You’d think that someone who teaches life balance and time optimization would have it all perfectly figured out, right?
Well… let’s just say even the “balance coach” can wobble a little.

It’s only Monday, and I can already feel the weight of the week pressing down. Between prepping three workshops (totaling four hours), updating PowerPoint slides and participant workbooks, and trying to keep all the moving parts straight, it’s easy to see how overwhelm creeps in. Add in a three-and-a-half-hour evening workshop at church, my sacred Wednesday morning Bible study, and the normal mom-life chaos of prepping Halloween costumes and goodie bags, and suddenly even I, someone who teaches this stuff, was feeling the squeeze.

By mid-afternoon, I could feel my brain doing that “too many tabs open” thing. But instead of letting the pressure take over, I practiced exactly what I teach in Optimize 60.

Here’s how I took back control, step by step:

Step 1: Pause and Assess

When stress hits, the best first move is no move at all. I took a breath, grabbed my notebook, and made a master list of everything that needed to be done by Friday. Getting it out of my head and onto paper immediately calmed my nerves. My brain could stop juggling and start focusing.

Step 2: Prioritize the Urgent

Next, I highlighted the “must-dos” not the “would-be-nice” tasks, but the ones with real deadlines. I asked myself:

“If I only get three things done today, which ones will make me feel the most relieved?”

That one question always snaps me back to what truly matters.

Step 3: Plug It into the Calendar

Once I knew what mattered most, I blocked time on my calendar for each item. I scheduled my creative work (like slides and workbooks) during my best focus hours and saved admin tasks for later in the day.

When you give a task a time slot, you take away its power to haunt you all day. (That’s one of the big mindset shifts we teach in Optimize 60!)

Step 4: Focus on One Thing at a Time

Multitasking is just fancy procrastination. Each time I felt tempted to check emails or jump ahead, I reminded myself of my affirmation:

“I have a plan, and if I stick to it, it will all get done.”
That mantra kept me grounded and productive instead of frantic.

Step 5: Move, Play, and Breathe

Even with a packed schedule, I made time to move and play. I snuck in squats, push-ups, and planks by joining clients in their workouts and played hide-and-seek and animal freeze dance with my kids after dinner. Sure, my 20-minute walk didn’t happen, but laughter counts as cardio, right?

Step 6: Delegate (Even When You’re a Control Freak)

My amazing assistant texted me, “How can I help?”
Old me would’ve said, “It’s fine, I’ve got it.”
This time, I said yes. Because balance doesn’t mean doing it all, it means knowing when to ask for help. I hope she knows what she is asking for!

My Advice

It’s only Monday, and the to-do list feels huge, but I’m calm, collected, and focused. Why? Because I have a plan.

When life starts to spiral, pause. Prioritize. Plug it into your calendar. Focus on one thing at a time. Move, play, breathe, and delegate. These are the same steps that help my clients in Optimize 60 transform chaos into clarity.

If your week already feels overwhelming and you want to find a better rhythm, one that leaves room for laughter, movement, and maybe a little dancing in the kitchen, let’s talk. I can help you create your own plan to take back control and truly optimize your life.