The Life Management System for Working Moms

Working Moms Movement
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A practical podcast for working moms who want less burnout and more breathing room. Each week, host Courtney Cecil shares time-saving strategies, mindset shifts, and real-life systems to help you manage the mental load, avoid overwhelm, and create a life that works for you, not the other way around. If you're a high-achieving mom ready to reclaim your time, energy, and peace, this is your go-to space for building a personalized "life management system" that supports your career, family, and well-being.

  1. 1D AGO

    73: Why managing your energy matters more than managing your time

    If you’ve ever felt exhausted but looked at your calendar and thought, “Nothing here seems that overwhelming,” this episode is for you. In this solo episode, Courtney shares a personal story from a recent wake-up call to unpack why burnout isn’t a result of poor time management. It’s about energy. This conversation is especially for working moms and high performers who are tired of optimizing their calendars while still running on fumes. The truth of it is, burnout isn’t a scheduling problem. It’s an energy-allocation problem. 💡Inside this episode, we explore... Why Courtney’s past performance had nothing to do with intelligence, and everything to do with exhaustionThe two biggest misconceptions about surviving intense work seasonsWhy flexibility can backfire during busy seasons without guardrailsThe difference between time management and energy managementHow poor sleep quietly sabotages performanceWhy “I’ll rest next week” is one of the most dangerous lies we tell ourselvesThe role of intentionality in sustainable successHow Pareto’s Principle (80/20 rule) applies to your energyWhy burnout is not failure, but exceeded capacity ⚡ What managing your energy actually looks like Courtney breaks energy management into three practical levers: Physical (sleep, movement, nervous system regulation)Cognitive (deep work vs. constant context switching)Emotional (boundaries, expectations, resentment) She also shares: The three biggest energy drains: decision fatigue, constant availability, unclear expectationsWhy B-minus effort can be strategicHow context switching torches high-value energyThe small, but powerful, shift she’s making right now Protecting your energy doesn't need to be dramatic, it just requires you to dogmatically honoring the basics. 🧠 Key reframes to remember: Burnout isn’t a scheduling problem, it’s an energy-allocation problemTime is fixed, but energy can be generatedIntentional allocation beats reactive optimizationSmall boundary erosion creates big energy leaksSustainable performance requires systems, not hacks If you’re trying to manage time better while running on empty, you’re solving the wrong problem. 🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode 🧠 Episode 70: How work rewards over functioning and exhausts women 🧭 Boundary Self-Check Quiz: A quick, 3-minute self-assessment to help you identify where you may be leaking time and energy 🎙️ Episode 11: How to fix your own sleep struggles after kids 💤 Apollo Neuro nervous system + sleep tool (use code COURTNEY4 for $60 off) If today’s episode hit, especially the parts about sleep depletion, running on fumes, or realizing you’ve been gambling with your energy, make sure to listen to Episode 11 next. Your time is fixed, but your energy is not. Protect it accordingly. ♥️ 📈 Keywords energy management for women, burnout prevention for working moms, high performer burnout, busy season survival, time management vs energy management, decision fatigue, context switching productivity, postpartum exhaustion, nervous system regulation, work-life sustainability, boundaries and burnout, sustainable performance, Courtney Cecil, Life Management System

