The Fulfilled Hustle

As I drove home from a 12-hour day at work yesterday, I called my mother-in-law. I had another late night ahead, and my husband would also be working late. Hearing the exhaustion in my voice, she asked, “You’re headed home? From where?” Work. I could hear the unsaid worry in her voice—”You’re doing too much.”

I’m fortunate that my job doesn’t often require late nights, but this week was different—a huge event my team played a major role in. It demanded mental energy, emotional intelligence, and constant multitasking. As exhausting as it was, I loved it. Working alongside my rockstar team filled my cup, making me feel productive, impactful, and like a total boss (cue Rebecca vibes from Ted Lasso).

But with that level of time and energy investment, balance quickly fell out of order. Just two days into the week, I already had backlogged PTO tasks, unfinished chores at home, and kids who were craving extra mommy snuggles.

Here’s how I handle weeks like this:

1. Plan Ahead

If you know a demanding week is coming, prepare in advance! As soon as I knew the dates, I had my husband block them off on his calendar and arranged backup plans in case a kid got sick at school. We intentionally kept the Sunday before open for extra family time and prep. Using the three tools I shared in Setting Yourself Up for Success: Three Tools to Try Today, I tackled the laundry, identified urgent tasks, and set myself up for success.

2. Be Intentional with Your Time & Know Yourself

Since my kids love their mommy snuggles, I made sure to be up and ready before they woke up so I could start the day with some quality couch time together. I also know myself—I’m an ambivert, and this week required me to be “on” while engaging with over 250 people. To recharge, I carved out quiet moments before events started, during breaks, and afterward to take a deep breath and reset. Most importantly, when the event ended today and I was completely spent, I took the time needed to wind down so I could be fully present with my family when I returned home.

3. Delegate to Your Village

My “village” is made up of incredible people I’ve built strong relationships with over time. If someone offers to help, let them! Need a ride for the kids on Wednesday? Village. Need the PTO money deposited? Village. Forgot to print something important? Village. When you nurture relationships where people genuinely support one another, help is always within reach.

4. Empower Others

This is not the time to play superhero. When you let go of a little control and allow others to step up, they often will. This applies to your spouse, kids, coworkers, and more. Maybe your spouse not only signed up to bring cupcakes for Thursday but also stopped at the store to buy them—without being asked. Or a teammate noticed you forgot something and took care of it. When you empower others, they step up, and everyone benefits.

5. Be Kind to Yourself

Busy weeks are tough. If you need a breather, take one. If things are piling up at home, focus on the real minimum. Don’t abandon tasks entirely, but reschedule them for a less chaotic time. Prioritizing in this way leads to less stress, better efficiency, and a happier you.

And the result? Despite a week of insane hustle, I feel fulfilled in my career after achieving major wins with an awesome team. I’m not drowning in tasks at home or with PTO, and after the insanity was over, I came home and enjoyed time at the table, writing out Valentine’s cards and spending quality time with my girls.

Life is never perfectly balanced—it’s a constant integration of marriage, family, work, home, and everything in between. But by recognizing when things are particularly out of sync and applying these proactive strategies, you can make the juggle just a little bit easier!

R