You’re Not Failing. You’re Overloaded.Why high-achieving women feel stuck—and what to do instead
There was a time when I believed that if I could just find the right routine—everything would fall into place.
I was a solo mama, raising little girls while my husband traveled constantly for work. I pushed through exhaustion, signed up for Ironman races (yes, plural), trained in the early mornings, worked full-time, packed lunches, booked dentist appointments, ran to swim practice—and still wondered:
Why do I feel like I’m never doing enough?
And then…
Divorce. Covid. Cancer. Recovery.
I kept trying to stay “on track,” thinking that if I was just more motivated, more disciplined, more together, I could fix it all.
But here’s what I’ve learned—what I teach now:
You’re not failing. You’re overloaded.
Motivation isn’t the answer—capacity is.
Most women I work with are smart, capable, driven. They’re also holding so much—mentally, emotionally, physically. They’re making meals while thinking about work deadlines. They’re managing aging parents, overbooked kids, group chats, grocery lists, and expectations they didn’t ask for.
They’ve been told they need:
More structure
More motivation
More grit
But what they actually need is less pressure, more clarity, and a real system that honors their life—not fights against it.
Why Overwhelm Feels Like Failure
We’ve been sold this idea that burnout is a personal flaw. That if we’re not “keeping up,” it’s because we’re weak.
But that’s not true.
Overwhelm is what happens when your inputs exceed your capacity.
And most women are running without a single ounce of margin in their day.
No wonder we forget things. Snap at people. Crash at 8PM.
We’ve been carrying everything.
The Shift: From Pressure to Pattern
When I finally began recovering from cancer, I couldn’t pretend anymore. My body said “no” louder than I ever had. And it forced me to face the truth:
Motivation can’t carry you through when your nervous system is in survival mode.
I didn’t need another fitness plan or nutrition tracker.
I needed to learn how to restore, not just push.
What changed everything was this:
I stopped trying to be perfect and started creating systems that worked with me—not against me.
What to Do Instead
Here’s where I always start with my clients:
Pause. Recognize that exhaustion is a signal, not a failure.
Audit your energy. What’s draining you that doesn’t need to?
Anchor one habit. Start with one—a 10-min walk, a nightly shutdown routine, a 3-breath pause before meals.
Let it be enough. Because it is.
Overwhelm doesn’t need to be conquered.
It needs to be uncomplicated.
Let’s Keep This Conversation Going
If this post resonated with you, know this:
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with you.
But the system you’ve been trying to thrive in? It’s not designed for your reality.
That’s why I created The Uncomplicate Method™—a coaching experience that helps you simplify how you move, eat, and live. No pressure. No perfectionism. Just real, sustainable change built around you.
👉 Want to start small? Take the quiz:
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