    28 min

  2. FEB 10

    72: How I designed my corporate workweek to protect my energy

    If you’ve ever looked at your calendar and thought, “Why am I this tired when nothing looks that overwhelming?”, this episode is for you. In this solo episode, Courtney pulls back the curtain on how she structured her workweek during her corporate years – not as a productivity flex or a blueprint to copy, but as a real-life case study in what happens when your calendar actually reflects what you value. This conversation is especially for executive-ready women and working moms who are tired of being constantly “on,” over-reliable, and quietly drained by invisible expectations at work and at home. Burnout doesn’t usually come from doing too much. It comes from giving yourself away in ways you don’t even realize, and your calendar often tells that story first. 💡Inside this episode, we explore... Why this episode is not a blueprint, and why that distinction mattersThe link between calendar chaos and your nervous systemHow owning your calendar reduces reactivity and emotional exhaustionThe difference between work-life balance and work-life integrationWhy burnout is not failure, but exceeded capacityHow “B-minus standards” create breathing room without sacrificing impactThe subtle ways over-functioning becomes rewarded and expectedWhy predictability and control are regulating, especially for high performersHow small, intentional trade-offs add up to sustainable energy 📅 A real look at Courtney’s corporate workweek Courtney walks through: Why she intentionally chose Wednesday–Friday office days (yes, even Fridays)How she planned workouts, commutes, and high-stakes meetings around energy, not opticsWhy she blocked mornings before 10:00amHow batching meetings and focus time protected her most valuable workWhy she never outsourced control of her calendarHow walking meetings, commutes, and even “internet chores” fit into her systemWhat she didn’t do and why those choices mattered just as much This episode is a reminder that your schedule doesn’t work because you’re doing everything; it works because you’re deciding what not to do, too. Who this episode is for: ✔️ Working moms navigating demanding careers ✔️ High performers who feel constantly “on” ✔️ Leaders who want sustainability, not survival ✔️ Anyone whose calendar looks fine on paper but feels heavy in real life 🔗Resources mentioned in this episode 🎙️ Episode 71: How work rewards over-functioning and exhausts women 🧭 Boundary Self-Check Quiz A quick, 3-minute self-assessment to help you identify where you may be leaking time and energy. 📆 Calendar audit / strategy call Courtney’s 1:1 support to help clients rearrange the puzzle pieces with clarity and without shame 🎧 The Life Management System podcast Explore more snack-sized episodes on boundaries, burnout, and sustainable success 🧠 Key reframes to remember Burnout is not failure, it’s exceeded capacityCalendar overwhelm is a nervous system issue, not a discipline issueBoundaries aren’t about rigid rules, they’re about protecting what you valueAwareness comes before strategyA good schedule doesn’t make you impressive, it makes you present If this episode resonated – especially the parts about being the reliable one, saying yes out of habit, or feeling quietly drained – be sure to listen to Episode 71: How work rewards over functioning and exhausts women next. And if nobody’s told you lately: you’re doing a great job. 💛 📈 Keywords burnout prevention for women, working mom burnout, calendar management, work-life integration, executive burnout, overfunctioning at work, boundaries and burnout, values-based scheduling, mental load, high-performing women, sustainable leadership, life management system, Courtney Cecil

    34 min
  3. 71: How work rewards overfunctioning and exhausts women

    FEB 3

    71: How work rewards overfunctioning and exhausts women

    Burnout doesn’t usually come from one explosive moment. It builds slowly through over-giving, over-functioning, and being “on” for everyone else. In this episode of The Life Management System, Courtney Cecil unpacks why so many working moms and high performers feel chronically depleted even when nothing on their calendar looks overwhelming. Through a deeply personal story from her corporate career – including extreme overwork, sleep deprivation, gaslighting leadership, and a moment that should have stopped everything but didn’t – Courtney explains why burnout often goes unnoticed until the cost is undeniable. This conversation reframes burnout as not failure, but capacity exceeded, and invites you to look at the quiet, invisible ways you may be leaking time, energy, and yourself, often in the name of being capable, reliable, and “easy to work with.” 💡 Inside this episode, we explore: Why burnout rarely arrives with a dramatic breakdownHow high performers are often rewarded with more work, not more protectionWhy exhaustion is frequently misdiagnosed as incompetenceHow being “the go-to” quietly becomes identityThe role of invisible labor and constant accessibility in chronic depletionWhy boundaries don’t usually feel like crossed lines, they feel like disappearingHow internal standards and external expectations blur together over timeWhy awareness is the first step to sustainable changeHow misalignment between life and work shows up in the body 🧠 Core reframes to sit with: Burnout is information, not a personal flawCapability without protection leads to overextractionWhen everything feels hard, responsible women blame themselves firstBoundaries are about awareness before behaviorValues misalignment drains energy faster than workload alone 🔗 Resources & links mentioned: Boundary Self-Check Quiz: Where Are You Leaking Time, Energy, or Yourself? Follow Courtney on InstagramEpisode 67 (recommended next listen): Why Burnout Sneaks Up on High Performers (and What It’s Really Telling You)Waterproof shower notepad 💥 Episode takeaway: Burnout isn’t a sign that you’re broken. It’s a signal that something in your system – work, expectations, roles, or identity – needs to change. When you stop treating burnout like a personal failure and start treating it like information, you can begin redesigning your life and work to be sustainable, aligned, and human again. You don’t need more discipline. You need clarity. 📈 Keywords: burnout in high performers, working mom burnout, capacity exceeded, invisible labor, mental load for women, values misalignment, overfunctioning women, organizational burnout, women and work, leadership and burnout, chronic exhaustion, burnout prevention, identity and work, emotional labor, Life Management System podcast, Courtney Cecil, Working Moms Movement

