How 4 Moms Stopped Overworking and Found Balance

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In this week’s podcast, I’m sharing the before-and-after stories of 4 working moms who transformed their lives with the Ambitious and Balanced process. They went from overwhelmed and overworked to calm, confident, and in control. Plus, I’m revealing a powerful tool I’ve never shared before that will help you break free from overworking. You don’t want to miss this one—let’s get to it! 

Topics in this episode:

  • Real-life examples of working moms who found balance and control. 

  • 4 crucial steps to prioritize your life. 

  • Powerful new tool for breaking overworking habits. 

  • Practical tips for work-life harmony. 

  • Ambitious and Balanced program insights.  

Show Notes & References:

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Transcript

Intro

It is story time here on the podcast today. I am sharing with you before and after stories of four amazing working moms that have gone through the ambitious and balanced process. These women are just like you and me. They struggle with the same overworking behaviors, not leaving any time for themselves, feeling like their family was getting the leftovers, waking up in the middle of the night just wondering if they're doing things right. And when they learn how to create a priority first life. When they learned the four key decisions in a balanced life and had the tools to follow through and hold to their priorities, everything changed. I'm going to paint for you the picture of their before and after and walk you through a tool that I've never talked about here on the podcast. But it is essential if you want to change your overworking habits. I'm going to walk you through it right here today. You ready? Let's get to it.

Welcome to the Ambitious and Balanced Working Moms Podcast, your go to resource for integrating your career ambitions with life as a mom. I'm distilling down thousands of coaching conversations I've had with working moms just like you, along with my own personal experience as a mom of two and sharing the most effective tools and strategies to help you quickly feel calm, confident, and in control of your ambitious working mom life. You ready? Let's get to it.

Last Chance to Join the Fall Cohort of Ambitious and Balanced

Hello, working moms. It is so good to be with you today. This is the last week that you can sign up for the very first cohort—the fall cohort—of Ambitious and Balanced, and there are still a few spots available.

Remember, I'm only taking ten women. I want this to be a very intimate experience for you: to get the support and attention you need from me, but also to feel connected to the other women in the group. To feel seen. Because I’m not taking everyone into this group.

The way to sign up is by scheduling a free 30-minute consultation call with me. On that call, we’ll talk about what you really want to get out of this coaching experience and make sure you’re a good fit. There are only a couple more days to schedule that call.

So if you’ve been thinking about it, I’ve made space for you. I will always make space for you. You can learn more about the program and sign up for the call by going to my website: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced.

What Work-Life Balance Really Looks Like

I am really excited about today’s podcast. I’m going to do some storytelling—sharing about three of my amazing clients and their stories, plus a little of my own experience.

And then I’m going to leave you with a tool. I call it magical because it really does feel like that at times. I’ve never talked about it here before, and we’re actually going to walk through it together at the end of the podcast.

Today we’re going to talk about what’s truly different in these women’s lives. Tangibly. What work-life balance and creating a priority-first life actually looks like. Because I know it sounds lovely—you probably think, Yes, I want that. But what does it actually mean in practice?

A Fly-on-the-Wall Transformation

The other day, I was coaching a client and helping her get very specific about the transformation she wanted in creating work-life balance.

Here’s what I told her: I want you to describe it like you’re a fly on the wall observing the differences.

I don’t just want you to feel better—though I guarantee that will happen. I want your life to actually be better.

  • I want you to stop waking up in the middle of the night wondering if you’re doing right by your kids.

  • I want you to have a place in your house where you put your phone to sleep at night, so you can be fully present with your kids.

  • I want you to feel less upset, less snappy, less frustrated—and instead appear calm, collected, and in control as you gently redirect your child and find moments of connection.

  • I want you to walk into meetings and position yourself at the best seat at the table, raising your hand frequently because you know your ideas are amazing.

  • I want you to get ahead of reviews and share your wins throughout the year—confidently and without feeling like you’re bragging.

Yes, I want you to feel calm, confident, and in control—my three C’s. But more importantly, I want the fly on the wall to notice what has changed in your life.

Why This Group Exists

The whole goal of Ambitious and Balanced—the reason I launched this program—is to give you the tools, strategies, and container of support to make real change.

To shift your habits, your responses, your anxieties, your overworking behavior. I don’t want you to just talk about things being different or learn what it takes to change. I want you to actually do it.

Which means you need to know what you want. You need to be able to picture it in your mind—like you’re a fly on the wall watching your own life.

I hope you hear my conviction in this, because I am fighting for you. I don’t want you to settle and say, This is just the way I am, or, This is just the way life is.

