The Fulfilled Hustle

Welcome back to November Notes: A Month in the Trenches — my daily journal through the chaos and calm of work, motherhood, and finding fulfillment in the middle of it all.

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Today was meant to be a reset day. Honestly, I thought it would be interesting to write this post as I went, capturing the real rhythm of a day that’s usually calmer and more intentional — my weekly work-from-home day as a busy mom.

If you’ve been following this series, you’ll know it’s been a little hectic. Not quite the fulfilled week I was aiming for. But today had potential — especially with a long weekend ahead (Veterans Day on Tuesday).

Why I Love Work-from-Home Days as a Mom

I gain two whole hours just by skipping the commute. And when my husband takes the kids to school? Even better. I get some precious solo time to enjoy a hot cup of coffee, take a few deep breaths, and mentally prepare for the day ahead.

• Kids out the door ✅
• Coffee brewed ✅
• Emails and chats checked ✅
• Meetings began at 9:00 AM sharp ✅

At 8:50 AM, I quickly outlined everything on both my work and personal calendars. It helped create structure — even if that structure didn’t exactly stick.

When a Reset Turns into a Real-Life Parenting Day

After that first meeting? The day took off. Back-to-back virtual meetings, a quick lunch run (but I forgot the Target returns I planned), and lots of rapid-fire notes from Teams calls filled the rest of my work hours.

I ended the day with five pages of scribbled notes. Yes, five. And I hadn’t even touched the productivity technique I was excited to try — no Pomodoro sessions here today.

From Chaos to a Birthday Party Ball Pit

At 4:00 PM, it hit me — I’d forgotten my Target run and we had a birthday party at 4:30. Classic working mom moment – trying to plan errands at times when I know better.

The party was at one of those indoor playgrounds — slides, ball pits, the works. My kids begged me to play before their friends even arrived. I dressed for it (cue the comfy yoga pants) but waited a bit while they got into their groove.

I sat at a parent table and used that time to consolidate all five pages of notes. Future me is already grateful. Once I had everything mapped out, I packed up my papers and went full-in on the fun — literally diving into the ball pit and joining the ball fight with the kids.

Friday Night Target Runs and a Softball-Ready Reset

Post-party, we divided and conquered: my husband took the kids home, and I finally tackled the Target returns. I walked the aisles with a Starbucks in hand — a peaceful close to a chaotic Friday.

Fun Fact! Did you know you can use Target Drive-Up for Returns and Starbucks too?

Biggest lesson this week? Not prepping the night before really adds stress. So even though I was exhausted, I did a quick evening reset to prep for tomorrow’s double softball game morning:

• Snacks packed
• Cleats by the door
• Speaker charged
• Water bottles filled
• Backpack ready

Don’t Wait for the Chaos to End

I’ll be honest — self-care, exercise, and house chores all fell through the cracks this week. That’s real life. But here’s what I know for sure:

The hustle will always exist. Life won’t wait to slow down. Kids, work, curveballs — they’ll always be there. You can’t wait until the list is done (because spoiler: it never is). Use your in-between moments to reset – even if it’s just for five minutes. Whether it’s waiting at a kid’s birthday party, sitting in your car before a meeting, or walking through Target with a coffee, look for micro-pockets of time to pause, reflect, or brain-dump.

Fulfilled Hustle Tip:

Don’t wait to feel fulfilled. Don’t wait to rest. Don’t wait to live. Use your in-between moments to reset – these small resets help reduce mental clutter and increase your capacity to be present for what matters most.

#thefulfilledhustle

So jump into the ball pit. Laugh until you’re breathless. Walk through Target like it’s a spa. Enjoy the little reset moments. You only get one life — live it with the people you love.

Join the Conversation

Has your work-from-home day ever gone off the rails? Did you find your reset moment in the chaos?

Drop a comment below or @thefulfilledhustle on Facebook or Instagram — I’d love to hear how your week went!

R

Read Yesterday’s Post: Day 6: Juggling Softball, Work and Family with Grace and Grit