    23 min
  4. 70: Why modern work Is burning out caregivers (even when they love their jobs), with author and activist Amanda Litman

    JAN 27

    70: Why modern work Is burning out caregivers (even when they love their jobs), with author and activist Amanda Litman

    Work doesn’t burn people out just because it’s hard. It burns people out when expectations are unclear, flexibility is performative, and responsibility is unevenly distributed. In this episode of The Life Management System, Courtney Cecil sits down with Amanda Litman – co-founder of Run for Something and author of When We’re in Charge – to talk about why so many working moms and caregivers feel depleted at work, even when they’re successful and capable. Together, they unpack what actually makes work “suck,” why outdated leadership models are still shaping modern workplaces, and how organizations can build environments that support real performance and real life. This conversation bridges leadership, culture, caregiving, and burnout, and offers both structural insight and practical rethinking for leaders and employees alike. If you’ve ever felt like your job demands adult-level output without adult-level trust, this episode will put language to that experience. 💡 Inside this episode, we explore: Why “hard work” and unhealthy work are not the sameHow unclear expectations quietly fuel burnoutThe difference between flexibility in theory vs. flexibility in practiceWhy caregivers are disproportionately impacted by rigid work modelsHow invisible labor shows up in professional environmentsWhat leaders misunderstand about accountability and autonomyWhy return-to-office mandates are driving women out of the workforceHow trust, guardrails, and clarity reduce burnout without reducing performanceWhat matters most to inspire boundaries 🧠 Key insights worth sitting with: Work doesn’t fail people, values misalignment doesBurnout often comes from ambiguity, not workloadTreating adults like adults improves outcomesFlexibility without structure creates anxiety, not freedomLeadership choices ripple far beyond the workplace 🔗 Resources & links mentioned: When We’re in Charge: The Next Generation’s Guide to Leadership by Amanda LitmanFollow Amanda Litman on InstagramSubscribe to Amanda Litman on SubstackFollow Courtney Cecil on InstagramBoundary Self-Check QuizEpisode 67: Why Burnout Sneaks Up on High Performers (and What It’s Really Telling You) Learn more about The Life Management System 💬 Quoteworthy reflections: Burnout isn’t about effort, it’s about systemsFlexibility without clarity isn’t supportiveLeadership is a choice, not a legacy obligationYou can be ambitious without giving yourself away for free 💥 Episode takeaway: Burnout isn’t an individual failure. It’s often the result of environments that demand more than they support. When leaders create clear expectations, real flexibility, and human-centered systems, everyone benefits….at work and at home. This episode is a reminder that sustainable performance starts with intentional design, not endurance. 📈 Keywords: working moms, workplace burnout, leadership culture, flexible work, invisible labor, caregiver burnout, values misalignment, boundary setting, modern leadership, work life integration, women and burnout, Amanda Litman, Courtney Cecil, The Life Management System, Working Moms Movement

    41 min

  5. JAN 20

    69: When your life only works because of you

    Midlife doesn’t usually announce itself with a crisis. Sometimes it arrives quietly… And sometimes it throws out your back. In this episode of The Life Management System, Courtney Cecil shares a deeply real moment that happened just one week after turning 41 when her body, her systems, and her assumptions were all stress-tested at the same time. What followed wasn’t just an injury. It was a powerful case study in what happens when high performers build lives that work because of them instead of for them. This episode isn’t about age or accidents. It’s about what real sustainability actually looks like, and why most women don’t realize how fragile their ecosystem is until something forces them to stop. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you had to step away for a few weeks…this conversation will land. 💡 INSIDE THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE: Why midlife stress tests your systems, your body, and your assumptions, whether you’re ready or notThe difference between a life that functions because of you vs one that supports youWhy burnout doesn’t start with exhaustion, it starts with over-relianceHow invisible labor compounds when systems lack redundancyWhat it means to not be a single point of failure in your home or businessWhy your body eventually absorbs the margin your calendar refuses to protectHow anxiety grows when you assume instead of askingWhy boundaries and intentional planning aren’t lifestyle upgrades, they’re safety netsThe real cost of waiting for a breakdown to choose sustainability 🧠 KEY REFRAMES TO SIT WITH: If your systems only work because of you, they aren’t systemsWhen your calendar has no margin, your body becomes the marginAnxiety often isn’t intuition, it’s unanswered questionsBurnout is not failure, it’s capacity exceeded without supportA sustainable life is built before a crisis demands it 🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED: Follow Courtney on InstagramEpisode 67: Why Burnout Sneaks Up on High Performers Work with Courtney (clarity calls & coaching) ✨ QUOTE-WORTHY THOUGHTS (PARAPHRASED REFLECTIONS): A system should support you even when you’re unavailableYour body will eventually collect the debt your calendar ignoresAsking the question earlier can prevent months of unnecessary stressSustainability isn’t about carrying more, it’s about being carried back 💥 EPISODE TAKEAWAY: Midlife doesn’t break you. It reveals whether what you’ve built can hold you. You don’t need an injury, a breakdown, or a crisis to slow down. You’re allowed to choose sustainability over survival now before your body forces the pause. 📈 KEYWORDS: midlife burnout, high performers, working mom burnout, systems and burnout, invisible labor, mental load for women, boundaries and burnout, values misalignment, sustainable living for moms, women and burnout, life management system, Courtney Cecil, Working Moms Movement, stress and the body, burnout prevention, intentional planning, capacity exceeded