I don’t want you stuck in, I don’t know how, constantly questioning yourself, wondering if you’re doing it wrong, and believing your only option is to work hours beyond what you actually want.

There is a solution. There is a way to change your overworking behavior, shift your priorities, and hold your boundaries.

Why Accountability Is the Missing Piece

I hear it from clients all the time. They come to breakthrough calls and say: I listen to your podcast. I resonate with it. But I’m not actually doing the things you talk about. I need accountability.

Yes. Exactly. Most people know what they need to do to make change. They know the process. But just knowing isn’t enough.

You need accountability—especially accountability that helps you overcome all those internal feelings and thoughts that get in the way when you’re trying to do something new.

That’s one of the main tools I teach in Ambitious and Balanced. It’s the thing that’s missing for so many women.

I don’t want you to stay stuck. I want you to follow through. And that’s why I created this program for you.

Struggling to Imagine Change? You’re Not Alone

Now, if you are like many of my clients, it’s hard for you to be that fly on the wall and actually imagine how life would be different. You just know it’s not working today, but you’re not exactly sure what needs to be different.

Well, you probably do know what needs to change, but you’re not exactly sure what the freedom would feel like if you actually made that change. You can barely see it.

You’ve always been a perfectionist. You’ve always been a people pleaser. It feels uncomfortable to imagine something different.

If you are one of those people—don’t worry. I have been one of those people. I still struggle with it. So I’ve got you.

The “Magical” Coaching Tool

There’s actually a tool I use to help you with this process of naming and seeing the change—of being the fly on the wall and creating that priority-first life you want.

That’s the tool I’m going to walk you through at the end of this episode. It’s something I do with all of my clients. It’s a tool we’ll be using inside the Ambitious and Balanced group coaching program.

It feels like magic. I know I’ve said that before, but I’ve never really talked about it here on the podcast. I’m excited to bring it to you today.

Why I’m Sharing “Average” Client Stories

So let’s jump into the stories I want to share with you.

I picked these particular clients and their stories because, to be honest, they’re average.

Now, of course, I don’t mean these women are average. Absolutely not. These women are amazing, remarkable, and making huge impacts in their lives, in their jobs, and in the world.

What I mean is their story is just like your story. It’s just like my story. Their struggles before coaching are struggles you will resonate with. They’re struggles I’ve had myself.

And their transformations—the changes they made, the work-life balance they created—aren’t extraordinary. They’re normal.

Why Normal Struggles Matter

I want to share stories of working moms who were struggling with normal overworking behaviors. Normal challenges. Struggling to prioritize themselves. Struggling to unplug.

And then going through the roller coaster of change it takes to create the life they wanted.

I want you to hear about normal coaching experiences, with normal moms, normal struggles, and normal transformations.

Because often on social media or from other coaches, you only hear about the extraordinary clients and extraordinary results. Stories like: She created balance AND lost 20 pounds in six weeks.

Those stories feel too good to be true. And while we wish for them, they aren’t the everyday reality for most working moms.

Real Change Takes Time

Of course, I’ve had clients who dove in and saw massive transformation almost overnight—in the first or second week. But that’s not the average person.

We’re talking about habit change. And research shows it takes time. The number of days varies by study, but on average it takes 60 to 70 days—about two to three months—to truly make sustainable change.

That’s why I designed Ambitious and Balanced as a three-month container. It allows for the roller coaster of incremental steps forward, some steps back, and the process of creating lasting behavior change.

So, these women are remarkable. And they took a normal amount of time to create the priority-first life they wanted. That’s why I chose to share their stories with you.

Client Story: Mary’s Transformation

Let’s start with Mary. (And just so you know, I’m not using real names.)

When we began working together, Mary had two toddlers and was working in a director-level role at her company, where she’d been for about a year and a half.

Here’s what she told me when we started coaching. I’m literally quoting her:

“Ideally, I would no longer feel burnt out and like I’m not living up to my full potential and feeling intellectually stifled. I hope to stop feeling constant conflict in my life about what I should be prioritizing. For example, feeling like I’m doing something wrong for missing work while I take care of one of my sick kids.”

The Conflict of Competing Priorities

So many of you know that exact feeling. I know I’ve felt it.

  • When you decide to prioritize your sick kid and stay home to care for them, you feel like you’re wronging your work.

  • When you go to a workout class on Saturday morning, sacrificing family time for yourself, your kids cry at the window as you leave. You feel like a terrible mom.

  • When you promised to take your child to gymnastics, but last-minute work meetings get in the way, you feel like you’re failing no matter which choice you make.

