Happy Mother’s Day everyone! Today I hosted a Mother’s Day brunch for my mom with my two brothers. I was just finishing up a new donut recipe in the air fryer (which I continue to be obsessed with) when I got the following alert from USA Today.

“Why American moms are seriously struggling.”

I took a few minutes to read the article and I just felt sad. OK, well first I was annoyed, but then I felt sad. The article outlined the pressures of motherhood and how it has changed as women continue to try and balance work and motherhood. It addressed the idea that feeling overwhelmed as a mother has become the new normal and the pressures of “mom shaming” with social media.

Do we know how to find balance?

As moms, we seem to always be seeking some sort of balance in our lives. The right to enjoy and excel in a profession while still showing up and finding the energy to be a present mom and wife.

When I coach clients the most common thing moms seem to be seeking is a balance in their life. I challenge all of us to ask ourselves what balance really is, and most importantly, what does balance mean to YOU. Not what you think the mom next door is doing, not what your mom did, not what you saw on Facebook. What would balance look like for you? No comparing.

We don’t need to compare ourselves to social media and pride ourselves on being the more exhausted. Let’s not let “busy” be a status symbol. Busy doesn’t mean balanced. In another challenge, I chose to change my mindset around the word busy. I think it is time we reevaluate our definition of balance too.

To find YOUR balance you need to start with identifying your priorities. As a coach, I do this with my clients and it helps guide all the work we do. We need to know what comes first for us as individuals and we balance our most important priorities by finding the energy for them. Remember, balance does not have to mean equal time. I think what we all long for is a balance in energy to show up and be present for the priorities in our lives.

Once we have priorities lined up we are back to creating habits and systems. I am consistently working on this through this 52 Weeks of Wonder Challenge. The most impactful challenges on my habits have been challenges that help me minimize and systematize areas of my life.

When I read the article in the USA Today I kept thinking, it doesn’t have to be this way. We have the power to change it, but we need to put in the effort and set up the habits and systems.

For all of the mother’s today trying to do it all, take some time to think about your priorities and your energy. Don’t compare it to anyone else. What do YOU want for you and your family? When and where is your energy drained and where and when is it filled? Decide today is a day for you to start showing up for yourself in a way that works for you. Find joy in the journey so our Mother’s Day article doesn’t have to be about struggling.

Take the time to take care of yourself. If you are looking to find your personal balance email me at marnie@marniepauly.com and ask about my Mother’s Day Coaching special rate. We can talk about coaching option to help you balance your energy.

Let’s not let the headline of Mother’s Day be “Why American moms are seriously struggling.” Let’s have it be “Why Moms are Rocking It!”

And next week, the outdoor succulent pots! Today, I decided to take a nap to make sure I had the energy for the week:)

Are you looking for some guidance to help you start working towards your goals? Click here to get a free copy of my Wonder Workbook. It will guide you through six steps to make changes in your life to get you closer to the “you” who you always wondered if you could be!

Have a great week!!