Have you been a highly motivated person, and then suddenly your motivation is gone?

What do you do when motivation is suddenly gone?

Yes, it can happen. And it is something that I do not like. I’ve been struggling with a lack of motivation for some time now. I haven’t diagnosed it, yet. But going from a highly motivated person to almost zero motivation has been a serious struggle, and, honestly, I hate that feeling. I’m not motivated to read, or to do my class assignments, or to even work on my business.

So what do we do when we find ourselves without motivation? Things still need to get done. The books need to be read, the assignments need to get done, and the business needs to be built. Is it even possible to get big things accomplished without motivation? Asking for a friend.

As a work from home and homeschool mom, we can’t build our lives on motivation alone. Motivation is nice when it shows up, but it is not reliable enough to carry your family, your homeschool, your business, your house, your meals, your goals, and your sanity. That is too much pressure for a feeling.

What moms need is not more will power. We need systems. When motivation is gone, systems will get you through to the next step.

And the irony is, I am doing everything in my power to avoid writing this because I am so not motivated to do it. And now that I’ve finally stopped putting around to avoid writing, let’s get into it.

Why Motivation Feels So Powerful at First

Motivation is powerful because it gives you a burst of energy. You feel like the impossible is possible. There is inspiration. You see yourself in an aspirational light. Whether that is being a mom boss bringing in seven-figures. Or a homesteading homeschool mom. You imagine yourself in the best possible way. Motivation is a fulfiller of dreams.

That version sounds lovely. I would like to meet her.

The problem is motivation usually comes when the pressure is low. You are thinking about the new routine while sitting quietly with coffee. You are planning the homeschool year when no one is crying over fractions. You are setting business goals when your inbox is calm. You are deciding to get healthy while wearing stretchy pants and feeling hopeful.

But then real life starts asking questions.

Can motivation survive a sick kid, a missed deadline, a co-op morning, a toddler meltdown, a grocery pickup at the wrong location, and a teen who suddenly needs to talk about something important at 10:47 p.m.? Usually not. Motivation can only take you so far. It is usually to ignite the spark of an idea.

The Motivation Problem for Moms

The biggest problem with motivation is that it assumes your day belongs to you. Or that your attention is singularly focused.

That is adorable.

If you are a mom, your day does not fully belong to you. You may own pieces of it. You may get a quiet hour here or a focused 20 minutes there. But your day is full of people with needs, questions, emotions, snacks, missing socks, and dramatic announcements that they are starving even though they ate 14 minutes ago. And I wouldn’t change this for anything.

But I still want to be productive and see if my brilliant idea is actually, well, brilliant.

This is why so many productivity systems fall apart for moms. They are often built around uninterrupted time, predictable energy, and the assumption that you can simply decide what to do and then do it. That may work beautifully for someone alone in a quiet office. But for the mom working from home while homeschooling, the situation is different.

You need a system that bends.

You need something flexible enough to survive interruptions but structured enough to keep you moving forward. You need something that does not require you to feel inspired every morning. Because, let’s be honest, some mornings your biggest accomplishment is not saying what you are thinking before coffee.

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Motivation and Will Power Are Not the Same as Discipline

Recently, we had a long discussion in our house about the difference between motivated people and highly motivated people. After much wrestling over semantics, we reached the consensus that there is a difference between motivated people and highly motivated people. That difference comes down to discipline.

We know a lot of people who are motivated by a great idea, but yet they are unable to follow through on it. But it is the highly motivated individual that will see the idea through to the finish line. The difference between these two people is discipline. 

Now, before we throw motivation into the trash completely, let’s be clear. Motivation is not bad. It can be helpful. It can get you started. It can give you the emotional boost you need to try something new.

But motivation is not discipline.

Discipline is doing the thing because it matters, not because you feel like it. Like writing this post instead of putting around. Systems help you practice discipline without needing to drag yourself uphill every day by sheer will power. A good system removes some of the decisions. It lowers the friction. It makes the next step obvious.

That matters because moms make too many decisions already. We decide what everyone eats, when school starts, what curriculum to use, whether the toddler’s cough is normal or suspicious, who needs new shoes (I need to go get them), when to schedule appointments, what client work matters most, and whether the smell in the laundry room is survivable.

By the end of the day, deciding whether to work on your goal can feel impossible. Not because you are lazy. Not because you lack character. Because your brain has already run a marathon in flip-flops.

Where motivation stops, discipline needs to take over.

Why Moms Need Systems Instead of More Motivation

A system is simply a repeated way of doing something. It is a process that helps you move forward even when you are tired, distracted, or not feeling particularly inspired.

And moms need systems because systems reduce the mental load.

When your kids know the morning routine, you do not have to say the same thing 47 times before breakfast. When you have a simple weekly to-do list, you do not have to wake up and reinvent the day. When you have a meal plan, even a very basic one, you do not have to stare into the fridge at 5:00 p.m. hoping dinner reveals itself like a prophecy. I really hope it does for tonight, though.

Systems are not about becoming rigid. They are about creating freedom.

A system gives you a flexible framework. It tells your brain, “This is what we do next.” And when your brain is tired, that is a gift.

Motivation Fades, But Habits Keep Going

One of the best systems you can build is a habit. Habits are powerful because they become automatic over time. You do not have to think as much. You just do the thing because it has become part of your normal rhythm.

This is why habits work better than dramatic declarations.

These are not flashy. No one is making an inspirational reel about wiping counters after lunch. But these small habits add up. They quietly carry the weight that motivation drops.

And that is the magic. You need a repeatable process that helps you keep going.

Create a System with Routines

Routines are one of the best systems for moms because they are structured without being suffocating. A schedule says, this must happen at exactly 8:00. A routine says, this happens after that.

That difference matters.

A routine allows for the baby needing extra snuggles, the teen needing help, the toddler having a meltdown, or mom needing another cup of coffee because the first one disappeared somewhere between phonics and client emails.

Start with a morning routine because mornings set the tone for the day. This does not need to be complicated. In fact, please do not make it complicated. Complicated systems are where good intentions go to die.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is fewer decisions and fewer reminders.

Use a To-Do List as a System

Your to-do list can either be your best friend or a bully with bullet points.

If your to-do list has 43 items on it, it is not a plan. It is an emotional attack. No wonder you feel overwhelmed. You are looking at a list that no reasonable human could complete, especially one who is also raising children and running a business. As my husband reminds me on a daily basis.

Instead, use your to-do list as a system.

Start with a brain dump. Write down everything floating around in your head. Get it out. Your brain is not meant to be a junk drawer. Once it is on paper, sort it.

What must happen today? What can wait? What can be delegated? What can be deleted entirely?

Then pick your top three. These are the most important things that will move the day forward. Not the only things you will do, but the things that matter most.

This gives your motivation direction. Instead of waking up and trying to feel inspired by a giant list, you know exactly where to start.

That matters.

Give Yourself Grace Without Letting Yourself Quit

There is a difference between grace and excuses.

Grace says, today was hard. I need to adjust. Excuses say, today was hard, so I am done forever.

Moms need grace because life is unpredictable. Kids get sick. Babies do not sleep. Teens need emotional support at inconvenient times. Business problems pop up. Homeschool plans fall apart. Some days really are no good very bad days, and you need to take a break.

But grace should help you keep going, not give you a reason to quit.

This is why systems matter so much. When life knocks you off track, a system gives you a place to return. You do not have to start over from scratch. You just step back into the routine, the habit, the list, or the process.

You are not failing because you had a bad day. You are only in trouble if your entire plan depends on never having one.

Conclusion: Motivation Is Nice, But Systems Save Your Sanity

Mom, motivation is not enough. It never was.

You are not struggling because you are lazy. You are not behind because you lack will power. You are carrying a lot, and you need systems that support the life you actually live. Motivation may help you start, but systems help you keep going when the coffee is cold, the toddler is loud, the homeschool lesson is sideways, and your inbox is giving you attitude.

So stop waiting to feel motivated. Build the routine. Create the habit. Simplify the to-do list. Set up the environment. Make the next step obvious.

You do not need to become a different person to make progress. You need a better system.

And honestly, that is good news. Because if success depended on feeling motivated every day, we would all be in trouble by Wednesday.

Are you ready to start transforming your day? Get the course (that is quick and easy) to help you build routines. I promise you will thank me.

FAQ: Motivation for Moms

Q: Why is motivation not enough for moms?

A: Motivation is not enough because mom life is full of interruptions, decisions, and unpredictable needs. You may feel motivated at the beginning, but that feeling fades when real life gets loud. Systems help you keep going even when you do not feel inspired.

Q: What is the best motivation system for busy moms?

A: The best motivation system is one that fits your real life. For many moms, that means simple routines, short to-do lists, habit stacking, and clear expectations for the kids. The goal is to reduce decisions and make the next step easy.

Q: How do routines help with motivation?

A: Routines help because they remove the need to decide what comes next. When your day has a repeated rhythm, you can move through tasks with less mental effort. This frees up brain space and helps you stay consistent.

Q: What should I do when I lose motivation for homeschooling?

A: Go back to your why, but also check your system. Are your expectations realistic? Is the curriculum working? Are you trying to recreate public school at home? Sometimes lost motivation is a sign that your homeschool routine needs adjusting.

Q: Can habits replace motivation?

A: Habits can carry you when motivation fades. Once a behavior becomes part of your routine, you do not need to feel excited about it every time. You simply do it because it is part of the rhythm of your day.

Q: What is one small system I can start today?

A: Start with a top three to do list. Write down everything in your head, then choose the three most important tasks for the day. This gives your brain direction and helps you focus without feeling buried under a giant list.

The post When Motivation Dies But The To Do List Lives On appeared first on Life Unboxed.
Jodie the Mom

Let’s talk about the thing we don’t want to talk about, staying fit working from home.

There is enough on your plate. Staying fit or getting in shape is usually the last on your to do list. Even when you have the convenience of work out routines at home, it still seems like an impossible task. How to stay fit while working from home? Is it possible?

There is so much that demands your attention, and if you add one more thing to your plate you might just break it. Working from home is hard. Homeschooling kids is hard. Add them together and you have a special kind of chaos. Working from home with kids is exhausting. You are juggling a lot throughout the day. Busy mom fitness tends to get put on the back burner.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keeps things free for you, and who doesn’t love free stuff. For more information, see my disclosures.

Then there are all the temptations lurking around every corner. The pantry beckons you to indulge, the fridge cries out for attention, and the couch calls you to rest. It is hard to fit in work out routines at home, even those that promise only 30 minutes per day.

But your mental and physical health are your two biggest assets in life and in business. You need to take care of both. 

Why You Need Work Out Routines at Home

Some people prefer to go to the gym and work out. The act of taking the time to drive there solidifies the commitment to exercise. I’m not one of those people. If my body is going to shake like a bowl full of jelly, then I want to do it in the comfort of my own home. Not to mention my lack of coordination. Trust me it is a public service working out at home.

Whether you go to the gym or workout at home, know that sitting all day long is not good for you.

Here are a few facts. Most people sit more than they realize, and all that time sitting without activity causes some legitimate health risks. Sitting for long periods every day, over a long period of time, increases the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular events. But there is worse, sitting too long also makes your butt bigger. Yikes!

It is so easy to think that you are moving enough when you are working from home. You feel tired often. Honestly, I am not sure what it feels like to not be tired anymore. So thinking of adding work out routines at home makes me feel even more exhausted. But here’s the catch, I do feel better when I start working out on a regular basis. As a mom working from home, it sometimes feels like you are running a marathon every day. Your mind can trick you into thinking you are getting enough movement.

Here’s the challenge to see if you are moving enough throughout the day. Get a fitness watch that will count your steps. Garmin, iWatch, Fitbit—I’ve used them all. Get one that you like and works with your budget. Any of these watches will get the job done. I’ve found the Garmin to be the most cost effective, and I haven’t been disappointed with it. At the moment, I have an iWatch because we switched to iPhones, but either will work. Wear it and see how many steps you take during the day, you will probably be shocked. 

When I first got my smartwatch, I was curious to see how working from home changed my movement. And I was shocked. On average I only clocked in about 1500 steps a day (the recommended daily goal is 10,000 steps). I was not moving nearly as much as I thought I was. It was a stunning reality check.

Do you know how many steps you are getting in each day?

3 Tips to Stay Fit Working from Home

So you want to stay or get fit. You don’t want to increase your chances for diabetes or cardiovascular events. And you definitely don’t want your butt getting bigger. Here are my tried and tested tips for staying fit while you are working from home.

1. Move at your desk

This is actually one of my favorites. Any easy way to multitask is a win in my book. I spend so much time at my desk. I need an option to can work out while I’m working. This is a great way to add work out routines at home.

If you decide to use a standing desk (I’ve tried it, but it didn’t work for me). You can get a Simply Fit Board and twist at your desk. I would strongly suggest not buying generic. I did and the board cracked within a month. My actual Simply Fit Board is still in one piece more than 5 years later.

You can use hand weights to lift at your desk. Put a mini exercise bike under your desk. You can try a wobble cushion that helps with your core. There are also desk ellipticals.

Currently, there is a desk elliptical under my desk. When I use it. I turn on the workout for my smart watch. This is how I know that I am intentionally moving and keeping up a pace that counts as a workout. I also like to see my ring close and get rewarded for my workout.

There are so many ways that you can start moving at your desk and start your journey to getting fit. And we still need to talk about actual work out routines at home.

2. Drink water

This is one of those things that is easy to forget even with the kitchen right there. Or you might even be working out of your kitchen. But it is so easy to keep going throughout the day and not think about drinking water. Drinking water helps you stay full and this will help you not overeat. The pantry is right there and the fridge says, “Hey, come on over and see what’s inside.”

Anyone else eat out of boredom? Sometimes you just need a break from your computer, and the easiest place to go to is the pantry. In an office, you would probably walk over to your friend’s desk for a distraction. At home it’s the fridge or the pantry to distract you. So instead of heading to these two place, head for the water instead.

3. Work out routines at home—make it part of your daily routine

Although you added more movement at your desk, it is time to add actual work out routines at home. It is recommended to do 150 minutes of moderate exercises or 75 minutes of intense aerobic exercise per week. That is 30 minutes 5 days per week, or 50 minutes 3 days per week. For intense workouts that is 15 minutes 5 days per week, or 25 minutes 3 days a week. Or just get a smart watch and the app will track this time for you.

You can do this! Pick how many days per week you want to work out, and then start working towards the time frame. Make it part of your daily routine, so you can start forming habits. Once a habit is formed, you do it without thinking.

You don’t have to start your intense workout immediately. Build up to it. If you are going from nothing to 30 minutes of intense workouts, your body is going to be worn out. You will increase the likelihood that you won’t follow through or keep up the routine.

Start slow. Aim for 15 minutes a day to start out. The key is to do it at the same time every day, so that you create a habit of working out at the same time every day. This will increase your chances of sticking to the routine for the long haul.

Here are some of my favorite work out routines at home: pilates, treadmill, exercise bike, and more. Follow my Pinterest board for workouts I like that include Tabata exercises, kettlebell, and treadmill interval exercises.

At the moment, I am focusing on weight training. The more muscle you build the more calories you burn at rest.

Conclusion

Are you convinced that you need to work out more? Part of my reason for writing posts like this, is so I can remind myself that I need to do this too. Are you ready to get moving? Or at least start adding movement at your desk? What is the first step you will take to get started?

For my ideas for workouts you can do, be sure to follow me on Pinterest!

The post Work Out Routines At Home: 3 Tips To Stay Fit Working From Home appeared first on Life Unboxed.
Jodie the Mom

I know. You are already a busy mom, so adding one more thing to your plate seems ridiculously impossible. But your physical and mental health are your greatest assets and you can’t ignore them.

Finding the time to exercise feels impossible for busy mom. We all know that we need to do it. Sitting is the new smoking has been said for years now. But how do you actually do it between running businesses, homeschooling, laundry, and they want to eat again.

The problem is not that a busy mom doesn’t care about fitness. It is that most fitness advice is not written with a busy mom in mind. Just like everything else, we are rebel moms redefining everything, this is just one more area that we need to make work for us. Not Pinterest perfect with all the matching workout clothes, but practical and maybe even a little ugly. And that’s ok. We don’t actually need to post our workouts online.

A busy mom needs a fitness plan that bends with real life. It needs to work when the baby wakes up early, when math takes three hours, when work deadlines explode, when dinner is cereal or frozen pizza (no judgement here), and when the only quiet moment of the day happens after everyone is asleep and you no longer have the will to move your own body.

So let’s talk about practical fitness for busy mom. Not extreme fitness. I can’t promise you a beach body in 30-days, but after six kids who actually wants to wear a bikini. This is not a system that requires you to become a completely different person by next Monday.

This is fitness for the mom who wants more energy, more strength, less stress, and a body that can keep up with the life she is actually living.

Why Fitness Feels Impossible for the Busy Mom

The biggest paradox when it comes to being a work from home and homeschool mom is that I am sitting more, but I am also completely exhausted by the end of the day. Some days it does feel like I ran a marathon, but I barely walked from my desk to the kitchen.

Our minds get tricked into thinking that we are moving more than we actually are.

When I worked in the corporate world, I did get up and move around a lot. Especially, working in New York City. It wasn’t something that I really thought about, but I did get a lot of movement throughout the day. It was a longer walk between offices. Now the only place to go is the kitchen or the bathroom and that distance is significantly shorter.

As a busy mom, we have this problem of being busy, feeling exhausted by the end of the day, so assuming that we are getting more movement than we actually are. And once we realize that, we reach the conclusion that we need to add one more thing to our plates. But it feels impossible.

Fitness feels impossible for the busy mom because it is usually presented as something separate from the rest of life. You are told to carve out an hour a day, drive to the gym, follow a program, meal prep, track everything, drink more water, stretch, walk 10,000 steps, lift heavy, get enough sleep, and manage your stress.

Wonderful. Now where do I actually add that to my day?

Most moms are not lacking discipline. They are lacking margin.

That is a very important distinction.

When you are overloaded, the answer is not to just try harder. The answer is to build a fitness habit that fits into the cracks of your day. That may not sound glamorous, but neither is wiping applesauce off the wall. We are not here for glamour. We are here for something that actually works.

There are many times when it feels like if I add one more thing to my plate it is going to break. But I also want to be healthy for my kids and any future grandkids. What we do now is going to determine how well we age.

Are we going to be the bent over 75-year-old ladies shuffling around or are we going to be the 80-year-old grandmas crushing an Iron Man? Personally, I would like to know that I could do an Iron Man if I wanted to, but I don’t actually want to.

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The Busy Mom Mindset Shift: Fitness is a Habit, Not a Project

I know, you don’t need fitness to become a massive project. That is the last thing a busy mom needs. But here’s the good news, you don’t need to overhaul your entire life in one dramatic Monday morning moment.

Instead, think of fitness as a habit.

A project has a deadline. A habit becomes part of who you are and how you live. This is why the I need to lose weight by summer mindset often falls apart. It gives you a finish line, but it does not help you build a sustainable life.

A better mindset is, I want to become stronger, healthier, and more energized so I can show up well for my family and myself. You want to be able to do that Iron Man at 80. That has to start now.

And this mindset changes everything.

Now fitness is not punishment for what you ate. It is not a frantic attempt to fix yourself. It is not another measuring stick to prove whether you are succeeding or failing.

Fitness becomes stewardship. It becomes caring for the body that carries babies, groceries, emotional burdens, laundry baskets, and sometimes the entire family schedule in one exhausted brain.

Practical Fitness for the Busy Mom Starts Small

If you are overloaded, start embarrassingly small. I know. You want the big plan. You want the beautiful calendar. You want to become the kind of woman who wakes up at 5 a.m., works out, showers, reads her Bible, drinks water, and smiles peacefully before the children wake up.

That woman may exist. I have questions.

But most of us need to start smaller. Much smaller. Start with five minutes. Yes, start with something that is going to give you a quick win.

Five minutes of squats. Five minutes of walking. Five minutes of stretching. Five minutes of pushups against the counter. Five minutes of dancing in the kitchen while your kids look at you like you have finally lost it. I may know that look.

It may not feel like enough, but it is enough to build the habit. Once the habit exists, you can build on it. The goal is not to impress anyone. The goal is to begin.

The Busy Mom Fitness Plan That Actually Works

The best fitness plan for a busy mom is the one you will actually do. The plan that works is simple, flexible, and repeatable.

My workouts have changed through the years. So start with this framework to get started, but adjust, tweak, or change as you build the habit.

Here is a practical weekly framework:

1. Move Daily in Small Ways

Daily movement does not need to mean a formal workout every day. Some days it will. Other days it may mean a walk around the block, stretching before bed, or doing lunges while waiting for the microwave.

Do not despise small movement. It adds up.

Over the years, I’ve used different tools while I work. I’ve had an under the desk bike and elliptical, but I recently upgraded to a walking pad. The habit is to get in 8,000 steps while I work. And it is working. The immediate improvement that I saw after I started using it was better sleep.

Find ways to add movement while you are doing other things.

2. Strength Train 2-3 Times a Week

Strength training is one of the best fitness choices for busy moms because it gives you the most return for your time. You do not need a gym membership or a full home gym. Start with bodyweight exercises.

Think squats, lunges, pushups, planks, glute bridges, and rows if you have dumbbells or resistance bands.

Strength matters because motherhood is physical. You lift kids, carry groceries, haul laundry, rearrange furniture when the mood strikes, and somehow bring every bag from the car in one trip because two trips are for people with time.

Getting stronger helps real life feel easier. The muscle you build now is going to make a huge difference as you age.

Check out Exercises for Mom

3. Stretch Because Your Body is Not 20 Anymore

I feel this…every morning. There comes a point in life when you can hurt your neck by sleeping wrong. This feels deeply unfair, but here we are.

Stretching helps with stiffness, stress, and mobility. It also gives your body a moment to exhale. You do not need a complicated yoga routine. Stretch your back, hips, shoulders, hamstrings, and neck.

If you sit at a desk, homeschool at the table, nurse a baby, carry toddlers, or sleep in weird positions because a child invaded your bed, your body needs stretching.

Check out Stretching Exercises for Mom

What the Busy Mom Should Stop Doing

Sometimes the best way to make progress is to stop doing the things that are making fitness harder than it needs to be.

Stop waiting for motivation. Motivation is unreliable. It shows up when you buy the cute planner and disappears when the toddler throws yogurt.

You do not need motivation. You need a routine. You need a small habit you can do even when you do not feel like it.

Stop choosing programs designed for someone else’s life. If a program requires two hours a day, a strict meal plan, and no interruptions, it may be a great program. But it may not be great for your season.

Choose what fits your life right now.

Stop thinking small workouts do not count. Small workouts count. A 10-minute walk counts. Five minutes of strength training counts. Stretching counts.

You are building consistency, and consistency is where the magic happens.

Busy Mom Fitness When You Are Exhausted

There will be days when you are bone tired. On those days, be wise.

Sometimes movement will help. A short walk, gentle stretching, or light strength work can clear your head and reduce stress.

But sometimes you need rest. Actual rest. Not fake rest where you sit down and mentally plan the next 47 things.

Fitness for overloaded moms must include recovery. You are not a machine. Even machines break when they are not maintained, and you are much more valuable than a dishwasher with a questionable attitude.

So ask yourself: Do I need movement, or do I need rest? Then answer honestly.

Once you’ve created the habit, it is ok to take time to rest. Workout for six weeks and then plan to rest for the seventh week. Planned rest will still keep you on track with your fitness habit, while also giving you a milestone to achieve.

Make Fitness Easier with Your Environment

Make fitness easy for a busy mom. If your workout shoes are buried in the closet, your resistance bands are in a mystery drawer, and your water bottle has been claimed by a child, you are making fitness harder.

Set up your environment so it is easy. You do not need an elaborate home gym. You need fewer barriers.

Also, remove a few obstacles. If scrolling your phone eats your evening, set a boundary. If late nights make mornings impossible, start working backward toward better sleep. If your to-do list is overloaded, stop pretending you can add a 90-minute workout without removing something else.

Fitness needs space. Not a huge amount of space, but some.

Conclusion: The Busy Mom Can Build Practical Fitness

Fitness for the busy mom does not need to be extreme. It needs to be practical.

You do not need to become a different person. And you do not need to overhaul your life. You do not need to wait until the kids are older, the schedule is calmer, the house is cleaner, or the stars align over the laundry pile.

Start small.

Move for five minutes. Take a walk. Stretch before bed. Do a few squats while the coffee brews. Build strength two or three times a week. Rest when you need it. Keep going when life gets messy.

You are not failing because fitness feels hard. You are living a full life with a lot of demands. So stop trying to force yourself into a fitness system that was never designed for moms.

Be a rebel mom. Build one that works for you.

FAQ: Busy Mom Fitness

Q: How can a busy mom start exercising?

A: A busy mom can start exercising by making the habit very small. Begin with five to ten minutes a day. Walk, stretch, do squats, or try a short bodyweight workout. The goal is to build consistency first, then increase the time or intensity later.

Q: What is the best workout for a busy mom?

A: The best workout for a busy mom is one she will actually do. Strength training, walking, stretching, and short cardio bursts are all great options. A simple plan that includes two or three strength workouts and regular walking is a practical place to start.

Q: How many minutes should a busy mom exercise each day?

A: Start with five to fifteen minutes if you are overwhelmed. You can always build up later. Small workouts are better than waiting for a perfect hour that never comes. Consistency matters more than perfection.

Q: How can I stay consistent with fitness as a busy mom?

A: Use routines instead of rigid schedules. Stack movement onto something you already do, like coffee, brushing your teeth, or starting laundry. Keep your equipment visible and your plan simple. The easier it is to start, the more likely you are to continue.

Q: What equipment does a busy mom need for fitness?

A: You do not need much. Comfortable shoes, resistance bands, and a pair of dumbbells are enough for most home workouts. You can also start with no equipment and use bodyweight exercises.

The post The Busy Mom Guide To Fitness: Practical Fitness For Overloaded Moms appeared first on Life Unboxed.
Jodie the Mom

Erin Morgenstern’s The Starless Sea is a fantasy novel filled with underground worlds, mysterious doors, secret stories, and layers upon layers of symbolism. It is a story within a story, and it gets very hard to follow.

Because I haven’t figured out the puzzle yet even though I don’t know what the puzzle is.

Author: Erin Morgenstern

Genre: Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Magical Realism

Recommend: Not really

Overview of The Starless Sea

The Starless Sea follows Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a graduate student who discovers a mysterious book in the library. Inside the book, he finds a story from his own childhood, which leads him into a hidden world filled with keys, bees, swords, doors, stories, and ancient secrets.

The novel is highly atmospheric and symbolic. Morgenstern creates a world that feels like a maze of fairy tales.

Summary

The story begins when Zachary finds a strange book that somehow contains a moment from his own life. This discovery sends him searching for answers. Along the way, he meets mysterious characters, follows clues, and enters a hidden underground world connected to stories, fate, time, and love.

There are several storylines woven throughout the book, including fairy tale like interludes that are meant to build the mythology of the world. These sections are well written, but they also made the book feel scattered to me.

Instead of pulling me deeper into the story, the layers kept pulling me out of it.

I kept waiting for the plot to become clearer. I kept waiting to feel attached to the characters. I kept waiting for that magical moment when everything clicked.

And then I finished the book still waiting.

Not every book is for every reader, and that is okay.

What Didn’t Work for Me

I really debated writing a book review about a book I didn’t like. It is hard to write something and put it out into the world, so I respect any author who has the courage to do that. But I am also very aware that not every book is going to be for everyone, and it is ok to say that. We can offer our opinion in a way that still respects the work. I think that is a lost art in today’s culture, so hopefully this can be can example of offering a careful critique of a piece of creativity.

The biggest issue for me was the lack of a strong, clear story. The writing is lovely, but beautiful sentences are not enough to carry an entire novel if the plot feels foggy. At some point, I need to know why I am walking through all these symbolic doors.

The book also felt emotionally distant. Zachary should have been an easy character to root for, but I never felt deeply connected to him. The relationships felt more like ideas than real relationships, and the romance in the story was just off-putting.

There were moments where the imagery was interesting. I can appreciate that. But the constant symbolism became exhausting. Bees. Keys. Swords. Doors. Honey. Owls. Cats. Books. More doors.

I know this is a book that worked for other people, it was recommended to me, but it just didn’t work for me.

Key Themes of The Starless Sea

• Stories and Storytelling: The book is built around the idea that stories shape us, connect us, and live beyond us.
• Fate and Choice: Characters wrestle with whether they are following a path already written for them or choosing their own way.
• Mystery and Symbolism: Almost every object and image in the book carries meaning, sometimes beautifully and sometimes, for me, too heavily.

Who Should Read This Book

Readers who love atmospheric writing may enjoy The Starless Sea. If you like books that feel like dreams, puzzles, myths, and poetry all tangled together, this may be your cup of tea.

However, if you prefer a strong plot, clear character development, and a story that moves forward with purpose, this book may frustrate you. It is slow, abstract, and more focused on mood than momentum.

And that is exactly where it lost me.

If I were rating this book like a movie, I would probably give it a PG-13 rating. There is some language, romantic content, violence, and darker imagery. Nothing felt overly graphic to me, but the book is definitely written for an adult audience.

Final Verdict on The Starless Sea

The Starless Sea is one of those books I can respect without enjoying. Erin Morgenstern clearly has a gift for language and atmosphere. She writes sentences that feel rich, strange, and magical.

This book did not work for me, and that is okay.

We are allowed to dislike books. We are allowed to say a popular book missed the mark for us. The key is to share our thoughts honestly without being rude, dramatic, or acting like everyone who loved it is wrong.

Reading is personal. Sometimes a book becomes someone else’s treasure.

One of the best parts of reading is we can disagree about books and still have good conversations. This would be a great book for a book club.

Even if I am still not sure what all the bees were doing.

The post The Starless Sea Book Review appeared first on Life Unboxed.
Jodie the Mom

Mom, sometimes we just have a no good very bad day!

Mom woke up, hopped in the car and went to pick up the groceries. But something happened they weren’t there. “Oh, no!” she cried. She looked at the app completely confused. That wasn’t the location she always picks up from. The store app changed the place. Mom backs out of the parking lot. On her phone she searches for the fastest route to the other location on the other side of town. This is turning out to be mom’s no good very bad day …and it just started.

Her eyes are staring at the gas gauge as it creeps closer and closer to red. Yes, she starts to cry over…groceries.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keeps things free for you, and who doesn’t love free stuff. For more information, see my disclosures.

Mom’s Real Life No Good Very Bad Day

I know it silly that I cried over groceries, in hindsight. At the time, it seemed like a perfectly natural response. I could have pasted on a fake smile and used the power of positive thinking, but crying seemed like a better response.

Have you ever had those times when the pressure gets to you, and you finally break over the smallest thing? If we are honest with ourselves the answer is probably yes. It was a difficult week. Nothing seemed to be going right for me, and it all came to a head over groceries.

Moms, sometimes we just have a no good very bad day. Although, I’ve written about bad days in a previous post, I wanted to write about it again. As moms sometimes we need to hear that it ok again and again.

The Mom Guilt

Usually, we start with a bad day and that can come from any direction. But it is usually not just one thing. It piles on. One thing after another. We are struggling with our kids. The toddler bought a first class ticket on the hot mess express. Or we messed up something with a client. You had an intense discussion with your husband. Or you received bad news from a doctor. Whatever it is, the spiral usually starts.

You have a bad day. Then the mom guilt pours on because you feel guilty for feeling so rotten. You are then frustrated with yourself and everyone around you. Let’s be honest these mommy moments aren’t our finest. But this is place for honest reflection and sometimes we just need to be truthful about where we are at and also know that it is ok to have a no good very bad day.

Keep Calm, Mom On

If you are in the midst of a no good very bad day, or you want to plan for the next one. Here are some mom helps just for you.

The previous post contains six tips to manage your bad day. Here are a few more.

1. Write it out

Sometimes the emotions are threatening to overwhelm, and you just need to get them out. Sometimes life delivers some really hard things that can totally disrupt and change your life. Or in the grand scheme of things, it is not a big deal, but you are still being thrown for a loop by it.

Then there are those things that you just allowed to build up over time, and then you react to a small insignificant circumstance. Whatever it is, you need to get all those emotions out, but it may be hard to find someone you can vent to. Or that you want to vent to. Who wants to admit they finally started crying over groceries…seriously.

Writing it out in a journal or notebook can really help you to vent. This is a place where you can be the most honest. It is just your thoughts and emotions. Now these thoughts and emotions will change, but while they are threatening to overwhelm you talk them out on paper.

2. Dance party

Have you ever noticed how your mood and attitude change when you turn up the music and start busting a move? If you just need to inject a bit of an attitude adjustment into yourself or your kids, then have a dance party.

Turn on your favorite tunes from when you were a kid. Bye Bye Bye  by Nsync is the baby’s favorite song. Seriously, she stopped crying the ambulance when I played it for her. And the kids will love hearing, or making fun of, the music you used to listen to.

It creates a fun bonding experience for all of you. Yes, your teens will even get in on it (but don’t tell them I told you), especially when the two-year-old says, “Come. Dance with me.” It gets them every time.

It is also good exercise which releases the stress hormone cortisol will help you feel calmer and in more control.

3. Retail therapy

You don’t even have to buy anything. I love Hobby Lobby, like I could spend all day walking the aisles. It is my therapy sessions. Although, I don’t go often, when I do it puts a smile on my face, and I come out more relaxed. I told my husband that these are my therapy sessions and they work.

My mind is highly analytical, with a closet creative lurking on the edges, it helps to force my mind to be creative. The juices start to flow and engage another part of my brain. I am sure there is some sciency reason for it, but I will just stick with it works.

Pick your favorite store and just walk around. Let you mind wonder. And if you want to indulge in a purchase, then do it (as long as it is in your budget).

4. Read a book

If you are having a no good very bad day, then you may just need a distraction. This gives you an opportunity to unplug from your circumstances and get a break from all the emotions. Then you can jump back in when you are done. Pulling away can help to give perspective.

So combine some retail therapy and buy a good book, win-win.

5. Gain perspective on your no good very bad day

Sometimes your idea of circumstances is not the true state of things. Although your feelings are telling you one thing, those feelings can be pretty little liars sometimes. You need a voice that is louder than the one inside your head, so you can gain perspective on your circumstances.

Yes, it is ok to cry. This can actually be a really good thing. Crying detoxifies your body, improves your mood, dulls pain, and helps restore emotional balance, among others. So if you feel like you are ready to explode, cry it out. You will probably feel better once it is out than you do holding it in. Find out more on the benefits of crying.

Conclusion: Mom’s No Good Very Bad Day

Mom, it is true that we have no good very bad days. Let’s not pretend that we don’t. The important thing is not to stay there. You need to deal with it in a healthy way.

How do you handle a bad day? What are some of your favorite things to do when the emotions are threatening to overwhelm?

30-Day Reboot Plan for Mom Burnout

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FAQ: Managing Mom’s No Good Very Bad Day

Q: What is mom guilt and how does it contribute to a bad day?

A: Mom guilt is the feeling of guilt and frustration that mothers often experience when things go wrong or when they feel they are not meeting expectations. It can add to the stress and make a bad day feel even worse.

Q: How can writing help manage emotions during a bad day?

A: Writing in a journal or notebook allows you to vent your thoughts and emotions. It provides a space to be completely honest and helps in processing and understanding your feelings, which can be therapeutic and relieving.

Q: What is the purpose of a dance party on a bad day?

A: A dance party can improve mood and attitude by allowing you to have fun and release stress. Dancing to favorite tunes can create a positive and energetic environment, helping you feel better and more in control.

Q: How can retail therapy be beneficial, even if you don’t buy anything?

A: Retail therapy involves walking around your favorite store, which can be relaxing and mentally stimulating. It engages a different part of your brain and helps you unwind, providing a mental break from stress.

Q: Why is reading a book recommended for a bad day?

A: Reading a book offers a distraction from your current circumstances and emotions. It allows you to unplug and gain a break from stress, providing a fresh perspective when you return to your situation.

Q: How can gaining perspective help during a bad day?

A: Gaining perspective helps you see the true state of things rather than relying solely on your emotions, which can sometimes be misleading. Talking to someone or even just reflecting can help you understand your circumstances more clearly.

