The Myth of Balance for Working Mums (and What Actually Helps Instead)

Can I be honest with you for a moment?

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly chasing “balance” and somehow always falling short, it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. It might be because balance isn’t actually the goal we’ve been led to believe it is.

This is something I talk about in depth in this week’s episode of The Mum Poster Syndrome Podcast, because it comes up all the time in my work with working mums, and I’ve felt it myself too.

Why “balance” feels so hard to reach

We’re told that if we just organise ourselves better, try harder, or manage our time more efficiently, we’ll finally feel balanced.

But real life doesn’t work like that.

Some weeks, work needs more from you.
Some weeks, your family does.
Some days, just getting through the day is enough.

Yet somehow, we still internalise the idea that if things feel messy or uneven, we’re failing.

That pressure alone is exhausting.

When striving for balance leads to burnout

Here’s what I see over and over again… the constant pursuit of balance quietly turns into self-criticism, guilt, and burnout.

Because when balance is the goal, anything less feels like failure.

And for working mums (who are already juggling emotional labour, mental load, and responsibility in every direction!) that’s a heavy thing to carry.

This episode explores why that happens, and why the “do it all, do it well” message is so damaging.

Why managing energy matters more than managing time

One of the biggest mindset shifts I share in this episode is around energy management.

Because time is fixed, but your energy isn’t.

Some days you have more capacity. Some days you don’t. And that’s not a flaw, it’s being human.

When you start listening to your energy rather than fighting it, decisions feel clearer and life feels lighter.

But I go into this much more deeply in the episode itself.

A gentle reminder if you’re feeling stretched thin

If balance feels impossible right now, I want you to know this:

You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You don’t need to be perfect.
You don’t need to “earn” rest.

You’re allowed to take this one step at a time.

And if this resonates, the full episode will help you reframe a lot of the pressure you’ve been carrying.

🎧 Listen to the full episode

The Mum Poster Syndrome Podcast
The Myth of Balance for Working Mums

This episode is for any mum who wants to feel less stuck, less guilty, and more free, without adding another thing to her to-do list.