Finding Balance: A Coach and Mother’s Perspective on Self-Care
As a mother of two and a coach, I’ve learned that balance isn’t a fixed destination, it’s a daily practice. Life pulls us in many directions: work, family, relationships, responsibilities. In the middle of it all, it’s easy to lose sight of you… your energy, your needs, your joy.
Just the other day, I found myself standing in the kitchen, reheating my coffee for the third time. It was 3:00 p.m. and I realized I hadn’t eaten lunch or taken a moment to breathe since 7 a.m. and I was running on autopilot, ticking boxes, doing all the things—but I depleted and was defensive as more was being asked of me for homework, supper and chores.
That moment, although ordinary, reminded me why self-care isn’t optional. It’s essential. Not just bubble baths or weekend breaks but everyday acts of kindness toward ourselves. And here’s the truth I’ve come to embrace: when you care for yourself, you show up better for everything and everyone else. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s foundational. It’s how we refill our cups so we don’t pour from empty.
Over the years, I’ve learned to shift from surviving to thriving, and it starts with intentional choices, small ones that build resilience and restore balance.
Coaching Tip 1: Start with Micro-Moments
Balance doesn’t mean clearing your calendar. It means making space within it. On that busy day, once I noticed how depleted I felt, I stepped outside for just five minutes. I didn’t check my phone. I just stood in the sun and took a few deep breaths.
Those five minutes helped me reset.
Try this: Schedule three 5-minute pauses in your day. Use them to breathe, stretch, journal, or simply sit in silence. Small shifts create sustainable change.
Coaching Tip 2: Redefine Success Every Day
There was a time when I thought a “balanced day” meant doing it all perfectly. Now I know that balance looks different every day.
Some days, success means delivering a great coaching session. Other days, it means choosing to rest when I feel depleted. And that’s okay.
Ask yourself each morning: What matters most to me today? What’s one thing I can let go of to feel more balanced?
Coaching Tip 3: Boundaries Are a Gift
One of the biggest shifts for me was learning to say no, not out of guilt, but out of self-respect. I used to feel bad rescheduling things, turning down invitations, or asking for help. But now I see boundaries not as walls, but as bridges to deeper presence, peace, and purpose.
This week, try this: Identify one boundary that would protect your energy. Practice communicating it clearly and kindly.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re feeling stretched thin, I see you. I’ve been there. And I still have days where balance feels out of reach. But those are the days I come back to the basics of presence, breath, kindness, choice.
Balance isn’t about doing everything right. It’s about coming home to yourself in the middle of the chaos.
So, take the break. Say no. Eat the lunch. Reheat the coffee only once. And remember: you deserve the same care and compassion you offer to everyone else.
Pic credit: Photo by Daria Obymaha: https://www.pexels.com/photo/mother-and-daughter-on-grass-1683975/
