It shouldn’t be this hard to take a break… but it is

From this week’s podcast episode: The Power of Me-Time (and How to Finally Take It)

One of my clients recently told me about the first time she went to yoga after becoming a mom.

As she walked out the door, her toddler stood at the window crying—arms outstretched, begging her not to leave.

She said,

“It broke my heart. I almost didn’t go. But I did. And I cried in the car.”

This moment, so raw and so real perfectly captures what makes me-time so complicated for working moms.

It’s not just the logistics or the schedule or who’s watching the kids.

It’s the emotion. The guilt. The ache. The story in your head that says, “You shouldn’t be doing this.”

We know intellectually that we need time for ourselves… But when it’s finally time to follow through, that’s when the storm hits.

And it makes sense why.

You’ve been trained to put yourself last

For years, you’ve been told explicitly or implicitly that your value lies in how much you do for others. So when you choose rest or fun or fulfillment for yourself, your brain lights up with warnings:

“Your partner is tired too.”

“There’s still laundry.”

“She needs you right now.”

“You’ll regret this.”

It’s not easy to override those thoughts.

Because they’re not just thoughts, they’re identities you’ve carried: the responsible one, the helper, the high-achiever, the self-sacrificer.

Which is why me-time is so much more than a time management issue.

It’s a mindset issue. A self-worth issue. A deeply ingrained belief system issue.

In this week’s podcast episode, I talk about the 3 internal shifts that make me-time possible:

Clarity, Confidence, and Control.

Let me break it down here, too because this is the foundation of what we work on inside Ambitious and Balanced.

✅ 1. Clarity: Know what fills you up

Ask a working mom what she needs, and many can’t tell you. Not because they don’t have desires but because they’ve ignored them for so long they’re buried under the surface

So we start simple.

What feels good? What fills you up, even for just 10 minutes? Joy doesn’t have to be extravagant. It just has to be yours.

One client started reading for 30 minutes before her kids got home. It wasn’t easy, she had to ignore dishes, emails, all the noise, but she noticed that she started greeting her kids with joy instead of irritability.

That’s what 30 minutes of clarity can do.

✅ 2. Confidence: Believe you’re worth the time

This is the identity work.

We break the belief that your needs are indulgent or optional.

You don’t have to earn a break. You don’t need to justify joy. You are already worthy of care and attention, simply because you’re human.

One mom went paddleboarding for the first time in years. She said:

“I’ve been operating from depletion. I’m done waiting until I’m drowning.”

The act of claiming that space, not the activity itself was the breakthrough.

✅ 3. Control: Follow through even when it feels hard

Here’s the hardest part: taking the action even when it feels bad in the moment.

Me-time doesn’t always feel like a spa day. Sometimes it feels like heartbreak, or resistance, or doubt—especially at first.

But learning to stay with that discomfort, to let it pass, and to still choose yourself - that’s where your power is.

That same client who left for yoga in tears? She came home softer. Clearer. More present. And she kept going. Because she remembered who she was—and that she matters, too.

Your Micro Step: Try the 3 C’s This Week

Here’s a real, doable way to practice me-time starting now:

🌀 Clarity: Ask, “What would feel fun, fulfilling, or freeing—just for me?”

🌀 Confidence: Remind yourself, “I don’t have to earn this. I already deserve it.”

🌀 Control: Put it on your calendar. And when resistance shows up, go anyway.

Let it feel hard. Let it feel imperfect. But let it happen. Because you are allowed to enjoy your life. Not just survive it.

You Don’t Need to Earn Your Joy

Balance isn’t built through sacrifice. It’s built through self-respect. And you respecting your need for rest, pleasure, space, and joy is not weakness. It’s strength.

Because the truth is: you can be a loving mom, a driven leader, and a woman who protects her peace.

But only if you stop skipping yourself.

🎧 Want more real stories and tools?

Listen to this week’s podcast episode: 👉 The Power of Me-Time (and How to Finally Take It)

💬 Ready to create this kind of balance in your life?

Message me the word “balance” and I’ll share the details about the next Ambitious and Balanced group. Spots are limited, and this work will change everything.

About Me

I’m Rebecca Olson, executive life coach, podcast host, and founder of the Ambitious and Balanced coaching programs.

I help high-achieving working moms redefine success, stop overfunctioning, and create a version of balance they can actually live.

Whether you’re feeling burned out, overwhelmed, or just ready for a different kind of success, I’m here to help you figure out what’s next.

👋 Want to talk it through? Book a free 60-minute Breakthrough Call with me. We’ll uncover what’s not working, what you want instead, and the exact steps to get you there.

👉 Click here to schedule your call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/book