What if the reason you feel stuck right now has nothing to do with discipline or motivation?

In this episode, I’m breaking down the three quiet traps that keep so many working moms stuck in survival mode as we head into 2026. These patterns sound responsible and reasonable on the surface, but they’re the very things that keep you postponing joy, shrinking your desires, and telling yourself “later” will be better. We’re talking about why responsibility can become a cage, why waiting for the right season keeps you frozen, and why “it’s fine” is often the most dangerous place to stay. This episode is an invitation to stop settling and start choosing an unapologetic life—intentionally, not recklessly.

1. The responsibility trap and why it quietly keeps working moms stuck
2. Why “later will be better” is one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves
3. How settling because life is “fine” drains your energy over time
4. The difference between intentional waiting and disempowered delay
5. What it actually means to live unapologetically in this season of life

1. Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced
2. Book a work-life balance strategy call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call

Working moms don’t lack motivation in January. They lack permission.

In this episode, I’m introducing the word I’m speaking over 2026 for myself and this community: unapologetic. We’re talking about why so many working moms burn out even when they’re capable and committed, how shrinking and self-justifying quietly drains your energy, and what it looks like to finally name what you want without guilt. This is about moving from good intentions to real commitment and letting this year feel different.

1. Why working moms burn out even when they “do everything right”
2. What living unapologetically actually means in real life
3. How settling and self-justifying fuel exhaustion
4. Why wanting more isn’t selfish or irresponsible
5. The first step to declaring what you want in 2026

1. Book a work-life balance strategy call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call

1. Join my email list: www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/emaillist

Today, I’m bringing back a conversation that feels especially relevant right now, in that quiet space between Christmas and New Year’s when reflection can quickly turn into self-judgment. I share a very real moment when my own “I should be further ahead” thoughts showed up, even as a coach who teaches this work, and walk you through the exact tools I use to redirect not-enough thinking. This episode is grounding, practical, and a powerful reminder that balance isn’t about fixing yourself, it’s about learning how to come back to sufficiency and presence again and again.

1. Why “I should be further ahead” is one of the most common not-enough thoughts for ambitious working moms
2. How not-enough thinking shows up in your body, mood, and behavior (even when you don’t realize it)
3. The difference between immobilizing yourself and overdoing it when self-doubt kicks in
4. Seven practical strategies to redirect not-enough thoughts in real time
5. How to anchor into sufficiency, presence, and satisfaction instead of comparison and self-judgment

1. Episode 12 – Enoughness:
2. https://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/podcast/2021/6/7/enoughness
3. Episode 116 – Balancing ambition with enoughness:
4. https://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/podcast/2023/6/5/balancing-ambition-with-feeling-enough-with-misty-dykema
5. Book a free breakthrough call here:
6. https://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/book
7. Boundaries & Balance Holiday Strategy Call:
8. www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/boundaries-and-balance-session
9. Discover all the details about Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced
10. You can watch this episode on YouTube! Check it out by clicking here:
11. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBg

I’m talking straight to the working mom who doesn’t want to hustle her way through the holidays and look back wondering where the magic went. We’re diving into what presence actually means, why joy depends on it, and how to get your brain and body in the same place at the same time during a season that pulls you in a hundred directions. I share personal holiday moments, common patterns I see with ambitious moms, and simple mindset shifts that help you stop missing your life while you’re living it.

1. Why presence is the real thing working moms want during the holidays
2. The connection between joy and being mentally present
3. How holiday stress mirrors year-round work-life balance struggles
4. A simple definition of presence that actually works in real life
5. Practical ways to manage your mind so you can enjoy the moments that matter

1. Discover all the details about Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced
2. Click here to join my email list:
3. https://www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/emaillist
4. Book a free breakthrough call here:
5. https://www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/book
6. Boundaries & Balance Holiday Strategy Call:
7. www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/boundaries-and-balance-session
8. You can watch this episode on YouTube! Check it out by clicking here:
9. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBg

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m talking directly to the working mom who’s thinking, “I cannot do another year like this.” We’re diving into what it really looks like to take back ownership of your life in 2026, not through hustle or perfect systems, but through three grounded shifts that bring clarity, confidence, and control. If you want next year to feel calmer, more intentional, and less reactive, this episode will help you see exactly where to start and what to stop tolerating 

• Taking full ownership of how 2026 feels instead of blaming circumstances 
• Getting clear on what actually matters to you in this season of motherhood and work 
• Learning how to redirect unhelpful inner dialogue and choose more supportive thoughts 
• Focusing only on what you can control and letting go of the rest 
• Making your yes and no intentional so your calendar reflects your real priorities 

• Boundaries & Balance Holiday Strategy Call:  
• www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/boundaries-and-balance-session  
• Discover all the details about Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced 
• Ready to explore if it’s right for you? Book your free discovery call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call 
• You can watch this episode on YouTube! Check it out by clicking here:  
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBg

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Everywhere else 

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m breaking down the three deeply rooted patterns that quietly lead ambitious working moms straight into burnout — the ones you don’t even recognize because they feel so normal. I walk you through why these patterns show up, how they drain your energy and joy, and what needs to shift if you want 2026 to feel calmer, more spacious, and actually aligned with your priorities. If you’ve been ending your days exhausted or feeling like you’re carrying the world on your shoulders, this episode will help you finally understand why — and what to do about it next.

