Work-Life Balance: Here’s How You’ll Know You’ve Arrived

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Today, I'm tackling one of the most common questions I get asked: How do you know when you've arrived at work-life balance?

To answer this, I went straight to the experts - my current cohort of Ambitious & Balanced. These incredible women have spent the last 3 months deeply focused on creating a life that feels balanced, and their insights completely blew me away.

We’re diving into both the internal and external signs that show you’ve actually made it, and trust me, their answers will shift the way you think about balance forever. If you’ve ever wondered whether work-life balance is even possible for you, you won’t want to miss this episode!  

Topics in this episode:

  • The biggest myth about “arriving” at work-life balance 

  • The internal evidence of balance 

  • The external signs that you’re prioritizing the right things 

  • Why changing jobs isn’t the answer to better balance

Show Notes & References:

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Transcript

Introduction

Working Moms how do you know when you've arrived at work life balance? I was asked this question actually several times over the last few weeks and to come up with an answer I asked the current cohort of ambitious imbalanced. I mean, they've been working with me for the last three months on achieving work life balance and so I felt they would likely have the most insightful information, the most accurate information in order to answer this question on how do you know when you've arrived? So in today's episode, I'm just sharing with you their thoughts. This group of women have been hyper focused on creating a life that feels balanced over the last three months and their way of describing work life balance simply blew my mind. I can't wait to share it with you as we dive into both the internal and the external evidence that indicates a balanced life. Are you ready? Let's get to it.

Welcome to the ambitious imbalanced 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.

Happy Monday, Working Moms!

The last several weeks have been so fun because I’ve been talking to so many incredible working moms who are ready to break free from imposter syndrome and create their dream life. A life where they don’t have to choose between family and work—but get to have both.

The Next Ambitious and Balanced Cohort Is Forming

If you haven’t heard, I’m currently forming the next cohort of Ambitious and Balanced, my signature group coaching program. The next round begins on Monday, February 24th, and I’m taking final consultation calls now.

This program is a curated group of just 10 working moms. My goal is to accelerate the whole group toward creating balance as quickly as possible. That’s why I require a consultation call before joining—to make sure it’s the perfect fit for you.

If you want to snag one of my last 30-minute consultation spots, you can go to www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced. There, you’ll get the full rundown of the program and dates. Click the button that says “Book Your 30-Minute Consultation” to grab a spot on my calendar.

A Powerful Question About Work-Life Balance

Today’s podcast episode is special because it was inspired by a question I received on one of those consultation calls.

An amazing woman who is joining the next cohort asked me: “How do you know when you’ve arrived at work-life balance?”

Such an important question—and one I’m thrilled she asked. We’re going to spend time today unpacking it, not just from my perspective, but also through the insights of my current cohort of Ambitious and Balanced women.

The Question Keeps Coming Up

What makes this timing even more perfect is that just a few days later, while giving a workshop in San Francisco on Priority-First Living, another woman asked me the exact same question.

She said: “How do you know when you’ve arrived at work-life balance?” In her group discussion, her whole table was wrestling with that very thing—what’s the arrival point? How do you know when you’ve actually achieved balance?

So, I took that question back to my current cohort. And it couldn’t have come at a better time. They’re wrapping up their three-month program with me, and I know that what they thought “arrival” would look like when they started is very different from what they now know balance actually feels like.

When Do You Know You’ve Arrived at Work-Life Balance?

So today on the podcast, I want to walk you through my clients’ answers to this question. The way they describe balance—their lived experience of it—is fresh, insightful, and incredibly grounding. It shows you how achievable work-life balance truly is.

When you join Ambitious and Balanced, this is exactly what you learn to create for yourself. My hope is that as you listen, you’ll feel inspired to book a consultation call and take action toward joining the next cohort or one of the upcoming ones later this year.

Why Your Brain Wants an “Arrival Point”

Work-life balance can feel mysterious and even elusive. Your brain naturally wants to define it. It wants to know: what is the arrival point? How do I know I’ve achieved it?

And here’s why. When your brain has a clear definition of balance, it can decide whether or not it’s actually possible for you. That’s what it really wants to know—is this achievable in my life? Because if it isn’t, then maybe the only option is to change jobs, quit, or make some other drastic move.

