Why the Productivity Rules Are Broken for Busy Women
The Rules Weren’t Made for Us
Sometime during my first year in business, it dawned on me that traditional productivity advice wasn’t working. I was new in business, working from home trying to create content and build my client roster, and we had a 2 year old. I spent hours learning different ways to plan, time block and create the perfect color-coded schedule. I paid for courses from big name entreprenuers, faithfully following directions and mapping out my days down to the minute, determined to maximize efficiency.
Inevitably, by Wednesday each week (sometimes before noon on Monday), my toddler would have a meltdown, an urgent client email derailed my work, and that blog I thought would take me an hour to write and publish took 3 hours - knocking my entire to-do list into the next day. The carefully crafted plan I had so much faith in? Completely useless. Instead of helping me feel in control, it made me feel like I was failing. The overwhelm and exhaustion would creep in and I thought for sure the solution would be to just work harder and longer.
This pattern repeated itself over and over again. No matter how much I optimized my time, life refused to fit into neat little boxes. And yet, every book, podcast, and expert I followed insisted that with the right habits, the right planner, and enough discipline, I should be able to make it all work. The unspoken message? If I wasn’t succeeding, it was because I wasn’t trying hard enough. But deep down, I knew the real problem wasn’t me—it was the system I was trying to force myself into.
The truth is, these rules weren’t designed for women like us. The "ideal" productivity model assumes uninterrupted work time, clear mental space, and minimal outside distractions. It doesn’t account for the unpredictability of motherhood, the mental load of running a household, or the sheer exhaustion that comes from juggling it all. It certainly doesn’t account for life changing and evolving - sometimes slowly and sometimes all at once.
And yet, so many of us keep trying to force ourselves into this outdated, unachievable system, wondering why we constantly feel like we’re falling behind. It’s time to stop.
The Evolution of My Business (And My Realizations Along the Way)
The Early Days: Hustle Hard, Burnout Faster
As I mentioned above, when I first started my business, I was determined to do everything right. I threw myself into marketing strategies, blog writing, in-person networking - and tried to shove it all into structured planning systems with the belief that if I worked hard enough, success would follow. Some days were packed from morning to night—writing content, building my brand, perfecting my offers. I followed every tip from successful entrepreneurs, believing that the secret to growth was in their strategies.
But some days all I could do was take care of a sick toddler (or myself when the cold got passed around the house), and try to check the boxes on my to-do list in a totally half-assed way.
I was starting to see success both in the online and client space, but behind the scenes, I was constantly exhausted. I was pushing through every moment, sacrificing rest, self-care, and even time with my family to stay ahead. I wasn’t building a business—I was sprinting toward burnout. And worst of all, I was measuring my worth by how much I could accomplish in a day, rather than by the impact I was making.
The Wake-Up Call: Taking Two Years Off for My Health
Then, life forced me to stop. I wasn’t diasnosed with a clear issue at first. I just knew I felt awful most of the time. I fell out of love with my business, was no longer interested in providing Pinterest marketing services or courses, and the years of 2020-2022 took a huge toll. It was hard to know if I was experiencing burnout, a health issue, or if the years of societal unrest and lockdowns were to blame. Probably all of it, in retrospect.
I knew I wanted to teach other busy entrepreneur moms like myself to take back control and create more flexible systems in their life - but I just couldn’t make myself do the online business game anymore. I didn’t burnout overnight, it was a slow fizzle of fading away from my clients, my business, and social media.
In 2023 I finally found the right doctor who was able to diagnos my physical symptoms. I had extreme mold toxicity in my body, and underneath that I had (have) Chronic Lyme Disease. It was a huge relief to finally understand what was behind the food sensitivities, brain fog, blurred vision, and fatigue.
It took that diagnosis and realization to give myself permission to just stop. Pushing through wasn’t an option anymore and I had no choice but to step away from my business for almost two years. Instead of being afraid, I realized I had the opportunity to not only give my body the chance to heal, but I was giving myself a chance to wipe the slate clean with my business and start fresh with all the lessons I had learned over the years.
But in those two years, I learned something that changed everything: My worth wasn’t tied to my output (that’s “old productivity” thinking). My success wasn’t dependent on working 12-hour days or checking off every task on a list. When I finally had the space to breathe, I saw the flaws in the system I had spent so many years following and trying to shove my life into. The old productivity model wasn’t designed for women like me, and trying to force it only led to exhaustion.
The Other Side: Redefining Productivity on My Terms
I returned to my business slowly and non-publicly. As I took the time to consider who I wanted to help and how, I knew one thing: I was done following the old rules. No more rigid planners or systems, no more guilt for not doing enough, no more pushing through at the expense of my well-being. Instead, I created a business model that worked for me—one that embraced flexibility, allowed for life’s unpredictability, and prioritized what actually mattered.
I decided to stop offering freebies and lead magnets (against all the conventional marketing advice) in order to not fill my email list with non-action-takers.
No more weekly newsletter either (which is another popular “must-do” marketing strategy that didn’t work for me).
Now the people on my email list only receive simple, to-the-point emails when I have new content or offers to share with them first.
I decided to lean into my preferred content method, which is blogging. Once I started writing again, the content came pouring out of me and I’ve written more new blogs than I have in the last 5 years combined - all for type-A working moms that are done with the old productivity and business rules.
