CEO Mama Newsletter: 19th Edition

Hi ,

Let’s be real — when building a business while raising kids, the idea of a four-day workweek sounds like a luxury.

Who has time for that? Work happens when there’s a window.

Early mornings. Late nights. Nap-time hustle.
Squeezing in calls from the carpool line.
Emails between packing lunches and signing school forms.

Business (and motherhood) doesn’t fit neatly into a 9-to-5.
So why would a four-day workweek even make sense?

Because the real risk isn’t working too much — it’s never stopping at all.

The Burnout Cycle No One Talks About

Here’s the pattern we see everywhere:

• Push through. Because you “have to.”

• Hit a wall. Tell yourself it’s time to slow down.

• Take a break — but the work piles up, so dive back in.

• Push through again.

And round + round it goes.

The problem isn’t too much work — it’s a lack of a pressure release valve.

Something to stop the cycle before burnout hits.
Something that keeps momentum strong without exhaustion.

That’s where the buffer day comes in.

The Productivity Myth: Why Working More Isn’t Helping

It’s easy to believe that working longer means getting more done.

But research actually says otherwise.

When Microsoft Japan tested a four-day workweek, productivity jumped 40%—with no loss in revenue.

When Iceland did the same, 86% of workers reported feeling more focused, efficient, and satisfied.

Why? Because work expands to fill the time available.

With five days, there’s room for distractions, redundant meetings, and work that feels productive but isn’t.

With four days, priorities become sharper. Execution speeds up. Clarity improves.

This isn’t about doing less.

It’s about concentrating effort so results compound. And for CEO Mamas, this is everything because it means structuring your time so your business serves your life, not the other way around.

The Power of a Buffer Day

The four-day workweek isn’t about working less. It’s about creating space.

Not for vacation. Not for bubble baths and brunch.
But for life. For thinking. For catching up.

A buffer day provides what most CEO Mamas never have:

• Breathing room to work on the business, not just in it
  (Strategy, vision, leadership — without the constant task list)

• A flexible day to handle the inevitable chaos
  (Sick kids, last-minute school events, unexpected fires in the business)

• Time to recover before everything implodes
  (Because burnout recovery takes way longer than a single day off)

It’s not about slowing down.
It’s about building a rhythm that’s actually sustainable.

How to Implement a Four-Day Workweek That Actually Works

Step 1: Choose a Buffer Day

• Which day would provide the most relief?

• For many CEO Mamas, Friday works best: a built-in pause before the weekend.

Step 2: Define What This Day Is For

• NOT for catching up on admin.

• NOT for cramming in extra work.

• Use it for thinking, planning, high-level strategy, or dealing with life.

Step 3: Ruthlessly Protect It

• No calls. No meetings.

• If something comes up? That’s exactly what the buffer day is for.

No permission needed. Just decide.

A four-day workweek isn’t about working less — it’s about leading better.

The best decisions don’t come from overwork.
They come from clear thinking.

The best strategies don’t happen when things are rushed.
They happen when there’s space to see the bigger picture.

When the entire week is filled with urgent tasks and serving other people, there’s no time for the kind of deep work that moves a business forward.

The CEO who is always reactive — putting out fires, answering messages, and drowning in to-dos — is not the CEO making million-dollar decisions.

A buffer day forces prioritization. It forces trusting the team. It forces thinking at a higher level.

The difference between a burnt-out entrepreneur and a powerful leader isn’t working harder.

It’s having the discipline to create space.

Ditch the Guilt of Taking a Day Off

If taking a buffer day creates guilt, scarcity, or anxiety, ask this instead:

• Who benefits from always being available? (Hint: Not the business owner.)

• What happens when there’s never time to reset?

• What if this is the one shift that makes everything else work better?

Because here’s the reality: The nervous system wasn’t designed for constant stimulation.

There’s a reason the best ideas come on a walk, in the shower, in stillness.
The brain needs off-ramps - intentional breaks - to integrate ideas, process challenges, and generate insight.

Without space, creativity dies. Innovation stops. Strategy suffers.

Success isn’t about pushing harder.
It’s about knowing when to pause — so the right next move becomes obvious.

Here’s where to begin:

• Pick a buffer day.

• Block it off.

• Protect it like the business depends on it — because it does.

Then reply and share: What does this extra day of space each week make possible for you,  ?

P.S. Ready to step into a community that truly gets it? The CEO Mama Membership is where ambitious mothers come together to build thriving businesses — without sacrificing what matters most. Inside, you’ll get expert-led masterclasses, real support from women who understand the juggle, and the kind of strategies that make success feel sustainable. It’s designed exclusively for mothers growing their businesses while raising their families… because you shouldn’t have to choose between the two. 🤍

Submit your application here.