This was Mary’s reality. Her brain constantly told her she was wrong. Whatever she chose was wrong. She felt anxious, overwhelmed, and stressed—all the time.

Mary After Coaching: Calm, Present, and Equipped

After going through my process—learning to create a priority-first life and process the thoughts and feelings that came up—here’s what Mary said (again, quoting):

“In coaching, I built an armory of mental tools that I can carry with me going forward. I learned to maintain my composure in tough, unpredictable circumstances and keep a level-headed mindset, even in the midst of chaos and unpredictability. My emotions are much more regulated and well understood now, and I have become diligent about listening to the signals in my body when I am feeling overwhelmed or carrying a large amount of anxiety with me, or just feeling completely exhausted and worn out. I am much more mentally present when I am with my family, and I am much calmer and more composed, even in the tough moments.”

Painting a Vision of a Priority-First Life

Remember, what we’re doing in this podcast is painting a vision of what a priority-first life looks like—or what it could look like for you. The reason is simple: when your brain can see it, it’s easier for you to create it.

We’ll talk more about this at the end of the episode when I share the tool that explains why this matters. But for now, notice how my client Mary described listening to her body when she was feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or exhausted.

Learning to Listen to Your Body

How often do you listen to your body—and then actually respond to what it needs?

  • How often do you rest when your body says rest?

  • How often do you unplug when your body says it’s time to shut down?

  • How often do you say yes to fun and adventure with Legos instead of answering more messages on your phone?

Mary learned to listen to her body and respond in the moment. That second-guessing—Am I doing it right? What should I be doing? Am I failing?—went away.

A fly on the wall would notice the difference. They’d see you choosing rest and laughter. They’d see you putting down your phone. They’d see your shoulders relax. They’d see a calmer mind and heart.

That is a priority-first life. That’s the life you’re working to create.

Client Story: Alexia’s Struggle with Old Habits

Then there’s Alexia.

When she and I started working together, she was beginning a new job—and she was afraid her old habits would follow her. She worried she’d carry with her the late nights, the stress, the lack of sleep, skipping PTO, ignoring doctor appointments, and the frustration that came when her kids were sick.

She saw this new job as an opportunity to reset her priorities and follow through with them.

Here’s what Alexia said at the start of our work together (quoting her):

“As a mother of three and until very recently an executive team member at my job, I find very little time for myself. When I do have a few hours in the evenings, I tend to spend the time scrolling social media or re-watching a show I’ve already seen. I have anxiety, blended with perfectionism, and I can find myself paralyzed from making progress or starting anything new. With three kids, social activities center around them for the most part. Occasionally I’ll grab lunch with a friend or dinner with my sister. Finding time to be alone typically means leaving the house because my kids or my husband—who also works from home—are always there. I enjoy some alone time to break away from always being needed, but often I fill that time with errands just to get away.”

Why Running Errands Is Not Me Time

Here’s what the fly on the wall would see with Alexia: a stressed-out working mom doing all the things at work and at home. And when she couldn’t handle it anymore, she’d get in the car and drive to Costco or Target—just to be alone.

But here’s the truth: running errands is not me time.

Yes, errands are necessary. Yes, sometimes they feel energizing because you’re checking things off the list. But errands don’t fill your energy tank. They aren’t true rest or rejuvenation.

That’s why one of the four key priorities in Ambitious and Balanced is to decide when you’ll take time for yourself—and to create a menu of fun, life-giving options you can choose from during that time.

Alexia’s Transformation: Real Me Time and Real Balance

This is what Alexia and I worked on together. And here’s what she said after learning the tools to schedule her priorities and actually stick to them:

“I am making time to go to yoga one to two times per week. I’m also finding time to walk 20 to 30 minutes with my husband or alone during my workday. I feel like I’m showing up more confidently at work. They don’t even know anything’s different—despite me not working long hours. I believe I am seen as very engaged, trustworthy, and capable in my role, which is about as successful as I can hope for based on my little time here so far.”

Yes, exactly. Alexia loved yoga. That was her goal from the beginning, and she made it happen.

Redefining Work Hours and Success

Alexia also mentioned something else important: she was no longer working long hours.

In her old job, she believed she had to work 50–55 hours a week to be successful. But when we started coaching, she made a key commitment: I will work 40 hours, and that’s it.

Together, we worked on how to be just as successful, confident, productive, and valuable in her role—without overworking.

And this is another one of the four key priorities inside Ambitious and Balanced. You will decide when you’re working, when you’re not working, and how many hours that will be. And then, I’ll help you hold to it.