• The real reason burnout builds without you noticing 
• The 3 patterns keeping working moms overwhelmed 
• How mindset + emotion shape your daily habits 
• Why changing a few core beliefs unlocks real balance 
• What you must shift in 2026 to feel present, rested, and in control

• Grab your FREE Daily Kickstart here: 
• www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/daily-kickstart 
• Boundaries & Balance Holiday Strategy Call: 
• www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/boundaries-and-balance-session 
• Discover all the details about Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced 
• You can watch this episode on YouTube! Check it out by clicking here:  
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBg

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Everywhere else 

In this week's episode of the podcast, I’m diving deep into the truth of your 2025 and why so many working moms are closer to burnout than they realize — not because of dramatic moments, but because of the small, daily “fender benders” we’ve learned to brush off.

I share the three subtle signs that burnout is on the horizon, why your brain resists change (even the change you want), and how to set yourself up for a completely different 2026. If you’ve been stretched thin, craving presence, or quietly wondering if you can keep going like this…this episode is the reset you didn’t know you needed. 

• The three overlooked signs that burnout is approaching 
• Why your current pace of success may not be one you actually chose 
• The presence problem — when your brain and body are never in the same place 
• How skipping or overriding your own “me time” leads straight to exhaustion 
• Why urgency sparks change — and how to use it to reset before 2026 

• Discover all the details about Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced 
• Ready to explore if it’s right for you? Book your free discovery call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call 
• You can watch this episode on YouTube! Check it out by clicking here:  
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBg  
• Book a Boundaries & Balance Session: 
• www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/boundaries-and-balance-session 
• Ready to start 2026 feeling grounded, intentional, and in control? Join the New Year Reset: 
• www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/2026-reset

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m breaking down why your long to-do list isn’t actually the problem. We tend to make that growing list mean we’re behind, failing, or not doing enough — but what if it’s actually a sign of something really good?  

In this episode, I share four reframes that completely shift the way you interpret your to-do list so you can stop starting your day in stress mode and instead feel grounded, capable, and fully in the driver’s seat again. If you ever look at your list and immediately feel overwhelmed, you’re going to want to listen to this one.  

• Why your to-do list is neutral — and the meaning you attach to it isn’t 
• The four reframes that instantly reduce stress and overwhelm 
• How a long to-do list can signal demand, growth, challenge, and ambition 
• Why starting your day with overwhelm leads to poor decisions and burnout 
• How to shift into strategic thinking, focus, and control no matter the season  

• Book your Boundaries & Balance: Holiday Clarity Call here:  www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/boundaries-and-balance-session   
• Discover all the details about Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced 
• Ready to explore if it’s right for you? Book your free discovery call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call 
• You can watch this episode on YouTube! Check it out by clicking here:  
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBg

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m talking with my client Amanda about what it really looks like to stay committed to balance even when it feels like nothing is changing. She shares her journey of re-entering the workforce full-time, the fear of slipping back into old habits, the quiet months where progress felt invisible, and the moment everything finally clicked — leading to less stress, more confidence, and even a surprise promotion. If you’ve ever wondered whether consistency actually pays off, or worried that maybe balance just won’t “work” for you, this episode will give you so much hope and clarity.  

• How Amanda navigated old habits, imposter syndrome, and a major career transition 
• Why consistency, not perfection, is what shifts balance 
• The power of being in a room with other ambitious working moms 
• How foundational tools can actually change your day 
• What happens after the program and why some breakthroughs take time to surface  

• Book your Boundaries & Balance: Holiday Clarity Call here:  www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/boundaries-and-balance-session   
• Discover all the details about Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced 
• Ready to explore if it’s right for you? Book your free clarity call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call 
• You can watch this episode on YouTube! Check it out by clicking here:  
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBg 

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Everywhere else 

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m exploring what happens when your old definition of success no longer fits your life as a mom. Before kids, success might’ve meant promotions, achievements, and productivity, but now that version just leaves you feeling like you’re always behind. I share client stories and practical tools to help you redefine success in a way that aligns with your values and season of life, so you can finally feel fulfilled, calm, and proud of how you’re spending your time.  

• Why your old definition of success doesn’t work anymore 
• How success and balance are connected 
• Client stories that illustrate new, sustainable definitions of success 
• Simple ways to create an attainable version of success 
• How to use your values and goals as a daily guide

• Book your Boundaries & Balance: Holiday Clarity Call here:  www.ambitiousandbalanced.com/boundaries-and-balance-session  
• Discover all the details about Ambitious & Balanced: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced 
• Ready to explore if it’s right for you? Book your free discovery call: www.rebeccaolsoncoaching.com/ambitiousandbalanced-call 
• You can watch this episode on YouTube! Check it out by clicking here:  
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPZA5JKXYxjCMqodh4wxPBg