    11 min

  6. JAN 13

    68: You’re not broken, you’ve outgrown your definition of success, with Molly Asplin

    What happens when the version of success you worked so hard to achieve…no longer fits? In this episode of The Life Management System, Courtney sits down with Molly Asplin – a former high-achieving corporate leader turned executive and life coach – to talk about burnout, identity, and what it looks like when your ambition outpaces your joy. Molly specializes in helping driven, capable women slow down without losing momentum, and this conversation is a powerful reminder that growth doesn’t always come from pushing harder. Sometimes, it comes from redefining what success actually means. If you’ve ever felt restless, exhausted, or quietly disconnected, even while “doing everything right”, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. 💡 Inside this episode, you’ll learn: Why so many high-performing women feel burned out even when they’re successfulHow ambition and identity become entangled (and why that’s so hard to untangle)What it looks like to slow down without sacrificing growth or impactThe signs that you’ve outgrown your old definition of successWhy burnout isn’t a personal failure - it’s often a misalignmentHow to reconnect with your values when achievement stops feeling fulfillingThe difference between momentum and meaningWhat intentional success looks like in this season of life and leadership ✨ 🔗 Resources & links mentioned: Learn more about Molly Asplin Follow Courtney on InstagramFree guide: How to More Productively Manage Your To-Do List 💬 Quoteworthy thoughts: “Burnout isn’t always about doing too much, it’s about doing things that no longer align.” “Just because you’re capable of more doesn’t mean you’re meant to carry it all.” “Success that costs you your joy isn’t sustainable.” 💥 Episode takeaway: You don’t need to abandon your ambition to feel better. You may just need to redefine success in a way that honors your energy, values, and season of life. Slowing down isn’t quitting. It’s choosing what actually matters. 📈 Keywords: Molly Asplin, redefining success, burnout recovery, high achieving women, executive burnout, identity and work, values based living, working mom burnout, career and identity, life transitions, personal growth podcast, ambition and burnout, women leaders, success without burnout, life management system podcast, Courtney Cecil, Working Moms Movement

    25 min

  7. JAN 6

    67: Why burnout sneaks up on high performers (and what it’s telling you)

