relief, calendar stress, fall survival plan for moms, how to say no to obligations, how to reset expectations
Feeling behind… all the time?
You’re not broken. You’re just trying to use tools that weren’t built for how your brain works.
In this episode, I sit down with time management expert and mom of four, Jill Wright, to talk about the real-life strategies busy women need to stop burning out and start managing their time and energy in a way that actually works.
Whether you’re neurodivergent yourself, raising a kid who is, or just feeling like time is slipping through your fingers, this one’s packed with relatable insights, permission slips, and actionable tools.
🎙️ Inside Episode 55, we unpack:
• The two biggest lies you’ve been told about productivity (and what to believe instead)
• The key executive functioning challenges that derail time management
• Tools and strategies for people with ADHD or time blindness
• Jill’s Time Magic Planner: How it’s built for neurodiverse brains and how to use it
• What your kids’ tantrums can teach you about capacity, energy, and the illusion of control
• Why multitasking is killing your focus and energy (and what to do instead)
🎧 Listen now to Episode 55 and learn how to stop disappearing from your own life. You don’t need more hacks. You need the right system.
🔗 Resources & Links:
📘 Jill’s daily inspiration guide: Happy, Healthy, Wealthy & Wise
🗓️ The Time Magic Planner by Jill Wright
🎙️ Jill’s Podcast: Grow Like a Mother
📝 My free guide on How to productively manage your to-do list
📝 My free training on How to go from surviving to thriving as a working mom
🗒️ Shower (waterproof) notepad
📈 Keywords for SEO:
time management for moms, ADHD-friendly planner, how to reduce burnout, time blindness tools, mental load solutions, working mom podcast, executive functioning and time, productivity tips for women, how to prioritize tasks, Jill Wright Time Magic Planner, how to manage energy as a working mom, why multitasking doesn’t work
#workingmom #momlife #workingmomcoach #lifecoach #careercoach #burnout #timemanagement #momlife #mentalhealth #lifemanagementsystem
If you’ve ever muttered “Why am I the only one who remembers everything?” while mentally prepping forms for the dentist, birthday RSVPs, and dinner plans, this one’s for you.
🎙️ Inside this episode, I sit down with Hannah Morgan, founder of Heron House Management, to unpack:
✨ What “mental load” really looks like (spoiler: it’s not just remembering school picture day)
✨ Why even the most well-meaning partners fall short when it comes to truly sharing household responsibilities
✨ How Hannah’s team of virtual house managers are changing the game for working moms everywhere
🧠 From systems that divide cognitive labor to stories about relationship strain and divorce driven by burnout, we don’t shy away from the hard truths. But we also offer real solutions for creating balance at home…without carrying it all alone.
💥 What You’ll Learn:
• The hidden emotional and cognitive tasks most moms are juggling daily
• Why “help” from your partner isn’t the same as “shared responsibility”
• What a virtual house manager actually does (and how it saves your sanity)
• Why mental load imbalances lead to resentment, and even relationship breakdowns
• How to build systems that prevent burnout and empower every family member to contribute
🔧 Resources mentioned:
🔗 Heron House Management: Hannah’s agency that matches busy families with trained virtual house managers to streamline tasks and reduce overwhelm
📘 Free guide: Reclaim 12+ Hours a Week by Simplifying Your To-Do List
→ Inside, you’ll find mindset shifts, a delegation starter list, and prompts to equalize domestic labor, especially with your male partner
🛍️ Outsource your life with Proxy by Peacock Parent
→ My go-to for vetted service providers, such as my coaching and Heron House Management, that help you buy back your time and energy
→ Use code PPWMM for up to $100 off and a 7-week free trial
👩👧👦 Moms, you don’t have to quit your job to feel better. But you do have to quit carrying it all alone.
Whether it’s hiring a virtual house manager or rethinking how labor is divided at home, you have options, and this episode is the perfect place to start.
🎧 Listen now and then forward this episode to the person who needs to hear it most.
👉 And if nobody’s told you lately, you’re doing a great job. You’ve got this, momma.