This Is Possible for You Too

My friends, this is 100% possible for you.

You can commit to work hours, stick to them, and still be seen as engaged, trustworthy, and capable—without burning yourself out.

That’s what Alexia created. And that’s what you can create, too.

Client Story: Kat on the Verge of Burnout

And then there’s Kat.

Kat was on the verge of burnout when we started working together—so much so that she ended up taking a couple of months off in the middle of coaching just to recalibrate and figure out how to deal with her stress.

At the time, she had a six-month-old baby. She worked directly with patients and constantly felt behind. She was overloaded with emails and messages, and she had way more patients than she should have had.

Kat felt like she was working all day and all night, always trying to catch up, always trying to respond. Even when she wasn’t at work, she was thinking about clients she hadn’t gotten back to yet, carrying that backlog of communication like a weight on her shoulders.

By the time she got home, she was exhausted—too drained to give anything to her son or her husband. Many nights, she would sit and cry, feeling like a terrible mom for dropping her baby at daycare at 7:30 in the morning and not picking him up until 6:00 or 6:30 at night. He was only six months old, so he went to bed early. She felt like she was missing everything.

A fly on the wall in Kat’s house would have seen a frantic woman: trying to get back to patients, trying to clean the house, trying to do tummy time with her infant, trying to be a good friend, and trying to respond to everyone all at once.

Kat After Coaching: Presence, Calm, and Priorities

Here’s what Kat had to say after coaching (quoting her):

“I now have such better focus. I can sit in the moment with my son, play, and enjoy him—that’s in really big letters—enjoy him. Something I desperately wanted was for my son to know that I enjoy playing with him. Being present in all parts of my life has made this possible. Being present still takes reminders and always will, but it’s much more second nature. It has really instilled in me the importance of time for myself, to sit in my thoughts and feelings so I can show up in all of my roles.”

A fly on the wall in Kat’s new, more balanced life would see her on the floor doing tummy time, giggling, and being present.

They would also see her singing and practicing music again—something she loved but hadn’t made time for before.

They would notice she wasn’t trying to respond to every friend or every family member immediately. Instead, she learned to choose who and what mattered most. She edited down who she felt responsible for in her priority-first life.

Kat decided her priorities—and learned how to stick to them, even when she felt the urge to log back on, clean the house, or get back to someone right away.

My Own Story: Why Balance Is Never “One and Done”

The last story I want to share is one of my own.

I could give countless examples of how I’ve built a priority-first life, but here’s what I really want you to know: this is not a one-and-done process.

Living a priority-first life and experiencing work-life balance takes constant intentionality. You don’t “arrive” at balance and then stop working at it.

As an ambitious working mom, your life will always be full. There will always be competing priorities. And you’ll always need to make decisions about where to put your time and energy.

That’s exactly why I created the Ambitious and Balanced process and why I teach it inside the group coaching program. The circumstances in your life will always change. But the process stays the same—you can apply it over and over again in every season.

My Morning Struggle with “On-Time” Mom

Let me give you an example from my own life—literally from this morning, as I was writing this podcast.

I’ve always been someone who hates being late. It’s part of my identity: I am an on-time person, if not early.

But as a mom, I’ve realized this meant I was constantly pushing my kids out the door. We gotta go, we gotta go. And I’ve had to work hard to let go of that need.

Even though I’ve gotten much better at this over the years, I know it will always be something I have to consciously practice.

This morning, my daughter woke up tired and declared she was not going to school. She repeated it over and over again, then crawled back into bed.

Old Me vs. New Me

The old me—the “on-time mom”—would have snapped. I would have yelled, threatened consequences, pulled off the covers, and forced her to get dressed. I would have gotten her to school, but both of us would have been miserable. I would have driven away feeling like a terrible mom.

But the new me—living a priority-first life—handled it differently.

I took a couple of deep breaths, excused myself to my bedroom, and finished my cup of tea calmly. I reminded myself: Getting to school on time isn’t the most important thing.

I got dressed, went through my morning routine, and arranged for a friend to take my son to school. Then I returned to my daughter’s room, rubbed her back, and listened. I validated her feelings: It’s hard to be tired and still have to go to school. I understand.

Eventually, I calmly explained there would be a consequence if she didn’t get dressed. I left, made her breakfast, and gave her the space she needed. Finally, she got up. I even helped her with socks and shoes—something she’s fully capable of—because she needed the extra support.

We got to school about 20 minutes late.

Choosing Connection Over Perfection

Looking back, I handled that morning in the way I want to: calmly, intentionally, connected. But it still took a lot of emotional energy.

