The 4 systems I use to stay ambitious without burning out

This is not a “look at how I do it all” post. Because I don’t. 

It is a clear look at what my days actually look like right now—as a 36‑year‑old, mom of two, and someone new to the Founder life. 

Here is a typical day, in time blocks: 

5:30–7:00 AM: Wake up. Breakfast. Run. This is where I think, plan, and schedule‑send work. My body is moving, my mind is clear, and nothing is pulling at me yet. 

7:00–8:00 AM: Get everyone ready for school and work. 

8:00 AM–6:00 PM: Office. 

6:00–8:00 PM: Family time. Dinner, homework, kids bedtime routines. 

8:00–10:00 PM: Work again. Finish the day’s deliverables and prep for tomorrow. The signing back on is not for everyone, but it’s what has enabled me to get more done, and I guess I am built for the very long race. 

When I reflect on how I got here, the story includes the words you normally hear: consistency, hard work, and sacrifice. They are all true, but also not very helpful on their own, as most working moms already know them. We are not short on discipline, we are short on bandwidth. 

Instead of repeating the same advice, I want to share a few practices that actually help me nurture ambition without collapsing under the mental load. These are my go-to's that make leadership and ambition sustainable (and achievable): 

1. Early‑morning movement  

My day starts early because I fell in love with running. It started in college after giving up competitive figure skating. The 5:30am wake-up habit stuck after I trained for my first marathon in 2014—and it’s now my most reliable leadership tool. 

Whatever your exercise of choice is, I highly recommend starting your day with it before emails and requests. It creates headspace, confidence, and calmer decision‑making for the rest of the day. Also, it’s where I do lots of “schedule sends!” 

2. Weekends are for refueling

Weekends are protected. I guard time with my kids, rest intentionally, and fill my own cup. You won’t find me networking on the sidelines or packing every night with plans out. Social energy is finite, and I need mine for the work week. 

Staying in for me isn’t boring—it’s strategic. It is the rest I need to get ahead of the following week.

3. 6–8pm dim the lights 

This is my uninterrupted family time. I aim to be home for dinner every night. I was so lucky to have this with my parents growing up, and I wanted to have the same for my own family. Even when it’s chaos (oh, and it ALWAYS IS)—kids standing while they eat, drinks spilled everywhere, someone complaining about their food, I love this time, and race back for it every day.  

Days feel long. Years go fast. This is my block to be with my kids and we all count on it. 

4. My “See you Next Sunday”   

I meet up with my husband every Sunday at 4:30pm to plan for the week, divide up responsibilities for the family, and assign him to the tasks I need him to fully own. Calendar invites are sent, and we are ready to handle M-F. Sometimes this is a 5-minute conversation, and other times 30 minutes, where are figuring out competing places to be.  

Leadership as a mom needs structure, stamina, and making the mental load visible instead of carrying it silently. 

I am designing systems that make life easier, and encourage you to do the same if you are in a similar place as a Career Mom: 

So, what can you do next? Ask yourself these questions to find your system: