The 7 Secrets of a Confident Woman: Secret #6 – A Confident Woman doesn’t Overschedule her Life!
The 7 Secrets of a Confident Woman: Secret #6 – A Confident Woman Doesn’t Overschedule Her Life!
In today’s fast-paced world, many of us feel the pressure to squeeze as much as possible into our days. As women, we often take on more than we should in an effort to “do it all.” We overcommit our time, spreading ourselves too thin, and ignore the consequences until we’re utterly exhausted—often to the detriment of our health, family, and career.
Meet Mara. She’s a 35-year-old optometrist, mother of two, and wife to a busy engineer. From the outside, Mara seems to have it all—career, family, and a bustling household. But inside, Mara is on the brink of burnout.
Mara’s typical day begins at 7:00 a.m. She gets her two kids—eight-year-old Nadia and six-year-old Michael Jr.—ready for school, packing their lunches, making breakfast, and ensuring their school bags and PE kits are in order. Her husband, Michael Sr., leaves for work after getting himself ready, as Mara never asks him to help with the morning routine—she believes she can do it more efficiently.
After dropping her kids off at two different schools six miles apart, Mara spends two hours in the car driving to and from work. Her evenings are filled with chauffeuring the kids to after-school activities like swimming, gymnastics, soccer, and music lessons. Mara also handles the cleaning, cooking, and housework, making fresh meals from scratch every night. By the time the kids are tucked into bed and the house is tidied up, it’s late, and Mara is exhausted.
But the day isn’t over. As an optometrist, Mara has to watch a MACRA/MIPS webinar at 10:00 p.m. for work. Finally, around midnight, she crawls into bed, but her mind won’t shut off. The endless mental to-do list keeps her awake, dreading the next day when the cycle starts all over again.
Does this sound familiar? If you’re nodding along, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Many women in our generation seek validation in being busy, wearing their overloaded schedules like a badge of honor. But, as Mara’s story shows, the cost of constantly overscheduling can be high.
I used to be just like Mara—juggling too much and living in a state of constant overwhelm. It wasn’t until a major health crisis forced me to reevaluate my priorities that I began to find sanity in my life. I realized that doing it all isn’t a sign of success; it’s a recipe for burnout.
How to Stop Overscheduling and Reclaim Your Life
Here are three strategies I used to escape the chaos of overscheduling and regain control over my life:
- Create a Set of Core Values to Live By
Your calendar is a reflection of your values. As Jeff Goins says, “Your calendar never lies. You can’t say one thing and schedule another. Where you spend your time is where your values are.” When I identified my core values, I began aligning my time with what truly mattered to me, rather than filling my schedule with things that didn’t serve my highest priorities. - Learn to Say No—Especially to Yourself
There’s no such thing as Super-Mom in real life—there’s only Human Mom. Recognizing your limits is a key part of managing your time and energy. I had to learn to say no to myself, to stop setting unrealistic expectations, and to give myself permission to not do it all. Setting boundaries on your schedule and to-do lists is an act of self-care. - Enlist Help from Your Family
One of the most liberating things I did was ask for help from my husband and children. I used to think that I had to do it all myself, but I was wrong. My family was more capable than I gave them credit for. Sharing the load doesn’t just help you; it empowers your family to contribute and grow.
The Importance of Rest and Recalibration
We all need time each day to simply breathe rather than constantly do. Our bodies and minds require downtime to rest and recalibrate. Being in constant motion isn’t healthy. If we don’t take time to pause, reflect, and relax, we risk not only our physical health but also our emotional well-being. Allowing yourself time to rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Resisting the urge to overschedule your life is an empowering act of self-care. When you recognize the need to set and enforce boundaries around your calendar, you regain control and confidence. You’ll discover a happier, more balanced life where you’re not just surviving—you’re thriving.
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If this article resonated with you, share it, comment on it, and let others know that they’re not alone in the struggle to balance it all. Together, we can break free from the busyness trap and live more confidently.
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