This episode busts the myth that long hours equal productivity and explores how our culture of overwork harms both people and performance. We highlight how ambitious mothers continue to deliver outstanding results within tighter time frames and share what needs to shift at both system and individual levels. Includes scientific research and practical action steps.

For more resources visit www.bodyfulminds.com or follow on Instagram @bodyful_minds

References:

• Andersen, L. B., & Pallesen, T. (2017). The effect of reduced working hours on social worker productivity. Public Money & Management, 37(6), 395-402. DOI: 10.1080/09540962.2017.1326308

• Borragán, G., Slama, H., & Peigneux, P. (2019). Cognitive fatigue: A time-based resource-sharing account. Nature Human Behaviour, 3, 62–70. DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0677-4

• OECD (2020). Productivity gains from teleworking in the post COVID-19 era: How can public policies make it happen?

• Microsoft Japan 2019 Work-Life Choice Challenge White Paper (internal - widely quoted in trusted outlets like the BBC and secondary academic sources).

Ever notice how the days leading up to a family vacation feel more stressful than regular workweeks? Between packing lists, project deadlines, and sky-high expectations, many ambitious moms end up exhausted before the trip even begins.

In this episode, we unpack why vacation prep can feel overwhelming — and why it’s okay if not everything gets done. You’ll learn practical ways to stay grounded, set realistic expectations, and prepare for those “vacation moments” that don’t feel so relaxing (like sibling fights or clashing interests). We’ll also talk about why your body is the best tool to shift from rush to resourceful — before, during, and after your time away.

Need more support around rest and recovery? Don’t miss Episode 22 where we explore why doing nothing feels so hard and how to reclaim your right to rest in a culture that glorifies productivity.

Tune in for calm, clarity, and a little less chaos — even before you hit the road.

For more resources go to www.bodyfulminds.com or follow on Instagram @bodyful_minds

Anger isn’t just an emotional response—it’s a signal. And for many ambitious moms, it’s a frequent, familiar one. In this follow-up to our previous episode on feminine anger, we explore what happens after the outburst… or the silent simmer.

In this episode, we’ll unpack how chronic and chronically suppressed anger affects the body—especially digestion, immunity, and stress regulation—and why true healing goes beyond apologies or mindfulness mantras. You’ll learn about:

• The science behind suppressed anger and chronic inflammation

• How psychosocial and somatic practices can reduce stress markers and support immune recovery

• Practical tools to support your body’s restoration—from breathwork to micro-movements

• How anger can reveal unmet needs and hidden emotions when we listen through the body

Plus, you’ll get a quick script for a root-down breathing practice and reflective journaling prompts to reconnect with your inner calm and clarity.

Because restoration is more than rest—it’s radical self-permission.
And when we give space to our anger, feel through it, and uncover what lies beneath, we not only begin to heal physically—we also start feeling less angry. With awareness comes clarity, and with clarity comes the power to address our unmet needs instead of staying stuck in frustration.

For more resources go to www.bodyfulminds.com or follow on Instagram @bodyful_minds.

In this empowering episode, we explore how the pressure on ambitious moms—and women in general—to suppress anger can take a serious toll on our physical and emotional health. Discover:

• How suppressed anger spikes cortisol and drives inflammation

• The impact on cardiovascular health—including impaired blood vessel function after just brief anger episodes

• Evidence linking chronic stress and anger to immune dysregulation

• Practical tools: identifying body signals, naming and pausing to process, expressing anger professionally at work

• A compelling scenario showing how work stress can spill into family life

This episode is your invitation to honor your anger, not hide it—and to model emotional integrity for those who matter most.

For more resources go to www.bodyfulminds.com or follow on instagram @bodyful_minds

Stillness isn’t laziness. It’s a skill — and for ambitious moms, it might be the most radical one.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why our culture pushes constant productivity — and why this is especially hard on ambitious women and mothers.

• The body’s signals that you need stillness: from racing thoughts to shoulder tension and snapping at your kids.

• How to redefine rest as truly productive, supporting your creativity, resilience, and nervous system health.

• Small, guilt-free practices to reconnect with “doing nothing,” like mindful walks or sitting with a cup of tea.

• How to use body cues to catch overdoing before burnout hits.

• And why your vacation shouldn’t become just another packed checklist (plus why boredom is actually a gift for you and your kids).

If your mind struggles to slow down or you feel guilty when you’re not ticking boxes, this episode is your invitation to pause. Start with one moment. One breath. One brave choice to just be.

For more resources go to www.bodyfulminds.com or follow on Instagram @bodyful_minds

Feeling drained by all the decisions you have to make, Mama? From work choices to household logistics to tiny daily preferences—your brain is on overload. In this episode, we break down why decision fatigue is real (backed by science), why ambitious moms are especially vulnerable, and how the dynamics at home and work might be adding to your mental load without you even noticing.

You'll learn how to spot the subtle body signals that tell you you’ve hit your decision limit, plus practical ways to outsmart decision fatigue—like creating decision-free zones, delegating (yes, even at work!), and giving your kids age-appropriate choices to reduce pushback and foster independence.

Tune in to discover how fewer decisions (not better ones) might be the real key to clarity and calm.

If you find this helpful, share it with a fellow mom who could use a little more ease and subscribe to the show.

For more resources go to www.bodyfulminds.com or follow on Instagram @bodyful_minds.

References:

• Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Muraven, M., & Tice, D. M. (1998). Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(5), 1252–1265. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1252

• Daminger, A. (2019). The cognitive dimension of household labor. American Sociological Review, 84(4), 609–633. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122419859007

• Offer, S. (2014). The costs of thinking about work and family: Mental labor, work–family spillover, and gender inequality among parents in dual-earner families. Sociological Forum, 29(4), 916–936. https://doi.org/10.1111/socf.1211

Your body might be on vacation — but is your mind still checking emails?

In this episode, we explore why it's so hard for ambitious moms to fully unplug, even when they want to. We’ll unpack the deeper layers of identity, responsibility, and guilt that make switching off feel impossible — and how to move out of work mode and into rest mode using body awareness.

You’ll learn:
✨ How to tell the difference between work mode and rest mode in your body
✨ Realistic boundaries that actually reduce mental load (without setting you up to fail)
✨ Simple rituals to transition in and out of work — even when vacation is half work, half play
✨ What to do when your brain won’t stop racing (and how to soothe it somatically)

Whether you're prepping for an actual holiday or just craving more breathing room in your day, this episode offers gentle, grounded strategies to help you rest — for real.

🎧 Tune in and let rest do its magic.

For more resources go to www.bodyfulminds.com or follow on Instagram @bodyful_minds.

Are you constantly striving, improving, pushing—and still ending your day feeling like it’s not enough? In this episode, we explore the invisible pressures perfectionism puts on ambitious moms and how those standards show up in our bodies: the tight shoulders, clenched jaws, and relentless mental loops.

But what if the standard you're chasing is the problem—not you?

We’ll walk through what “good enough” really means, how to recognize body signals when you’re pushing too hard, and how redefining success through body awareness can shift everything. You’ll also be guided through a grounding practice to reconnect with your body and reclaim your sense of enoughness—right here, right now.

✨ This episode is for you if:

• You struggle with perfectionism and overachieving

• You want to feel more present and less reactive

• You’re curious about how body awareness can support emotional clarity and self-worth

📣 Share this episode with a fellow mama who needs permission to stop proving and start being.

🎧 Tune in, breathe deeply, and remember: you are already enough.

For more resources go to www.bodyfulminds.com or follow on Instagram @bodyful_minds