I also realized that I wasn’t alone. Every ambitious, high-achieving mom I knew was struggling with the same thing. We were all chasing a version of success that was impossible to sustain. That’s when I knew what I wanted to say: The rules are broken. It’s time to create a new way.
The Productivity Rules Are Broken (And Here’s Why)
01. Traditional Productivity Ignores the Reality of Motherhood
Most productivity advice assumes that you have complete control over your time. But for moms—especially those running businesses or growing careers—time is never truly our own. The idea that we can follow a perfect morning routine, set uninterrupted deep-work blocks, and always stick to our schedules is a fantasy.
A sick child, a school email that needs immediate attention, or even just the constant mental load of managing a household can throw everything off. And when that happens, we’re left feeling like we’ve failed—when in reality, the system was never built for us in the first place.
The real problem is that the traditional productivity model wasn’t designed with caregiving, unpredictability, or emotional labor in mind. It was built on the assumption that external responsibilities stay neatly contained (you go to work, you come home), which is rarely the case for moms.
Instead of forcing ourselves to fit into an unrealistic mold, we need to acknowledge that productivity for moms has to be flexible and able to evolve. Success shouldn’t be measured by how well we adhere to rigid structures but by how we adapt and keep moving forward.
02. The Obsession with Structure Creates More Stress
Planners, time-blocking, and productivity hacks promise to bring order to our chaotic days. But often, these structures end up creating even more stress. When we plan every minute of the day and something inevitably disrupts the plan, it feels like everything is falling apart. This leads to a cycle of frustration, guilt, and a sense of failure—when in reality, the problem isn’t our ability to plan, but the rigidity of the plans themselves.
Time management gives us the illusion of control, when in reality, mind management is a way more important skill that will help you ride the wave of the unpredictability of life and reprioritize seamlessly.
Productivity shouldn't be about perfection. It should be about sustainability. If a system makes you feel more stressed rather than supported, it's time to rethink it. Instead of setting rigid schedules, a better approach is to create fluid structures that allow for flexibility. A priority-based system, where you focus on the most important tasks first and next, gives you room to adapt as the day unfolds.
03. Success Isn’t About Doing More—It’s About Doing What Matters
The modern world equates productivity with doing more, but in reality, true productivity is about doing what matters most. Moms don’t need to get more done in a day—they need to make sure the right things are getting done, without sacrificing their well-being in the process. The pressure to constantly produce more, check more boxes, and stay “on top of everything” is unsustainable.
Instead of focusing on output, shift the focus to impact. Ask yourself at the end of the day:
Did I work on something that moves my business forward?
Did I create space for rest and personal time?
Did I allow room for the unexpected without feeling guilty?
If you’re able to consistenly answer Yes to these 3 questions, you’re going to end the day feeling satisfied and accomplished more often than not. By prioritizing meaningful work and allowing room for imperfection, we redefine what success actually looks like.
Breaking Free: How to Build Productivity That Works for You
01. Ditch the Guilt and Redefine Success
One of the biggest struggles high-achieving moms face is guilt:
guilt for saying no to others’ expections
guilt for not being present with your family enough
guilt for not checking off every to-do
guilt for falling behind on the household chores, and on and on.
But the truth is, you will never be perfectly organized or execute a flawless routine. The key to deeper fulfillment and feeling productive is more about making small, incremental progress on what matters most while honoring your reality.
A great way to shift your mindset is to celebrate small wins daily. Instead of focusing on what didn’t get done, take a moment to acknowledge what you did accomplish. Maybe you didn’t finish your entire to-do list, but did you make an important decision? Have a meaningful client call? Take a break to reset your energy? These things matter just as much—if not more—than the tasks on your planner.
02. Build a Flexible Framework Instead of a Rigid Plan
The key to sustainable productivity isn’t more control—it’s more flexibility and knowing how to regroup. Instead of scheduling your day down to the minute, use a priority-based framework that allows for movement.
Try this approach:
Identify your top three priorities each day—what truly needs to get done?
Batch similar tasks together to maximize focus and efficiency.
Use "bookend planning"—a loose structure for your mornings and evenings to create stability while allowing for spontaneity during the day.
This method keeps you anchored without feeling trapped by a strict schedule. When life throws you a curveball (because it will), you can adjust without guilt.
03. Focus on Sustainable Systems, Not Quick Fixes
Instead of searching for the "perfect productivity hack," focus on creating long-term systems that support your energy, priorities, and lifestyle. Sustainable productivity is about making work easier, not harder—by automating, delegating, and simplifying whenever possible.
Here are a few ways to create sustainable productivity:
Automate repetitive tasks (e.g., email responses, invoicing, content scheduling).
Delegate where possible—whether it’s hiring help in your business or sharing household responsibilities.
Delete the unneccessary—stop doing low ROI tasks in your business (i.e. posting on too many social media platforms).
Simplify decision-making by having go-to meals, outfit rotations, or business workflows that remove the need for constant planning.
When productivity works for you, instead of controlling you, you’ll find yourself achieving more without burning out.
Conclusion: It’s Time to Rewrite the Rules
After 10 years in business, I finally understand: The old productivity rules don’t work for women like us. It’s time to let them go and create something better—something that honors the reality of our lives, our energy, and our priorities.
Are you ready to break the rules and redefine success on your own terms? Let’s do it together.