Q: Is it okay to cry on a bad day?

A: Yes, crying can be very beneficial. It detoxifies your body, improves your mood, dulls pain, and restores emotional balance. Allowing yourself to cry can help release built-up emotions and make you feel better.

Q: What is the key takeaway from the story about managing bad days?

A: The key takeaway is that it’s normal to have bad days, but it’s important to deal with them in a healthy way. Finding strategies to manage stress and emotions can help you move past a bad day and not let it affect you long-term.

The post Mom’s No Good Very Bad Day appeared first on Life Unboxed.
Jodie the Mom

Mom burnout is real, and when it hits it can suck your motivation dry. But you can overcome it.

I know when you are in the middle of mom burnout it feels like it will never end. It is the worst stuck feeling in the world. And it can feel like you were suddenly hit with a ton of bricks.

For me, mom burnout shows up as a lack of motivation for whatever task needs to be accomplished. I am just kind of done and there isn’t any amount of positive thinking that is going to get me motivated again.

Mom burnout doesn’t show up with dramatic music and a flashing neon sign. It usually sneaks in when you aren’t looking. One day you are managing the kids, the work, the house, the meals, the school, the laundry, the texts, the appointments, and everyone’s emotions like a champion. Then suddenly you are standing in the kitchen staring at the fridge like it personally betrayed you.

If that is where you are, welcome. Pull up a chair. Maybe hide in the pantry for a minute if needed. No judgment here.

Mom burnout is real, and it hits hard. Especially, if you are normally a highly motivated person and suddenly your motivation is gone.

If you are a work from home mom, homeschool mom, stay at home mom, or any combination you have a lot going on. There is always one more thing to do.

The good news is this: mom burnout does not have to be the end of your story. You can recover and reset. You can bounce back. If you actually want to.

It doesn’t happen by becoming a different person. Or by buying a prettier planner. You don’t have to wake up at 4:30am, although if you are in your forties you probably already are. And it doesn’t happen by waiting for the woodland creatures to come and do everything for you (Disney lied to us). But you can bounce back from mom burnout by making simple, strategic changes that help you breathe again.

Mom life is not always nice and neat. It can be a little sticky, a little loud, and always involves coffee. Let’s reboot your mom life, so you can bounce back from mom burnout.

And here is the obligatory disclaimer. This is not intended to be professional advice. This is just one mom sharing her experience with other moms. Please see professional care if what you are feeling is deeper.

What is Mom Burnout

Mom burnout is not the same thing as just being tired. Tired can usually be fixed with a decent night of sleep, taking a break, or at least a hot cup of coffee that you actually get to drink while it is still hot.

Burnout is deeper. It is the kind of exhaustion that makes even simple things feel heavy. Making dinner becomes an insurmountable task. That email seems impossible to write. And let’s not even start on grading.

For me, mom burnout usually shows up as a total loss of motivation. It is not that I do not care.  I don’t suddenly become lazy overnight. It is that my brain and body have reached the point of saying, “We are done here.” That is why positive thinking alone does not always fix it. You can slap a motivational quote on a coffee mug, but it will not magically refill an empty tank.

Mom burnout is what happens when you have been carrying too much for too long without enough margin or enough real rest. It is mental overload, emotional depletion, and physical exhaustion all rolled together into one giant stuck feeling. You still have responsibilities. People are still depending on you. You still have things that need to get done. But the drive you normally have to do them is nowhere to be found.

You May Also Like:

How to Handle Mom Brain and Decision Fatigue

Mom’s No Good, Very Bad Day

The Self-Care Secret Every Exhausted Mom Needs to Know

Why Moms Burn Out

Moms burn out because we are carrying a ridiculous mental load, and much of it is invisible. People often notice the obvious tasks like making meals, driving kids around, helping with schoolwork, or getting work done.

What they do not always notice is the mental load sitting behind all of it. Moms are remembering appointments, planning meals, tracking school progress, answering questions, managing emotions, noticing what is running low, figuring out what needs to happen next, and trying to keep the entire machine moving without it all flying apart. That kind of constant decision making will wear you out.

It is often the little things that pile up and do the most damage. One question is not a problem. Or one mess. One interruption is not a problem. But when the whole day is built out of questions, messes, interruptions, decisions, and people needing something from you, it becomes exhausting in a way that is hard to explain unless you are living it. Moms are not usually falling apart because of one big dramatic event. We are worn down by the constant drip, drip, drip of responsibility.

There is also the issue of expectations. Moms are notorious for expecting too much from ourselves. We want to be present, productive, patient, healthy, organized, and emotionally available while also somehow staying motivated and not looking like we have been dragged behind a minivan.

Another reason moms burn out is that we do not always build our lives in a way that works with reality. The standard productivity systems are often built for uninterrupted people. That is why rigid schedules and overcomplicated systems fall apart so fast for moms. We need routines that bend instead of systems that break the moment real life barges in like a toddler with a Sharpie.

Burnout also grows when there is no recovery built into your life. If you are always pushing, always producing, always carrying, and never stopping long enough to reset, eventually something is going to give. Usually, that something is your patience, your motivation, or your ability to care about one more task on the list. That does not make you weak. It just means you have been trying to function like a machine when you are a person.

The 30-day Reboot Plan: A Weekly Overview

The good news is that mom burnout does not have to pitch a tent in your life forever. You can reset. You can bounce back. But it usually does not happen through one giant dramatic change. It happens through small, strategic changes that help you breathe again and get some ground under your feet.

Here is the weekly plan to get you to the 30-day reboot. Download the free day-to-day plan to get your mom reboot started.

30-Day Reboot Plan for Mom Burnout

A simple month-long reset for overwhelmed moms who need breathing room, better rhythms, and a real plan. Download now!

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Week 1: Stop the Spiral

The first week of the reboot plan is about stopping the spiral. This is not the week to conquer the world, launch three new projects, organize your pantry, and become a new woman. This is the week to cut back, lower the pressure, and get honest about what is draining you.

Start by reducing your expectations and focusing only on what actually needs to get done. Do a brain dump and get everything out of your head and into a notebook. When your mind is trying to hold every detail of life, it starts to short-circuit. Writing it down helps take the pressure off. That kind of practical offloading matters when burnout and decision fatigue have been running the show.

Focus:

Reduce the pressure and calm the mental overload.

Priorities:

• Lower your expectations for the week
• Brain dump of everything on your mind
• Identify your biggest sources of stress
• Make a must do list instead of an endless to-do list
• Take one guilt-free break each day

Reminder:

You do not need to fix everything this week. You need to slow down.

Check-In:

What is draining me the most right now?

Week 2: Rebuild the Basics

The second week is about rebuilding the basics. This is where you start putting structure back into your days in a way that help. Focus on simple anchors like a basic morning routine, regular meals, better sleep, working out, and getting outside more often.

Nothing here needs to be fancy. The point is to create enough rhythm that your day stops feeling like chaos with a side of caffeine. Routines, instead of time blocking, work well for moms because they add structure without demanding perfection, and they can bend when life gets weird. Which it will. Because life with kids always gets weird eventually.

Focus:

Support your body and mind with simple daily routines.

Priorities:

• Create a basic morning routine
• Eat actual meals
• Improve sleep where you can
• Drink more water
• Get outside several times this week

Reminder:

You are easier to live with when you have eaten and slept well. This applies to children and grown women.

Check-In:

Which basic need have I been ignoring the most?

Week 3: Cut the Clutter

The third week is about cutting clutter and reducing friction. This is where you start looking at what is making your days harder than they need to be. Simplify meals. Repeat more decisions. Delegate something. Drop a standard that no longer serves your family in this season.

Moms often think they need a better attitude, but sometimes what they really need is fewer decisions and less nonsense. Burnout gets worse when every part of life feels harder than it has to be. Simplifying does not mean giving up. It means getting smart.

Focus:

Reduce decision fatigue and remove friction from your days.

Priorities:

• Simplify meals
• Repeat more daily decisions
• Clear one clutter hotspot at a time
• Drop one unnecessary standard
• Delegate something you do not need to carry alone

Reminder:

What can I make easier this week?

Focus:

Create a more sustainable pace going forward.

Week 4: Build a Better Routine

The fourth week is where you start building a better routine going forward. This is not about going back to the exact same pace that burned you out in the first place. That would be a terrible plan, and we are not doing terrible plans here. This week is about asking what actually helps you feel steady.

Maybe that is a few non-negotiable routines. Or maybe it is protecting your stopping point for work. Maybe it is getting back to something creative that helps you unplug and think like a person. Burnout recovery is not just about resting. It is also about rebuilding a life that does not keep crushing you.

Focus:

Create a more sustainable pace going forward.

Priorities:

• Reconnect with something you enjoy
• Choose 2 to 3 non-negotiable anchors
• Plan your week with kindness
• Watch for your burnout warning signs
• Make space for margin

Reminder:

A humane plan will always serve you better than an ambitious fantasy.

Check-In:

What helps me feel steady and grounded?

30-Day Reboot Plan for Mom Burnout

A simple month-long reset for overwhelmed moms who need breathing room, better rhythms, and a real plan. Download now!