🔍 Keywords (for SEO):
mental load, cognitive labor, working mom burnout, household management, virtual assistant for moms, family systems, mental load in marriage, household equity, working moms podcast, time-saving strategies, Heron House Management
#workingmom #momlife #workingmomcoach #lifecoach #careercoach #burnout #timemanagement #momlife #mentalload #lifemanagementsystem
You don’t have to quit your job to reclaim your life. But you do need a system that reflects your values.
🎙️In this episode, I pull from my 16+ years of leading culture transformation at scale – including roles at a Fortune 50 company and as the lead architect for Future of Work strategy at a national firm – to talk honestly about what it really takes to thrive as a working mom in today’s workplace.
✨ And spoiler: It’s not about doing more. It’s about designing smarter.
🎧 Inside this episode, you'll hear:
• Why the second shift at home is costing you 3-5 hours a day
• What corporate culture still doesn’t get about working caregivers
• Why you don’t need to quit to get relief, but do need new systems
• How to work backward from your long-term vision to make short-term decisions
• The #1 shift that helped me stop feeling guilty and start taking control
• A reality check on RTO, mental health, and the cost of loyalty in a post-pandemic workplace
• How you can be part of the change from inside your organization
• Why we must stop normalizing martyrdom and start honoring boundaries (especially as leaders)
🔗 Resources & Links:
📝 Free guide: Keep Your To-Do List from Controlling You
🧠 Financial planning for big life shifts: Brian Page on Instagram @modernhusband
💻 Outsource help to buy back your time: Proxy by Peacock Parent
🎧 Episode 50: My vulnerable career story
🤝 Want me to speak at your ERG or organization? Email courtney@workingmomsmovement.com🗓️ Sign up for my FREE training entitled "From Surviving to thriving as a working mom" on October 20th 12:00 - 1:30 ET
Before you walk away from your career, walk toward your values. This episode will help you figure out what really needs to change—and where you still have power.
📈 Keywords for SEO:
caregiver burnout, returning to office RTO, working moms podcast, corporate boundaries, executive coaching for moms, domestic labor imbalance, Future of Work strategy, cultural transformation, women in leadership, time management, quitting corporate job, mental load, work-life integration
#workingmom #momlife #workingmomcoach #lifecoach #careercoach #burnout #timemanagement #momlife #mentalhealth #lifemanagementsystem
You’re not the only one carrying the weight at home. Your kids notice it, too.
In this special episode, I pass the mic to my favorite co-hosts yet: my boys, Witten (9) and Wyant (8).
This week’s conversation is playful and honest...straight from the mouths of two elementary-aged boys. It’s a powerful reminder that the invisible workload isn’t just felt by moms... it’s witnessed by the whole family.
🎧 Inside this episode, you’ll hear:
• Real talk from kids about fairness, house rules, and the importance of sharing responsibilities
• How to make chores more fun (including their go-to strategy that moms will definitely want to steal)
• Why helping out at home builds confidence and pride in kids
• What your kids might be thinking but haven’t said about the division of labor
• When kids feel most connected to mom, and why those small moments matter more than we realize
• Plus, how having a working mom impacts what they value and remember most
If you’re carrying the mental load, managing the calendar, prepping meals, and somehow still feel behind, this is your episode.
I bring my boys into the conversation to show how involving your kids in managing the home isn’t just practical, it’s powerful parenting. These little conversations are shaping future adults who value teamwork, responsibility, and connection.
💡 And pro tip! This is a great episode to listen to with your kids. Hit pause after each question and have your own family discussion; messy answers welcome. 😉
🔗 Resources & Links:
• Lori Sugarman-Li's interview on episode 51 – “Engaging kids in household management”
• Our Home by Lori Sugarman-Li
• Sign up for my FREE training entitled "From Surviving to thriving as a working mom" on October 20th 12:00 - 1:30 ET
❤️ This episode was pure joy to record. It reminded me how capable our kids really are when we give them the tools, the expectations, and the chance to contribute. You don’t have to do it all. And honestly… you shouldn’t. Thanks for indulging in something a little different on this one.
📲 And if it brought a smile to your face, would you leave a review or share it with another working mom who needs to feel less alone?
📈 Keywords:
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You’re not imagining it; your “second shift” at home is real.
