CEO Mama Newsletter: 16th Edition

Hi ,

There’s a pattern I see over and over again with high-performing moms:

They’ll protect their work schedule. Their meetings. Their deadlines.

But their own needs? Their personal priorities? Their self-care?

That all gets pushed to after bedtime.

The workout happens once everyone else is settled.

The skincare routine happens after the kitchen is cleaned.

The “me time” is whatever’s left after the to-do list is done.

And the business? It’s the last thing they pour into—when they have nothing left.

It’s not just your work that’s getting the scraps. It’s you.

And at some point, you have to ask yourself:

Why have I accepted that my life only begins after everyone else is taken care of?

The Real Productivity Trap Moms Get Stuck In

High-performing moms don’t struggle with time management — they’re already masters at getting sh*t done.

What they struggle with is self-permission.

Somewhere along the way, you absorbed the belief that:

• Your time isn’t really yours until everyone else’s needs have been met.

• You should never “waste” a moment of peace by doing nothing.

• If you’re not using every spare second productively, you’re falling behind.

So instead of having structured, high-leverage time for yourself and your business…

You squeeze it in.

You tell yourself you’ll prioritize yourself later. You’ll rest later. You’ll work on the business later.

But that “later” keeps getting pushed. And at some point, you realize you’ve trained yourself to only allow yourself to exist after 8 p.m.

The Cost of Running Your Life This Way

When you spend your best energy on everyone but yourself, here’s what happens:

→ You cap your own growth. You’re spending your highest-energy hours on logistics, not vision.

→ You operate reactively. Instead of designing your business your way, you’re just keeping up.

→ You never fully turn off. Because your entire day is structured around serving others.

→ You model a pattern your kids will repeat. What are they learning about boundaries, self-worth, and how to structure their own lives?

And here’s the kicker:

→ It’s not just costing you energy — it’s costing you money.

Because the CEO who is constantly catching up isn’t the CEO who is:

• Making clear, strategic decisions.

• Building systems that scale.

• Creating space for the next-level moves that change everything.

And it’s not just your business. Your well-being takes the hit, too.

Because when you treat yourself like the lowest priority, you start living like it.

• Your workouts stop being consistent.

• Your sleep becomes an afterthought.

• Your mental clarity disappears.

Until you wake up one day and realize: You’re not living… you’re managing.

And you weren’t built for that.

Fixing this isn’t about “better time management.” It’s about breaking the system that’s keeping you stuck.

Here’s where to start:

1. Stop Treating Your Business Like a Side Project

Your business isn’t a hobby. It’s not the “extra” thing you do after the real work is done.

Protect high-energy work time — not just “whatever’s left.”

Shift from “fitting it in” to prioritizing it like a CEO.

If you weren’t allowed to work past 5 p.m., how would you restructure everything?

2. Stop Saving Self-Care For After Everyone’s Asleep

If your workouts, skincare, and even your own thoughts are all getting pushed to the cracks, that’s not self-care — that’s survival mode.

What’s one personal habit you’re moving to a prime-time slot?

What’s one thing you’re no longer putting last?

What happens when your kids see you prioritize yourself, not just them?

3. Reclaim High-Leverage Time During the Day

If you feel like there’s never a window for yourself, ask:

Where are you overcommitted?

What tasks could be eliminated instead of just outsourced?

What would happen if you worked in high-impact sprints — instead of trying to be available 24/7?

4. Drop the Guilt—For Good

If you feel guilty stepping away from your kids, ask: What am I actually afraid of?

If you feel guilty setting boundaries, ask: What am I modeling for them?

If you feel guilty resting, ask: Who benefits from me staying exhausted?

Your Kids Don’t Need a Burned-Out Version of You

Here’s what I know for sure:

Your kids don’t need you to be available every second.

They don’t need a perfectly balanced mom.

They don’t need someone who sacrifices everything for them.

They need a model of what it looks like to be a whole person.

A mom who owns her time.

A mom who makes space for her own needs.

A mom who shows them what’s possible — because she’s living it.

Take Back One Hour This Week

This week, block off one prime hour — not after bedtime, not squeezed in-between everything else.

Use it for:

Your highest-impact business work.

Your own personal self-care.

Your next level — not just the maintenance mode of today.

Then watch how that one shift starts changing everything.

Hit reply and tell me, what’s one thing you’re moving out of the “after bedtime” slot?

Because the more we normalize this, the more we change the game.

XO,

Natalie

P.S. If you’re looking for a community where you can be surrounded by ambitious mothers who get it, who are building businesses while raising babies, who know the juggle is real, and who want to grow without burnout — then CEO Mama is for you.

Inside, you’ll find expert mentorship, real conversations, and the systems + support you need to build a business that works for your life, not against it.

Apply right here - we will be sending out acceptance emails in the next few weeks + would love to see you in there!