The past few weeks, I’ve felt mentally exhausted. I’m someone who gets excited about ideas quickly—I dive in, work hard, and pour myself into the vision. But when that initial spark fades, the project can slide down my priority list. I’ve been feeling familiar waves of that with this blog.
I’ll be honest, staying mentally strong and consistent is not always easy. I’ve shared before about how I believe my negative mind loops manifested and contributed to my thyroid cancer, and it’s something I actively work on every single day. The mental toughness to believe in a vision, an idea, or a brand is a muscle you have to keep strengthening.
Sometimes I hear the voice that says: You’re just a drop in the ocean. There are bigger, smarter, more experienced people out there. Do you really have what it takes to make this work?
And the questions start swirling:
- Is this idea good enough?
- Has this already been done?
- Do I have a unique angle?
- Am I knowledgeable enough?
- Do I really have the time and energy?
- Am I special enough?
Here’s the thing, deep down, I have positive answers for every one of those doubts. But the seed of doubt is strong, and if I water it, it grows fast.
The truth is sometimes it feels easier to slip into survival mode. To get through the day, do the basics, and not push myself further. Being home with little ones 24/7 drains energy in invisible ways. I technically have “time,” but that time is never uninterrupted. Even sitting on the couch, my attention is pulled in a dozen directions.
That’s where the balancing act comes in, pushing myself without burning out. Resting without calling it laziness. Taking things slowly without feeling like I’m wasting my days.
Is it normal to go through these ebbs and flows of energy? Absolutely. Especially in the postpartum season, with hormones recalibrating and two active toddlers to keep up with. My home is clean, there’s always food on the table, and yet the effort behind that can be heavy in and of itself. Part of me feels like I “should” have my hormones under control by now, but I also know healing isn’t linear.
I’m learning to listen more to the compassionate side of myself. The side that accepts reality but encourages growth. Life isn’t linear—what matters is trying to be 1% better each day.
For me, that means:
- Nourishing and moving my body, even if it’s just 20 minutes of exercise.
- Taking 5 minutes to breathe and reset.
- Cutting back on screens.
- Finishing my must-do tasks, and then one extra that helps me feel accomplished.
It’s hard to stay productive in a home that’s meant to feel cozy, while also being pulled in every direction by little hands that need you. Add postpartum symptoms, hormone imbalance, and the everyday weight we carry, and of course burnout creeps in.
But here’s the reminder I keep coming back to: we always have a choice. We get to choose how we treat ourselves, what voice we listen to, and how we show up for our lives.
So yes, I took a step back from this blog for a few weeks. But weeks can so easily turn into months and years, and I don’t want to look back wishing I had tried harder. This is me getting back up, recommitting to the vision I believe in.
Real life isn’t perfect. Humans are complicated. Women are complex. But when we choose to treat our minds, bodies, and souls with compassion, respect, and gratitude, the “bad days” don’t define us.
I’m reminding myself—and maybe you need this reminder too: be kind to yourself. Believe in your abilities. Love the fullness of your human experience. And keep showing up, even when it’s hard.
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