Where’s the Handbook for Doing It All? Asking for a Friend (Me)

How? How are we supposed to do it all?

And what does doing it all even mean?

For some, it might mean excelling in a career while also being fully present as a parent. For others, it could be about maintaining a thriving marriage, pursuing personal passions, staying on top of health and fitness, cultivating friendships, managing a home, and still finding time to breathe.

But here’s the thing—“doing it all” looks different for each of us. It changes with the season of life we’re in.

Some seasons demand more of us at home—babies who need to be fed, toddlers who need constant supervision, schedules that revolve around nap times. Other seasons give us more breathing room—kids who gain independence, careers that become more stable, partners who step in more fully.

And yet, no matter the season, many of us still carry the weight of feeling like we should be doing more.

So the question isn’t just how do we do it all?

It’s:

💡 What does “doing it all” mean to me in this season of life?

💡 How do I honor my non-negotiables without burning out?

💡 How do I balance the things that matter most—without losing myself in the process?

What I’ve Been Doing So Far (And Why It’s Not Working)

What I have been doing, in my futile attempts to make it all work, is an unsustainable amount of caffeine and less sleep.

Because when the to-do list is never-ending and every role I play feels equally important, the only place to borrow time from is rest.

And for a while, it worked. Sort of.

But as the past few years have taught me, this is no longer a sustainable solution. I feel like I’m constantly running on empty, mentally and physically drained.

And the truth is—how long can I really continue at this pace? How long before exhaustion turns into burnout? How long before my body forces me to slow down?

Something has to give. And instead of it being my health, my energy, or my joy, I’m working on making intentional shifts that allow me to show up for the things that truly matter—without running myself into the ground.

Adjusting for the Seasons of Life

What worked for me before kids doesn’t work now.

What worked when I had one child doesn’t work now that I have four.

And what works today may not work six months from now.

I’m learning that balance isn’t about perfectly juggling everything at once—it’s about knowing when to shift, adjust, and let go.

✔ Some days, balance looks like an organized to-do list and an efficient routine.

✔ Other days, balance means ditching the list entirely and choosing rest over productivity.

✔ Sometimes, balance means saying no to something good in order to say yes to something better.

It’s not about doing everything all the time—it’s about prioritizing what matters in the moment.

The Weight of "We All Have the Same 24 Hours"

I was recently talking with a friend, and in response to me saying that I simply don’t have the time to go above and beyond when posting on social media to promote my latest blogs—because, honestly, in this stage of life, sharing what I am learning with the goal of helping others via quality content on my blog is all I have time for—she responded with:

"We all have the same 24 hours."

And while I agree with her on some level, part of me hasn’t been able to shake that statement.

Yes, it’s true. We all technically have the same 24 hours. But what that 24 hours looks like varies drastically from person to person. Many of my 24 hours are already spoken for—caring for my family, managing a household, teaching yoga, running a business, maintaining friendships, and somehow trying to stay sane in between.

Yes, we all have the same amount of time in a day. But we do not all have the same circumstances, responsibilities, resources, or demands pulling at us. And pretending that time exists in a vacuum—without considering the realities of life—is unrealistic at best and harmful at worst.

That doesn’t mean we can’t find ways to be more efficient, more intentional, and more strategic with our time. But it does mean that sometimes, doing less isn’t a failure—it’s a necessity.

The Power of Systems & Support

Lately, I’ve been sitting with this question.

When I take the time to journal—which, honestly, is far less often than I would like—this question keeps showing up:

"How am I supposed to do it all?"

It lingers like the steam from my reheated coffee, swirling around in my mind.

So today, I want to ask you:

💬 How do YOU do it all?

What are your tips and tricks?

I really, really want to know.

Because so far, I’ve landed on one key solution: Systems.

No matter the season, implementing intentional, well-designed systems is one of the best ways to free up time and increase efficiency. Because let’s be honest—efficiency is essential when you’re running a house with four kids, two dogs, and a husband.

Right now, I’m in the process of developing a family chore system—something that includes charts, ways to make it fun for everyone, accountability (both individually and as a team), and of course, rewards.

I’ve already purchased the materials, started the planning, and my next step is to finish creating the rotation system, designing the charts, and… ahhh, the implementation phase.

Wish me luck! 😅

So tell me—what systems help you stay afloat? What small shifts have made a big difference in your life?

Drop your best strategies below—I can’t wait to learn from you. 💛✨

With endless curiosity,

Kelly