Let’s talk about the invisible workload that’s draining working moms… and how to finally share the load. 🙃
Inside this powerful episode of The Life Management System, I sit down with author, speaker, and household labor advocate Lori Sugarman-Li to unpack the emotional, logistical, and energy cost of running a home while also running a career.
If you've ever thought:
“I’m the default parent for everything.”
“No one else even notices what I do to keep this house running.”
“I feel like I have two full-time jobs, and only one of them pays…”
…then this episode will feel like a deep exhale.
🎧 Inside Episode 51, we’re digging into:
🧠 Why most of the work working moms do at home goes unseen, and unappreciated
📊 The real cost (emotional + financial) of unpaid labor, and why it needs a seat at the table
💬 How to talk with your partner about the invisible workload without spiraling into resentment
🛠 Practical ways to start shifting responsibility so everyone in the house carries the load
📚 The story behind Lori’s book Our Home, and how it helps kids (and grownups) recognize and value home labor
🚨 The identity crisis many women face when stepping back from paid work and why the problem isn’t you
This episode isn’t just validation, it’s a nudge toward redistributing the work that’s been resting silently on your shoulders for years.
🔗 Resources & Links:
📘 Our Home by Lori Sugarman-Li
📲 Follow Lori on Instagram @ourhomeourpride💼 Connect with Lori on LinkedIn
📲 Follow me on Instagram @workingmomsmovement
📩 Need help resetting the division of labor at home? Email me about coaching: info@workingmomsmovement.com
❤️ Enjoyed this episode?
Send it to a mom who’s been doing too much for too long.
And if you’re feeling bold? Send it to your partner, too. 😉
📝 If this conversation hit home, a quick rating or review helps this little show reach more moms who need this kind of truth-telling and strategy.
You’re not alone in carrying the mental load…
But you don’t have to carry it all anymore. 💫
📈 Keywords for SEO:
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#workingmom #momlife #workingmomcoach #mentalload #lifecoach #careercoach #burnout #timemanagement #momlife #mentalhealth #lifemanagementsystem
What happens when a Type-A corporate leader, working mom, and systems junkie finally stops trying to “do it all” the old way? She builds a Life Management System, and this episode tells you exactly why.
We’ve hit 50 episodes (!!) and I’m doing something different. This time, I’m telling the whole story. No teaching. No tools. Just truth. 🙃
💥 It’s vulnerable.
💥 It’s raw.
💥 And it’s a behind-the-scenes look at how I went from over-functioning and burned out… to creating a system that helps other working moms reclaim their time, sanity, and actual joy.
In this solo episode, I’m walking you through:
🎓 My journey from small-town valedictorian to Virginia Tech engineer to Fortune 50 leader
🧃 Why I traded in 80-hour weeks and CEO meetings for juice boxes and coaching calls
⏳ Why I finally stopped chasing the next rung, and how it changed everything
🧠 The identity crisis that hit me when I finally stopped climbing, and the clarity that came next
🛠 What a “Life Management System” actually is (and why it’s NOT just time-blocking and to-do lists)
💡 The essential truth that your values → priorities → time, and how to align them
🔄 Why traditional time management fails moms and what works instead
👯♀️ Why I believe so fiercely in group coaching and community support (spoiler: you're not alone)
This episode replaces my original "What is a Life Management System?" intro, because that first one? It was giving ✨rookie audio vibes✨. Now you get the real story....cleaner, clearer, and with way more heart. ❤️
🔗 Resources & Links:
📘 Free Guide: Top 10 Time Wasters Working Moms Fall Into
📲 Instagram: @workingmomsmovement
💌 Coaching inquiries and feedback: courtney@workingmomsmovement.com
🎧 Episode 11 – How to fix your own sleep struggles after kids
🎧 Episode 19 – How to improve your decision-making regarding your career path
❤️ Leave a review & share the love!
If this episode resonated, or if you’ve ever felt like you were juggling 97 flaming swords with a smile, share this episode with another working mom in the thick of it. Leaving a review is one of the kindest ways to support this work. It helps more working moms find the tools they need, right when they need them most. 💕
Here’s to your next chapter… and mine.