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Conclusion: From Mom Burnout to Bounce Back

If you are in the middle of mom burnout, I want to say this as clearly as possible: you are not broken, and you are not failing. You are overloaded. There is a difference.

The way forward is not to become a completely different person. You do not need a magical planner, a six-step morning makeover, or a motivational speech from someone who clearly has never had a child yell “Mom” through the bathroom door. What you need is a simpler, kinder, more realistic way to live. You need room to breathe, routines that support you, and the willingness to stop treating burnout like a personal flaw.

Start with one week. Then keep going. Recovery from mom burnout is usually less dramatic than we want it to be, but it is still powerful. It happens in small choices, repeated over time. And if what you are feeling goes deeper than burnout, or starts to feel like more than you can carry, please reach out for professional support. There is no prize for suffering in silence.

If you’re ready for a reboot, download the free guide now.

FAQ: Mom Burnout

Q: What is mom burnout?

A: Mom burnout is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that happens when you have been under chronic stress for too long. It often shows up as overwhelm, irritability, lack of motivation, brain fog, and feeling like even simple tasks are too much.

Q: What causes mom burnout?

A: Mom burnout is usually caused by carrying too much for too long without enough support or recovery. The mental load, constant decision-making, unrealistic expectations, lack of sleep, and never fully being off duty all play a role.

Q: How do I know if I have mom burnout or I am just tired?

A: Being tired usually improves with rest. Mom burnout feels deeper and more ongoing. If you feel emotionally drained, mentally overloaded, and physically exhausted for an extended period, burnout may be the issue.

Q: What helps with mom burnout?

A: What helps most is reducing the pressure, simplifying your routines, cutting decision fatigue, getting more real rest, and creating a more sustainable rhythm for your days. You do not need a complete life overhaul, but you probably do need some changes.

Q: Can routines really help with mom burnout?

A: Yes, because routines reduce mental load and create predictable rhythms without needing every minute scheduled. They are one of the most practical ways to make life feel less chaotic and more manageable.

The post From Mom Burnout To Bounce Back: 30-Day Mom Reboot Plan appeared first on Life Unboxed.
Jodie the Mom

Following your dream sounds nice. It is a piece of advice we like to offer to recent graduates, and we like to think we are following it. But is following your dream really good advice?

I really despise this advice because it is deceiving and it isn’t practical. We rarely pause to ask the question what does following your dream actually look like? Can it really be done? Am I failing if I don’t follow my dreams?

Our culture often paints the idea of following your dream as the ultimate path to fulfillment, but real life tends to throw us more curves than our dreams can predict.

We have an unrealistic expectation. If we just follow our dreams, we find what we are looking for. We have to pursue our dreams no matter the cost. This is idea is so wrong because it usually leads to debt (massive student loans), unrealistic expectations, and a loss of opportunity.

That’s why I like to revisit this topic. Mom, when we keep doing the same things again and again. It can feel like we aren’t doing enough. We get caught in the mundane tasks of working from home and homeschooling, we start to diminish what we do.

Mom, let me tell you what you are doing is changing the world. I know when we are focused on the everyday tasks, it doesn’t feel that way. But you are giving your kids the greatest gift possible, you. Giving them your time, energy, and heart will change the world.

Let’s explore the reality of following your dream and pursue the fulfilling journey of reality.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keeps things free for you, and who doesn’t love free stuff. For more information, see my disclosures.

Reality is Better than Following Your Dream

Your dreams can change. That is the missing piece from all inspiring speeches of following your dreams. No one talks about the evolution of our dreams or passions.

One of the reasons our dreams change is we get older. We gain more wisdom, and we see more of the world. All of these things bring us to maturity, and our dreams change because we are more informed.

Life is unpredictable. The pursuit of a single dream can start to feel out of reach or even irrelevant over time. You may spend years following your dream, only to face unplanned obstacles like financial constraints, health issues, or changing family dynamics. Yet, clinging to a dream in the face of life’s inherent uncertainty can cause frustration and lead to a sense of failure.

Our dreams often don’t account for the fact that we change as individuals. The dreams we have in our 20s may not serve us in our 40s. Life is fluid, and what we once thought would bring happiness might no longer resonate with who we are today.

I could always picture myself in a successful business woman in a high-powered suit working in New York City. And I was. Then I had my first baby and everything changed. My dream wasn’t to make it in New York City anymore. It changed to wanting to leave, so we could raise our family outside of the hustle and bustle of the city.

In an instant, I had something better to pursue. Read more on my story from corporate workhorse to stay at home mom.

Redefining Your Success

We view success as a final destination. If you can just stay on the train long enough, you will finally end up at success. And if you’re following your dream, then you will definitely be successful. Which usually translates to a bigger house, bigger car, and bigger bank account.

There is nothing wrong with these things being a goal, although they can quickly lead you off the rails, but following your dream doesn’t guarantee it will happen.

Sometimes creating the life you love doesn’t always pay the bills. And that means we need to redefine the idea of success. It isn’t always a bigger house, bigger car, or bigger bank account.

If following your dream has gone off the rails, then it is time to take a hard look at it. It is possible to have the life you love and be successful. It just means you need to redefine what success looks like for you.

For me, I am measuring my success in time. My house fits us great. I already drive a 12-passenger van, so I can’t get much bigger than that. It would be nice to go on epic vacations every year, but every now and again works for us. The most important thing to me is time with my kids and buying curriculum. That’s a big one.

I want to be the biggest influence in their lives. To be here to answer their deep questions and give advice. I want to be the one to mold their minds, so they know how to learn. My success is measured in the time I’m able to give to them.

Yes, I still work from home, but I also limit the hours. I am not looking to explode my team or put more hours into my business. That isn’t how I define success.

We are fully embracing our rebel mom side.

How do you need to redefine success? What is the secret to success?

Embrace Your Life Now Even if You Couldn’t Dream it Up

When you were a teenager thinking about your next steps, you were limited to your knowledge at the time. You were also influenced by the people around you and culture. Most of the time culture is telling you to get a career, wear the high-powered business suit, and work in the city. So that’s where your thinking lead.

Sometimes we get stuck thinking that if we aren’t living our teenage dream, then we’ve failed. Guess what following your dream can change. Now you are more informed about what’s out there and the life you actually want to live.

Embrace your life now, even if it wasn’t part of your teenage dream life.

I never thought I would have six kids. The trajectory of my life was to be a lawyer, then get married and have kids. Let’s just say things didn’t happen that way, and I am loving the life I could never dream up.

My kids are my greatest legacy. Yes, I know, the hard part about being a mom is success is measured by how well they leave you. The goal is to work myself out of this job. When that happens, then I will embrace another part of my life that I couldn’t dream up.

Conclusion: Following Your Dream

Fulfillment and contentment come when we are open to various paths, not just following your dream that we envisioned as children. Often, we limit ourselves by focusing solely on one dream, missing out on the countless other ways we can achieve a meaningful and rewarding life.

The truth is, many people find their true calling not by following a pre-determined dream, but by exploring different opportunities that come their way. When we let go of rigid expectations, we create space to live our best unimagined life.

In the end, reality is where life truly unfolds, and it is often far richer and more fulfilling than following your dream. While chasing dreams can offer motivation and direction, the true sweetness of life lies in the everyday moments, the unexpected turns, and the resilience we build along the way. By embracing reality and letting go of rigid dreams, we open ourselves to a fuller, more meaningful life.

Join the rebel mom’s club and connect with other working homeschool moms.

FAQ: Following Your Dream

Q: Isn’t it important to have dreams and goals?

A: Not necessarily. Having dreams and goals can help to give us direction and purpose. However, life is unpredictable, and it is important to balance dreams with flexibility.

Q: What if I’m afraid of giving up on my dream?

A: Letting go of a dream doesn’t mean you’re giving up; it means you’re making space for new opportunities. Sometimes, a dream is just a starting point for discovering what truly fulfills you.

Q: How can I find fulfillment if I let go of my dream?

A: Fulfillment often comes from the journey itself, not the destination. By embracing the present, celebrating small milestones, and remaining open to new possibilities, you can find satisfaction in unexpected ways.

Q: Can I still achieve success without following my dream?

A: Absolutely. Success is a fluid concept that changes over time. Many people find greater success by adapting to life’s changes and pursuing paths they never initially considered.

Q: How do I stay motivated if I let go of my dream?

A: Motivation comes from setting new, flexible goals that align with your current reality. By finding purpose in the present and taking small steps forward, you can stay motivated without being tied to one specific dream.

The post Following Your Dream Is Overrated: Why Reality Is Even Sweeter appeared first on Life Unboxed.
Jodie the Mom

Work life balance is a myth, but work-life integration is a possibility.

There are certain phrases that catch on quick, everyone starts repeating them and they are all over social media. Work life balance is one of those phrases. Everybody is saying, but no one is actually doing it.  Or knows how to do it. Maybe it is time to try work-life integration because balance is a myth.

Balance sounds amazing in theory. We all want what it promises—calm, order, peaceful.

We have this idea of what balance must look like. We’ve chased it like it is the final boss level of adulthood. But we fail day after day. We tell ourselves if we could just find the right planner, right system, right schedule, then everything will fall into place.

There is a reason we can’t achieve balance, because it is a myth.