Why Changing Jobs Doesn’t Solve the Problem

I had a consultation call recently with a woman who decided to join the program. She had switched jobs not long ago because she couldn’t hold boundaries in her previous role. But even in her new job, she was still struggling with boundaries.

Of course she was. The job was never the real problem. She simply hadn’t learned the skills required to hold firm boundaries without guilt. That’s why she’s here now, and that’s what this program is designed to teach.

The point is this: changing jobs or companies will not magically create work-life balance. Balance comes from skills, mindset, and strategy—not from a different business card.

Work-Life Balance Is Possible Anywhere

After eight years of coaching and thousands of conversations with working moms, I can tell you with absolute confidence: work-life balance is possible in any job and under any circumstance.

It doesn’t matter whether you work in corporate, education, medicine, law, or a male-dominated industry. It doesn’t matter if you manage a large team, a small team, or no team at all. Balance is not reserved for certain roles or industries. It is possible for you.

The Problem With the Word “Arrival”

Before I share the insights from my cohort, I want to highlight a subtle but important problem with this line of questioning. The word “arrival” suggests a one-and-done moment. It implies that once you’ve achieved balance, you never have to think about it again.

That’s not the reality. Balance takes maintenance. It requires conscious adjustments and continual attention. Think of it like weight loss—once you hit your ideal weight, you don’t stop caring about nutrition and exercise. You maintain your health through habits and choices that make it easier over time.

The same is true with balance. You establish rhythms, practices, and mindsets that make it easier to sustain, but you never stop tending to it.

A Better Way to Think About Balance

So perhaps the better question is not “When do you know you’ve arrived at work-life balance?” but rather, “How do you know you’ve reached a place where you can maintain it?”

That frame of mind is far more accurate. It gives you permission to recognize balance not as a finish line but as a sustainable way of living that you can keep adjusting and protecting as life shifts.

Now, with that perspective in place, let’s dive into the insights my current cohort shared when I asked them this very question. Their answers will give you a powerful, real-life look at what balance actually feels like.

Two Types of Evidence for Work-Life Balance

When I asked my current cohort how they knew they had arrived at balance, I noticed their answers fell into two clear categories. There was internal evidence and there was external evidence.

Internal evidence is about what’s happening inside—the thoughts, feelings, and self-perception that shift when balance begins to take hold. External evidence is what someone on the outside could observe, the visible proof that balance is being lived out in daily life.

Internal Evidence: Calm, Confidence, and Peace

Overwhelmingly, the words I heard from my clients about internal evidence were calm, present, less anxious, and less worried. Several women shared that before the program, their entire identity was wrapped up in work. How they felt about themselves was determined by their achievements and how much they got done in a day.

Now, they see a fuller picture of who they are. They no longer define themselves only by work, but as whole human beings. Confidence has emerged as a big indicator of balance—confidence in themselves as moms, as decision-makers, and as women of value.

One client shared that the language she uses to describe herself has become more positive. She sees her worth. She trusts her decisions. Another used the word peace to describe her new state of mind. For her, peace means her gut feels settled. She no longer carries the constant worry that she’s not doing enough or prioritizing her family correctly. Her decisions feel aligned with her values and priorities.

I also heard women say they ruminate less. If something doesn’t go as planned, they’re able to let it go instead of replaying it in their minds all night. They are no longer stuck in loops of second-guessing or regret. This is what internal evidence of balance looks like: calm, presence, peace, confidence, and a more compassionate inner voice.

External Evidence: What Balance Looks Like From the Outside

Now let’s shift to the external evidence. If you were a fly on the wall in their homes and workplaces, here’s what you’d see.

There would be time set aside for family. There would also be time carved out for themselves, time for meaningful work, and time when they are truly off. These are the four essential priorities of a balanced life, and they show up clearly when women commit to living differently.

One woman told me she knows she’s arrived because she no longer always chooses work. Instead of automatically staying late or logging on after hours, she now chooses her family. The default has reversed. Work no longer takes priority by default, and her schedule includes true periods of rest.

