Have you ever reached the end of the week feeling like you’re hanging on to the side of a fast-moving bus or train, just trying not to fall off? If so, you’re not alone. That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling this week.

The Pace of Female Entrepreneurs

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the pace that we, as female entrepreneurs, are expected to maintain. And honestly, most of the time, it feels like I can’t catch up. After a few years of navigating a business crisis, I finally feel like I’ve regained my momentum, which is exhilarating. But with momentum comes a whole new wave of challenges.

As a new mom and someone who tends to overwork, I find myself trying to juggle everything, and I know I’m not the only one in this boat. The pressure is real.

The Pressure to “Get It Right”

I remember when I first started coaching, one of my clients confessed she was secretly angry at her grandmother’s generation. When I asked her why, she said she felt an immense pressure to “get everything right” and to never let an opportunity slip by. Her words have stayed with me ever since.

This pressure to “do it all” comes from many places, but one of the most fascinating concepts that resonated with me is from the book The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less by Barry Schwartz. In it, he talks about “Maximizers” — those who are constantly comparing themselves to others, experiencing regret, and fearing failure. He writes, “The availability of many attractive options means there is no longer any excuse for failure.” This rings true, especially for women today who are overwhelmed by the endless options and possibilities, yet feel the weight of expectations.

The Weight of Overwhelm

I’m not saying that having choices is bad—far from it. But let’s be real: sometimes, it feels like the weight of that abundance is crushing us. Here are some sobering facts that shed light on this issue:

Workplace Burnout

A 2022 Gallup report found that women are 30% more likely than men to experience burnout at work. This is largely due to higher work demands and greater responsibilities outside of work.

Unpaid Labor

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), women spend about 4.5 hours per day on unpaid domestic and care work compared to men’s 1.5 hours. This imbalance adds to the mental and physical strain women face.

Stress Levels

A 2021 study by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that 67% of working women reported high levels of stress, compared to 50% of men. This stress is often compounded by the balancing act of professional and personal responsibilities.

Work-Life Balance

A 2023 Pew Research Center survey revealed that 54% of working mothers struggle with work-life balance, compared to 41% of working fathers. This disparity has a direct impact on women’s job satisfaction.

Mental Health

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that women are twice as likely to experience anxiety disorders, which are further exacerbated by the demands of work and life. Additionally, 13.3% of women aged 18 and over in the U.S. were taking antidepressant medication in 2021, compared to just 8.1% of men in the same age group.

Career Advancement

A 2023 study by the Center for Talent Innovation found that 64% of women feel they have to work harder than their male counterparts to be recognized and advance in their careers, leading to higher stress levels and burnout.

The Realization: It’s Not Just External Pressure

Can you relate?

But the truth (for me at least) is that a lot of this stress and pressure is self-imposed.

And the real statement is: I feel like I can’t catch up…with myself.

Yes, I could blame the fast pace of my industry, the ever-changing flow of information, the constant reinvention of everything, and the noise of social media (all of which are true). Or, I could blame the overwhelming amount of choice we now have. But there’s a deeper layer here—one where personal responsibility plays a huge part.

Taking Personal Responsibility

In a conversation with my husband, I had a moment of clarity about how much I take on without anyone ever asking me to do so.

For example, no one asked me to plan our whole trip to the UK, make the spreadsheet with our schedule, order new clothes for Charlotte (by the way, I got her the cutest stuff!), book the photographer, arrange the car, etc.

No one asked me to take over the search for a new nanny, arrange all childcare, set up new doctors for Charlotte, or find a housekeeper.

I never even had a conversation with my husband about it. I just did it.

Maybe you can relate, friend.

The “Superwoman” Myth

In working with women for the last ten years, I’ve noticed a tendency for many of us to want to be Superwoman. The motto is: We can do it all. We can have it all. We can handle it.

But can we really? And should we?

A Path to Change: Reducing Overwhelm

The good news is that all emotions give us clarity. They are an opportunity to look at the truth and, in turn, make some necessary changes.

Here are some of the things I’m exploring for myself in the spirit of reducing overwhelm and lightening my load:

1. Releasing Control of the Need to Do Everything for My Family

My husband and I are both making lists of what we do around the house and with our daughter. We discovered that there were things he did without me knowing and vice versa. From just one discussion, we’ve already come up with multiple tasks that he can take over.

2. Expanding My Professional Team

I’ve already hired a new EA and VA to support me in my business. I’m also exploring hiring a House Manager to help with home life. For every single task I do, I’m asking myself, Who else could do this?

3. Focusing on My Top Three Priorities

I’m learning to focus on the top three things I need to get done in my business and doing those first. Everything else can wait. (A shoutout to a colleague who reminded me of this brilliant gem: “I’m not curing cancer. It can wait.”)

4. Setting Better Boundaries with My Phone

A few things that work for me are either logging out of or muting communication apps when I don’t want to look at them or receive notifications. I’ve also started getting back to clients only two times per day instead of every hour or when I see the messages. Physically putting my phone in another room at times also helps.

5. Simplifying My Life

I’m simplifying my life wherever possible. This could mean setting up auto-pay for bills, decluttering, or getting rid of things I don’t need.

6. Changing My Narrative: “No More Overwhelm”

I realized that I’ve been telling myself, “I’m overwhelmed” way too often. One of my colleagues shared that she got sick of hearing herself say she was tired. I’ve started noticing how my thoughts and words create my reality. So, if I keep telling myself I’m overwhelmed, I stay in that loop. I’m changing the narrative.

A Turning Point for Women

I truly believe that this is a small part of a bigger conversation. We’re at a turning point as women. We’re realizing that we don’t want to show up the same way as men. We don’t want to replicate how things have always been done. It’s not necessarily the best way.

We may not have figured out the new way yet, but I believe that as we take a stand for something different, we’ll get clearer on what that looks like.

(Or maybe you’ve already had this awareness and have found what works for you. I’d love to hear what’s been working for you—hit reply and share your thoughts!)

💡 Tip: Finding Clarity Amid the Chaos

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the pressure and the noise, I recommend tuning in this weekend and asking yourself: What would reduce your overwhelm? Then, listen closely for the answer.

And remember, if you’re craving clarity, want to get to the root of what’s holding you back, or are ready to build momentum (fast-moving train and all!), check out my Dream Life Guide. You can download it for free and listen to the private podcast feed. It will literally walk you step-by-step through my Life by Desire methodology.