We aren’t failing to find it. The version being sold was never meant for real life. It assumes clear lines, equal categories, and predictable days. It assumes your responsibilities sit politely in separate boxes and wait their turn. That is adorable. Also false.

So instead of chasing balance, I want to offer a better goal: work-life integration.

Not a perfect life. Not a flawlessly managed life. Not a color-coded, guru-approved life where everyone thrives at all times and nobody ever has a meltdown.

Just a life where you have moments of peace, calm, and one you enjoy.

Let’s talk about work-life integration.

Work Life Balance vs Work-Life Integration

Working from home and homeschooling is not easy. We plan and we become time management experts. We are thinking through how to get it all done, while still giving time and attention equally to all the things.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably watched the Ted Talks on work life balance. You’ve read the blog posts and the books on being a mom boss. But at the end of the day you’ve come to the realization that it doesn’t work.

I remember watching a Ted Talk about work life balance. And it was good. He said the line that I love to repeat to my kids, “If you don’t plan your life, someone else will plan it for you.” Which is gold. But the crux of him finding this unicorn that we are all searching for was that he quit his job. That’s how he reached the mythical place of balance.

For normal people, who actually need to work and make money, quitting our jobs is just not an option. So what is realistic? How can we run a business or businesses, homeschool, and juggle it all.

I ask myself this all the time. Because I want to do well in my businesses, and my number one priority is my family. Some days it seems like I’ve set an impossible goal. But this isn’t going to be accomplished through work life balance. That idea is dead. Work-life integration, just might be the answer we are looking for.

Work-life integration is a life where work, homeschool, and home responsibilities can function together in a way that is realistic for your season. It isn’t dividing time equally between these things—like we are supposed to do with work life balance. But it is understanding the season and integrating all the things together.

I get it, it sounds impossible even as a write it. And it is not going to happen overnight. This is going to take intentional planning on our parts, time, and adjustments. But work-life integration doesn’t have to be a myth it can be a reality.

Stop measuring yourself against a fake standard and start building a life that actually supports your family.

Work-Life Integration is a Better Goal

The idea of work life balance left us feeling that if everything is going to be properly balanced then it all must be equal. Work-life integration is not about making everything equal. It is about making everything work together without losing your mind in the process.

That is the shift.

Instead of trying to divide life into perfect halves, integration allows you to think in terms of rhythms, priorities, and seasons. It gives you room to build a life around what is true, not around what sounds good or looks good on social media.

This is not about a lack of discipline, an inability to manage your time, or wanting it enough. The villain is the lie that balance means every area of life should get equal attention and equal energy all the time.

That lie keeps us stuck. It makes you feel like you are always dropping the ball, because by its definition, you are. No one can sustain equal investment in every role every day. Not when life is seasonal, children are human, and work has deadlines.

Integration gives you a different path.

It says family matters, work matters, homeschool matters, rest matters, and the goal is not to make them all equal on paper. The goal is to build a realistic framework where they can coexist.

That will look different in every season.

If you have little kids, integration may look like short work blocks, simple homeschool, and letting a lot of other things be good enough. If you have teens, it may mean a more flexible school rhythm and a heavier emotional load. If your business is in a busy season, you may temporarily tighten some things at home. If your family is in a hard season, work may need to shrink.

That is not failure. That is wisdom.

Integration is not lowering the bar. It is finally being honest about the shape of your life.

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The First Rule of Work-Life Integration: Know Your Priorities

If everything is important all the time, then nothing gets the focus it deserves and you end up spinning in circles.

That is why priorities matter.

One of the fastest ways to feel overwhelmed is to treat every item on your to do list https://lifeunboxed.blog/to-do-list like it deserves front row attention. But that is not how real life works. Some things matter more in this season. There are things that matter more today. Some things feel urgent but are not actually important. And some things are important but do not need to happen right this minute. I have to tell myself this one all the time.

You cannot prioritize everything.

So start with the big picture. Ask yourself: what matters most right now? Maybe it is stabilizing homeschool. Or growing your income. Maybe it is supporting a struggling child. Or protecting your health before you end up running on fumes and sarcasm alone.

Those seasonal priorities help you make better daily decisions.

Then, each day, ask a smaller question: what actually has to happen today? Not what would be nice. Or what your inner overachiever would enjoy conquering. Not what would make you feel like a productivity queen for six minutes.

What truly matters today?

For many moms, that may be three real priorities:

• one essential work task,
• one essential homeschool goal,
• and one essential life task.

That is enough to anchor a day.

This is also where you have to give yourself permission to let some things be good enough.

Because here is the truth: integration gets a whole lot easier when you stop insisting that every area of life deserves your highest level effort every single day. Some days dinner is simple. Other days homeschool is minimal but meaningful. Some days work gets the best block of your focus. And some days the best thing you do is keep everyone alive and reasonably clothed.

That still counts as a real life.

The Second Rule of Work-Life Integration is Build Your Day Around Rhythms, Not Fantasy Schedules

If rigid schedules make you want to throw your planner out the window, it may be because your life requires rhythm more than rigidity.

That was a hard lesson for me to learn, because structure sounds so responsible. It sounds like the adult thing to do. Surely, if I just planned every minute of my day, everything would run smoothly.

Except children did not get that memo.

Neither did clients.

Neither did laundry.

Neither did life.

Minute-by-minute scheduling can work for some people. However, for many work from home and homeschool moms, rhythms or routines.

 work better because they give structure without pretending your day will unfold in a perfectly controlled way.

If your schedule only works on the kind of day where nobody interrupts, spills, complains, forgets, gets emotional, or needs help, then your schedule is not realistic. It is performance art.

Boundaries Keep Work-Life Integration on the Rails

Work-life integration does not mean work gets to ooze into every corner of your life. Create personal boundaries.

This matters because people sometimes hear integration and assume it means total blending with no boundaries. As if the goal is to answer emails during dinner, work from your phone at the park, and think about clients while pretending to listen to your child explain who the fifth vice president of the United States is.

No.

Integration only works when boundaries hold it up.

Because you work from home, you need stronger boundaries, not weaker ones. You need clear signals for when you are working, when you are available, and when you are done.

That may mean setting a shutdown time for work and actually following through.

Boundaries are not harsh. They are protective. Protecting your attention, relationships, and ability to be present.

This is also why family expectations matter. Your family does not need a military briefing, but they do need to know what the rhythm is. When is mom working? When are we doing school? What can be interrupted? What has to wait?

Children handle routines better when they know what to expect. And honestly, so do adults.

You also have to protect your attention, not just your time.

Because one of the sneakiest problems with working from home is that even when you are technically done, your mind is still half in work mode. You are thinking about the email you forgot, the idea you want to jot down, the project that still needs polishing. Your body may be in the room, but your brain is off wandering through tomorrow’s to do list.

That is why shutdown routines help so much. Give your work a place to end so your mind can follow.

Work-Life Integration is Not One Size Fits All

One of the best things about integration is that it does not demand a one size fits all.

The point is not to build a perfect routine once and never touch it again. You have to keep adjusting so your life still fits the season you are actually living.

Most moms do not need another lecture on managing their time better. They need permission to stop chasing a standard that was never built for their life.

That is where the emotional heart of this really sits.

Because so much of the pain around balance is not just practical. It is personal. It makes moms feel like they are failing. Like if they were more disciplined, more focused, more organized, more whatever, they would finally get it right.

But the truth is, many of you are doing an enormous amount already. The problem is not that you are not trying. The problem is that you have been handed a definition of success that does not fit the life you are living.

Work-life integration is the framework that lets you define success by faithfulness, intention, flexibility, and sustainability instead of fake perfection.

Conclusion: Work-Life Integration

Work life balance sounds nice, but for most work from home and homeschool moms, it falls apart the second real life shows up. That is why work-life integration makes more sense.

Instead of trying to give every area of life equal attention at all times, integration helps you build a life around routines, priorities, and seasons. It gives you permission to stop chasing perfection and start creating something that actually works for your family.

So if work life balance has left you feeling like you are constantly dropping the ball, maybe the problem is not you. Maybe the problem is the myth. Let the fake standard go, and start building a life that is realistic, sustainable, and full of a little more peace.

FAQ: Work-Life Integration

Q: Is work life balance possible for homeschool moms?

A: If by work life balance you mean equal time and energy in every area every day, then no, probably not. However, if you mean creating a life that feels more manageable, peaceful, and intentional, then yes. That is exactly what work-life integration helps you do.

Q: What is work-life integration?

A: Work-life integration is the idea that instead of trying to split work and life into perfect, equal categories, you build routines, rhythms, and boundaries that help your responsibilities work together in a realistic way.

Q: What is the difference between work-life balance and work-life integration?

A: Work life balance usually suggests equal distribution. Work-life integration focuses on realistic coordination. Balance says everything should stay even. Integration says let’s make this life function in a sustainable way.

Q: How do I know what to prioritize?

A: Look at your season first, then your day. Ask what matters most right now in your family, homeschool, work, and personal health. Then choose the few things that must happen today and let those guide your energy.

The post Work-Life Integration Because Balance Is A Myth appeared first on Life Unboxed.
Jodie the Mom

Thomas Sowell: A Personal Odyssey is not a policy book, though you can absolutely see the roots of the thinker he would become. It is a memoir about work, hardship, education, ideas, and the long road from Harlem to academia.