Another woman explained that balance shows up in her decision-making. She no longer says yes automatically. She pauses, considers whether a meeting or project is hers to own, and decides intentionally. She even asks her spouse to take on more, and she engages him more fully in family responsibilities.

For another, external balance showed up in her emotions. She snapped less at her kids. She felt less frustrated. And when she did feel overwhelmed, she used intentional practices to calm down and regulate instead of spiraling.

Emotional Roller Coasters That Even Out

Before coaching, many women describe their emotions like riding a roller coaster—steep drops, sharp turns, constant ups and downs. There’s a roller coaster near me called The Joker, and it has one of the steepest drops I’ve ever experienced. That’s what many women’s emotions feel like when they first come to me: constant intensity, constant volatility.

But when they arrive at balance, their emotions even out. It doesn’t mean they never feel stressed or overwhelmed, but the highs and lows become gentler, more like a kid’s roller coaster. The dips and turns are manageable.

What I’ve Personally Observed as External Proof

In addition to what my clients describe, I’ve also observed some clear signs of balance in their lives.

They’re working fewer hours because they prioritize shutting down. Evenings, weekends, and PTO are no longer dominated by work. They’re experiencing more teamwork with their spouses and delegating more of the mental load.

And perhaps most noticeably, I’ve seen more smiles, more celebration, and more satisfaction. At the start of every coaching call, I ask my clients to share something they’re proud of. In these last weeks of the program, I’ve watched them beam with pride as they celebrate sticking to their priorities, honoring their schedules, and truly enjoying the progress they’ve made.

Each week they also fill out an evaluation form, rating how balanced they felt. As we approach the end of the program, those numbers have climbed—sevens, eights, even nines—showing just how far they’ve come in creating and sustaining balance.

How You Know You’ve Arrived at Balance

So let’s circle back to that woman who asked me, “How do you know when you’ve arrived?”

Here’s my answer: You’ll know because internally, your thoughts and emotions feel calmer and more controlled. Externally, you’re making intentional decisions to not always prioritize work. Your “yes” becomes more thoughtful and curated because it’s based on your goals and priorities.

When that shift happens, you’re likely working fewer hours while still achieving at the same level. That is exactly what I want for you, and exactly what is possible for you inside Ambitious and Balanced.

What You’ll Create in Just Three Months

This program is designed to help you achieve work-life balance quickly. In just three months, you will change your working habits so that you prioritize yourself and your family more often. Your schedule will be filled with less work and more of what matters most.

Imagine sitting down with your family without your brain still thinking about work. Imagine actually enjoying evenings and weekends instead of letting them be consumed by your job. That’s the transformation this program creates.

Why Not Now?

I know it’s tempting to think, “I’ll do it later when things slow down.” But one of the amazing women in my current cohort told me, “I’m joining now because this is my busiest season. If I can create balance during the most stressful time of year, then I can create balance always.”

And she did. She was able to step away during the holidays, stop feeling like an imposter, own her value at work, and literally work fewer hours while achieving just as much.

So I’ll ask you the same question: why not now?

Your Invitation to Join

I am taking my final consultation calls right now to fill the last spots for this cohort. To sign up, go to www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced. There you’ll find all the program details and a button to schedule your free 30-minute consultation.

Consultations need to be scheduled soon because the cohort begins Monday, February 24th.

Here’s what to expect:

  • Kickoff Week: February 24th–28th, we’ll meet daily from 12:00–1:30pm ET to cover the foundational tools you need to create balance.

  • Weekly Calls: Starting the first week of March, we’ll meet every Tuesday at 12:00pm ET for one hour over three months.

  • Monthly Calls: Beginning in June, we’ll continue with monthly group coaching calls for the rest of the year.

The investment is $2,000. You can pay upfront or in four monthly payments of $500.

This Is Your Year

Working moms, this is the year you stop spinning your wheels and finally feel successful both at work and at home. Inside Ambitious and Balanced, you’ll learn to create sustainable work-life balance, strengthen your boundaries, and show up with confidence in every part of your life.

I know you can do this—and I would love to walk you through it step by step, alongside a powerful group of women who are on the same journey.

Head to www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced to book your consultation today.

Rebecca Olson