So when I got home, a fly on the wall would have seen me turn on music, sing loudly, and journal to release that emotion. Not because I was telling myself I failed, but because I was letting go and reminding myself of all the things I did right.

This is what it looks like to live a priority-first life. To prioritize connection over perfection. To manage the emotions that come with motherhood and ambition.

And this is exactly what I’m teaching you in the Ambitious and Balanced program—the tools to keep coming back to what matters most, no matter the circumstance.

Why Visualization Creates Real Change

My goal in sharing these stories is to give you a glimpse into what life looks like—a way to help your brain not only see, but feel motivated to create this priority-first life.

It’s your turn now to see what’s possible when you create work-life balance. I want you to be a fly on the wall and observe what life would be like if you were experiencing this—if you were going through this program and learning the tools I’m sharing with you here.

One of the most effective ways I know to do that—a tool that is literally transformative—is visualization.

The Science of Visualization and Why It Works

Visualization is one of the tools I use with my clients because it gives your conscious mind a glimpse into what you want.

Now, I’m not an expert in visualization or meditation. I’ve never studied it. The way I use it is very simple—designed for the average person with a short attention span, like me. I don’t spend copious amounts of time meditating. Honestly, that sounds awful to me.

Instead, I guide myself and my clients through very short, usually two-minute or less, visualizations. These are quick prompts that help you see the future you want to create ahead of time.

And if you’ve never heard about the effectiveness of visualization, let me tell you: it’s been studied again and again.

The Basketball Free-Throw Study

The first time I learned about visualization was through a story about basketball players. In this research study, players were split into three groups:

  1. One group practiced free throws daily.

  2. The second group spent the same amount of time visualizing themselves making free throws—but never actually practiced.

  3. The third group didn’t practice at all.

The results? Obviously, the group that didn’t practice at all performed the worst. But here’s the shocking part: there was virtually no difference between the group that practiced and the group that only visualized. Both groups improved equally.

That blew my mind. And research continues to confirm this: when you visualize something, your brain fires the same synaptic connections as if you were physically doing it.

Why Ambitious Women Need Visualization

This is why visualization matters for you.

Your brain doesn’t like change. It doesn’t want to let go of overworking, perfectionism, or people-pleasing. It resists learning how to be present or setting new habits.

But when you visualize yourself living differently—shutting your laptop at 5:00 p.m., laughing with your kids during tummy time, showing up to yoga class despite the chaos—your brain starts to recognize it. It becomes familiar.

And when something feels familiar, it becomes easier to do. Easier to create. Easier to sustain.

Visualization gives you the motivation to follow through because you’ve already “seen” yourself do it.

A Guided Visualization: Your Priority-First Life

Let’s do a quick visualization together. This is exactly the kind of tool I use with my clients, and it doesn’t take long.

Take a couple of deep breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth. If you can, close your eyes.

Now imagine: tomorrow morning, you wake up in your priority-first life.

  • The overworking habits you want to change are already gone.

  • You feel calm, present, and connected.

  • Your schedule has space for yourself—for workouts, for friends, for joy.

  • Work stays at work, and your evenings are unplugged.

See yourself waking up—rested, grounded. Notice how you carry yourself through the morning. See how you talk with your kids or partner over breakfast. The energy feels intentional, not rushed.

Now imagine being at work. Notice your clear priorities, your steady shoulders, the confidence in your voice. Your mind isn’t racing. You speak up, you share your ideas, you own your value.

As the day ends, visualize closing out your work calmly, not frantically. You know what’s on tomorrow’s list. You leave with peace, not panic.

Now you’re home. Notice the energy you bring into your house: light, present, open. You play, cook, connect, or relax—without guilt. At the end of the day, your mind is still. Your body is calm. You fall asleep peacefully.

Take a couple more deep breaths. Lock that image into your mind. This is your priority-first life.

Your Priority-First Life Is Waiting

Working moms, I can help you create this life. This is exactly what I’ve been doing for the past seven years. I’ve coached over 200 women and taught thousands more the process I created inside Ambitious and Balanced.

And right now, there are still a few spots left in the fall cohort. This first group even includes a special bonus: ongoing coaching throughout 2025.

This is your moment. Don’t wait for change to happen to you—decide to create it.

It all starts with scheduling a free consultation call with me to make sure you’re a perfect fit for this group of ten. You can do that by going to my website:

www.rebeccaolsencoaching.com/ambitiousandbalancedworkingmoms

Your priority-first life is waiting. You’ve already seen it in your mind. Now, let’s create it together.

Until next week, let’s get to it.

Rebecca Olson