Sowell is a man with zero patience for nonsense, and this book show you the life behind one of the greatest minds of our time.

It was my first encounter with the notion that people who think they are doing something noble don’t have to tell the truth.

Author: Thomas Sowell

Genre: Memoir

Recommend: Yes, especially for readers who enjoy memoirs about ideas and perseverance.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keeps things free for you, and who doesn’t love free stuff. For more information, see my disclosures.

Overview of a Personal Odyssey by Thomas Sowell

A Personal Odyssey is Thomas Sowell’s memoir, tracing his life from his southern roots, to his childhood in Harlem through military service, higher education, and a career in economics and public intellectual life.

Rather than reading like a celebrity memoir stuffed with self-congratulation, it feels more like a record of formation—how a person’s experiences, observations, and discipline shaped his worldview.

Summary

The book follows Sowell’s life across multiple stages: his early years in poverty, his time in the Marines, his education, and his eventual rise as an economist and writer. Along the way, he reflects on race, class, culture, ambition, work, and the institutions that shaped his thinking. This is not a memoir driven by family drama or sentimental storytelling. It is driven by ideas, personal discipline, and observation.

What makes the book work is that Sowell does not present himself as a polished hero from page one. He presents a life built piece by piece. That gives the memoir weight. You are not just reading where he ended up. You are watching how he got there.

Key Themes on A Personal Odyssey by Thomas Sowell

• Perseverance and self-education: Sowell’s story is a reminder that grit and discipline do a lot of the heavy lifting.
• The formation of ideas: Readers get to see how lived experience shaped the economic and social views he later became known for.
• Independence of thought: Sowell’s life story makes it clear that he did not arrive at his views because they were fashionable. Quite the opposite.

Who Should Read A Personal Odyssey by Thomas Sowell

This book is a strong fit for readers who enjoy memoirs with substance. If you like stories about intellectual development, personal responsibility, and the long climb toward opportunity, this one will keep your attention. It will also appeal to readers interested in economics, education, race, or American social history, because you can see how Sowell’s experiences informed his later work.

That said, this is probably not the best entry point if someone wants a fast, emotional, highly dramatic memoir. Sowell is thoughtful and measured, not flashy. He tells the story plainly and let the facts do the talking.

If I was rating this book like a movie, I would give it a PG rating. The content is mature in the sense that it deals with poverty, hardship, race, and real-life struggle, but it is not graphic or sensational. This is the kind of book I would comfortably hand to a teen or adult who enjoys nonfiction and wants a memoir with substance.

Final Verdict

If you want a memoir that is thoughtful, grounded, and genuinely worthwhile, A Personal Odyssey by Thomas Sowell is a strong choice. It is not sentimental fluff. Thomas Sowell writes with clarity and restraint, which makes the story feel more credible. This is a book about becoming—through hardship, work, thought, and persistence. For readers who want a memoir with brains and backbone, this one delivers.

The post A Personal Odyssey By Thomas Sowell appeared first on Life Unboxed.
Jodie the Mom

Balance work and life, this is the unicorn we are always chasing. While there aren’t any perfect solutions, we can work towards better days.

It is frustrating trying to balance work and life, especially for a work from home and homeschool mom. We have our work from home mom jobs, teaching our kids something, and just regular mom life things. It is a lot.

While I don’t ascribe to the traditional ideal of work life balance, you know the zen-like balance of everything in perfect order. I view balance more like juggling while walking on a tightrope. That is the balance of work and life we are trying to achieve.

I’ve struggled with this idea of balance work and life. I listened to the TedTalks and watched the Instagram reels, and it just piled on the frustration. Many of these work life balance gurus started their quest to attain the unattainable by quitting their jobs and taking time to enjoy their families.

If you can do this, then by all means enjoy. But for the rest of us, who depend on our incomes to buy the basics, like food, this isn’t an option. So are we doomed from the start? Only if we follow the gurus’ advice. Instead of trying to find this equal balance, let’s work with what we have and learn how to juggle it all on a tightrope.

I know juggling while walking a tightrope may seem hard, but we are moms, it is totally possible to balance work and life.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase using one of these links, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me keeps things free for you, and who doesn’t love free stuff. For more information, see my disclosures.

The Struggle to Balance Work and Life

Technology is always supposed to make life easier, and in some ways it has, but it has also added an element of always on. We can be connected with anyone on any matter at any time. In this way, I think technology isn’t so advanced because it has removed our personal boundaries.

The lines between work and personal time are blurred now more than ever. And if you have a work from home mom job, they get even blurrier. You don’t have the luxury of walking aways from your office. You live at your office. Or your office lives in your homes. It makes it much harder to build the wall of separation.

It is a struggle to juggle your work from home mom job, homeschooling, and all the other mom life stuff. Your brain is always asking how you can improve in all these areas. What do our kids needs academically? Are we doing well with our business? Can I take a break now?

Mom, the struggle is real, but it is possible to balance work and life. It may look a little messy sometimes, but you can do it.

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3 Must-Know Tips to Balance Work and Life

We know that working and homeschooling can feel overwhelming at times. And you need to find what works for you, but here are my top three tips that will work for any mom with any schedule. Your day-to-day balance of work life will look different from mine, but we will all have these elements in our quest to balance work and life.

1. Set priorities and boundaries

We live and work in the same place, so we have to know what our priorities are and set personal boundaries. These are non-negotiables to balance work and life.

Your priorities are the things that are most important to get done. These can change from day to day, but there will also be overlap. For example, homeschool will be a priority for most days. Unless it is a day you decided to take off, then something else will be a priority for that day.

Here’s the reality of it all, you can’t do everything. You may have a really long to do list, and most of the time I do to. Depending on how much time things take, you will probably only be able to get a few things done per day. Identify those things that are most important to you and laser focus on them.

Setting personal boundaries with your work from home mom job will also help to create balance in the force. Something as simple as setting a time when you clock out and sticking to it, will be a game changer for to balance work and life.

At the end of the day, I turn my computer off and it doesn’t come back on until the next morning. This is my closed sign. I also avoid turning it on during my days off. During my days off, I will use my phone or ipad if I need to surf the web. I keep my personal email separate from my work email on my mobile devices. So I have to make a conscience decision to check work email.

Knowing what your priorities are for the day and setting personal boundaries are the main tools you need to balance work and life.

2. Master time management

Juggling and walking a tightrope requires precision timing. And mastering time management for moms who work from home is necessary. However, there are so many systems out there it can be hard to know what will work for you. Should you try time blocking? Or a time budget? A schedule? A routine? It is easy to get caught up in all the things you should do that you miss what really works for you.

I am all about creating routines because they just work for us. When you have a large family the ease of every one knowing what to do keeps things running smoothly. It isn’t perfect, but nothing is ever perfect. But routines help to free up brain space, so I can ruminate on things that really matter instead of wondering if they brushed their teeth.

While routines are our perfect solution, something else might work better for you and your family. Consider your personality and your kids? How do you prefer to get it all done? It is ok to even try a hybrid solution. The important thing is that it works for you.

Homeschooling and working from home gives you the freedom to work and school on your own terms. Mastering time management is an essential tool to balance work and life. But it is a tool that has to work for you. Don’t try to fit into someone else’s box. Find your out of the box solution.

3. Be flexible

However you find your work life balance, it is necessary to be flexible. We are moms. It doesn’t matter how well we planned our day, there is always room for things to go off the rails. Yes, you need to get stuff done, but being flexible will help to take the stress off your shoulders.

I know I am the worst person to give this advice because I hate it when my carefully laid plans get hijacked by life. How dare life throw a curve ball. But it happens. So if you are like me, then let’s help each other to be more flexible.

We have kids and that means the unexpected can happen. It doesn’t always happen, but we need to understand that it will.

Being flexible is going to help avoid frustration. It will help you to handle disruptions when they come, and maybe not get quite as stressed out…we can hope.

This is one of the main reasons I like to create routines throughout the day. They help to build in flexibility in the day and eliminates the stress of the plans going off the rails.

Conclusion: Balance Work and Life

Trying to balance work and life doesn’t mean striving for perfection. It is finding that harmony between all the mom things you do…as you juggle while walking on a tightrope.

Work life balance is not an end goal. It isn’t something that will be reached one day, and then you never think about it again. It is a daily tasks. Some days will be better than others, but find you balance in the moment.

Do you need help getting started? Then check out my schedule vs routine course because it is the only thing that has ever worked for me.

FAQ: Balance Work and Life

Q: Can I achieve work life balance while working from home?

Yes, absolutely! By setting boundaries, mastering time management, and being flexible, working from home can actually provide more freedom to achieve balance.

Q: How do I manage work life balance with kids?

Balancing work and life with kids requires flexibility, clear communication, and routines that work for the entire household. Involve your kids in planning and set expectations for when you need focused work time.

Q: What if my job demands too much of my time?

If your job is consuming most of your time, have an open conversation with your employer about your workload. Focus on prioritizing tasks and ensure you’re managing your time efficiently. If the demands are unreasonable, it might be worth considering if this job aligns with your long-term goals.

The post 3 Must-Know Tips To Balance Work And Life appeared first on Life Unboxed.
Jodie the Mom