Let’s make it count. 💫
📈 Keywords for SEO:
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#workingmom #momlife #workingmomcoach #lifecoach #careercoach #burnout #timemanagement #momlife #mentalhealth #lifemanagementsystem
Back-to-school isn’t just for the kids… it’s your new year too. And if your work calendar still looks like it belongs to the version of you who volunteered for everything and said yes before thinking, it’s time for a reset. 💥
Inside this third and final episode of our back-to-school prep series, I’m walking you through how to audit your work calendar so it reflects your actual priorities and performance metrics, not just what’s always been there or what your guilt has agreed to. This isn’t about optimizing every minute... it’s about eliminating what doesn’t matter and reclaiming your time (and sanity).
🎧 Inside this episode, you’ll learn:
• The critical question to ask yourself before any meeting lands on your calendar 📅
• The unrecognized habit that’s draining working moms at work and how to stop it
• When to triple-check your work and when to move the heck on 🕓
• Why you’re giving yourself away for free (and how to stop)
• The key difference between supporting your team and over-functioning for them
• Sneaky ways you're wasting time that isn't in your job description
• How to spot unpromotable work, invisible labor, and calendar bloat
• Why saying “no” to extra credit doesn’t make you lazy, it makes you strategic 💼
• Real stories from my corporate life, including the moment I learned my job wasn’t as “safe” as I thought 😮
🔗 Resources & Links:
📘 The Top 10 Time Wasters Guide
📗 Related Episodes:
🎙 Episode 48: Auditing your personal calendar
🎙 Episode 47: Resetting calendars, chores & family systems for school
🎙 Episode 28: The secret to having it all
📲 Follow along on IG: @workingmomsmovement
📩 Need support implementing this? Email me: courtney@workingmomsmovement.com
💡 Whether your kids are headed off to school or you’re just ready to stop drowning in meetings, this episode is your tactical push to protect your time and your energy.
🔁 Don’t forget to listen to all three episodes in the back-to-school series so you can fully reset your personal calendar, family systems, and now… your work time too.
Until next time, friends, keep managing your life instead of letting it manage you.
🔍 Keywords:
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#workingmom #momlife #workingmomcoach #lifecoach #careercoach #burnout #timemanagement #momlife #mentalhealth #lifemanagementsystem #schoolyear #calendaraudit
Back-to-school isn’t just for the kids… it’s your real new year too. And if your calendar still looks like it belongs to the old version of you...the one who said yes to everything and didn’t question the chaos...this episode is your invitation to reset. 🎯In this second episode of our 3-part back-to-school prep series, I’m breaking down exactly how to audit your personal calendar so it reflects your actual values (not just what you inherited from last season's schedule). If you’re craving more time, more peace, and a whole lot less autopilot, this one’s for you.🎧 Inside this episode, you’ll learn:• The real reason your calendar is running you (and how to flip the script)• A key mindset reset to make better decisions about your time• Questions to ask yourself about every recurring activity (warning: you may be shocked at the answers)• The calendar habit that most quickly leads to burnout• How to spot social and volunteer obligations you’re only doing out of habit• The unexpected personal decision I made, and how it unlocked time and peace• How intentionality (not planning!) leads to more freedom, not less🔗 Resources & Links:📘 The FREE guide to Top 10 Time Wasters📗 Related Episodes:🎙 Episode 4: Setting boundaries 🎙 Episode 5: Honoring boundaries 🎙 Episode 9: Meal planning 🎙 Episode 28: The secret to how you can have it all 🎙 Episode 47: How to Reset Calendars, Chores, & Family Systems 📲 Follow along on IG: @workingmomsmovement💌 Want help with your calendar? Email me: courtney@workingmomsmovement.com📈 Keywords:calendar reset for working moms, personal calendar audit, back to school mom routine, time management for moms, working mom life hacks, values-based planning, boundaries for working moms, overcommitment solutions, intentional calendar planning, calendar habits audit, letting go of obligations, school year mom planning, managing burnout for moms #workingmom #momlife #workingmomcoach #lifecoach #careercoach #burnout #timemanagement #momlife #mentalhealth #lifemanagementsystem #schoolyear #kindergartenprep