    Burnout doesn’t usually arrive with flashing lights or a dramatic breakdown. It sneaks up quietly…especially on high performers. It starts with being reliable. Then capable. Then indispensable. And before you realize it, you’re exhausted and wondering what’s wrong with you. In this episode of The Life Management System, Courtney Cecil breaks down why burnout is not a sign of incompetence and what it’s actually trying to tell you instead. Through a powerful real-life story and years of experience working in culture, leadership, and coaching high-achieving women, Courtney reframes burnout as information, not failure. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still running on empty, this episode will feel like someone finally put words to what you’ve been carrying. 💡 Inside this episode, we explore: Why burnout disproportionately affects capable, responsible, high-performing womenThe dangerous myth that exhaustion means you’re “not good enough”How over-responsibility quietly turns into identityWhy burnout is about capacity being exceeded, not lack of abilityThe hidden role of invisible labor, scope creep, and constant context switchingHow internal standards – not external expectations – often drive burnoutWhy high performers receive more work, not lessHow strengths can “go wild” and become friction pointsThe connection between burnout, boundaries, and values misalignment Why redesigning your life – not hustling harder – is the real solution 🌱 🧠 Key insights you’ll want to sit with: Burnout is a signal, not a character flawYou can be excellent at your job and still be in an unsustainable environmentImposter syndrome thrives when capacity is exceeded for too longWhen everything feels hard, high performers tend to blame themselves firstBoundaries aren’t just about access, they’re about intentional yeses and noesLiving intentionally makes decisions easier and burnout less likely 🔗 Resources & links mentioned: Follow Courtney on InstagramEpisode 4: Part 1 of the Boundaries series (recommended next listen) Episode 50: Courtney’s full burnout storyBook a FREE clarity call with Courtney (first time offered on the podcast) ✨ Quoteworthy reflections: Burnout is not a lack of competence, it’s capacity exceeded without supportHigh performers don’t burn out because they don’t care…they burn out because they care deeplyWhen your role asks more than your season of life can give, something has to changeStrengths without boundaries become liabilities 💥 Episode takeaway: Burnout isn’t telling you that you’re broken, it’s telling you that something in your ecosystem needs to change. When you stop treating burnout like a personal failure and start treating it like information, you can finally redesign your life and work to be sustainable, aligned, and human again. You don’t have to figure this out alone. 📈 Keywords: burnout in high performers, working mom burnout, burnout vs incompetence, capacity burnout, invisible labor, mental load for women, values based living, boundary setting, burnout prevention, imposter syndrome, emotional labor, women and burnout, high achieving women, career burnout, leadership burnout, life management system, Courtney Cecil, working moms movement, boundaries and burnout, redesigning life after burnout

    15 min

  8. 12/30/2025

    66: Your calendar is lying (and it’s costing you energy)

    What if the reason you’re overwhelmed isn’t a lack of discipline…but a calendar that’s quietly working against you? In this re-aired (and still incredibly relevant) episode of The Life Management System, Courtney revisits Episode 20 to talk about calendar hygiene and why it’s one of the most powerful (and overlooked) tools for helping working moms reclaim their time, energy, and priorities. Despite shared calendars, flexible work schedules, and endless productivity tools, most working moms Courtney coaches are still stuck in reaction mode. And nine times out of ten, the fastest way to spot the problem is a calendar audit because your calendar tells the truth about what you value, protect, and sacrifice. This episode isn’t about squeezing more into your days. It’s about building boundaries, aligning your time with what you value, and finally putting yourself back on the calendar…without guilt! 💡 Inside this episode, you’ll learn: Why “calendar hygiene” is foundational to prioritizing yourselfHow an unintentional calendar fuels overwhelm, resentment, and burnoutWhy Courtney uses calendar audits with her clients to quickly identify misalignmentHow to approach a simple planning “retreat” with your partner before touching the calendarThe five big-picture questions every family should answer before planning their yearTactical steps to organize your calendar so it supports - not drains - youHow to block time for self-care, rest, relationships, and what actually mattersWhy prioritizing yourself feels selfish (and why that belief isn’t true)What to remove, protect, and reintroduce on your calendar, starting now 🧠 Key Takeaway Calendar hygiene isn’t about productivity. It’s about intention. When your calendar reflects your values – not just your obligations – you stop reacting all day and start living with more clarity, boundaries, and breathing room. Your time is a resource. And your calendar is where we start protecting it. 🔗 Resources & Links Mentioned: Follow Courtney on Instagram Free guide: How to More Productively Manage Your To-Do List REtreat (yo’ self): A luxury women’s weekend in West Palm Beach Apollo Neuro wearable (stress & sleep support) → Use code COURTNEY4 for $60 off 📈 Keywords calendar hygiene, time management for working moms, calendar audit, working mom burnout, mental load, invisible labor, values based living, prioritizing yourself, work life balance for moms, boundaries for moms, overwhelmed working mom, productivity without burnout, family scheduling systems, self care for moms, calendar organization, stress management for moms, life management system, Courtney Cecil Anderson, Working Moms Movement

    30 min
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5
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

A practical podcast for working moms who want less burnout and more breathing room. Each week, host Courtney Cecil shares time-saving strategies, mindset shifts, and real-life systems to help you manage the mental load, avoid overwhelm, and create a life that works for you, not the other way around. If you're a high-achieving mom ready to reclaim your time, energy, and peace, this is your go-to space for building a personalized "life management system" that supports your career, family, and well-being.

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