No Rush Required: Balancing Work, Family, and the Joy of Right Now
Ever feel like life is a treadmill someone else set to sprint speed, and you’re too polite (or too panicked) to press the emergency stop button?
Yep. Been there. Still occasionally there—usually with a half-eaten muesli bar in hand and 27 tabs open (literally and metaphorically).
Between committee meetings, sport drop-offs, never-ending email chains, and that relentless whisper that we should also be improving ourselves, it’s no wonder we’re all gasping for air. And the real kicker? That feeling we should be doing more. Moving faster. Getting somewhere... though we’re not entirely sure where there even is.
But here’s something I’ve learned (and continue to re-learn, especially during the post-school-run quiet):
What if we’re not actually meant to rush?
What if the real gold is right here—in the chaos, the cuddles, the missed calls, the coffee in the car, and yes, even in the crumb-covered sports bags?
🚦 The Myth of the Finish Line
We live like there's a trophy waiting when we finally "have it all together": the dream job, the thriving kids, the colour-coded pantry, the well-timed career move.
Spoiler: there is no podium. No medals. No one’s handing out gold stars for being overwhelmed and stretched too thin.
What there is, is today. This messy, beautiful, blink-and-you-miss-it moment you’re living. And you deserve to be in it—not just powering through it.
⚖️ The Balancing Act (That’s Never Actually Balanced)
Let’s call it what it is—balance is a moving target. One day you’re nailing a leadership workshop and feeling like a total boss, the next you’re bribing your kid with a biscuit to just please put your shoes on.
And that’s the deal. Sometimes sport takes centre stage. Other times, it's family, or your own wellbeing. (And occasionally, you even get to sit down and eat lunch—wild, right?) The real magic is in the awareness—knowing when something needs more of you, and giving yourself the grace to shift the load when it does.
And speaking of grace—let me be real for a sec.
As I return from maternity leave for the third time, trying to juggle everything—well, some days are better than others. There are moments where I feel like I’m smashing it, and others where getting through the day with everyone fed and mildly clean feels like a win.
So, I’m reminding myself: be kind to yourself.
It’s okay if things take longer. It’s okay if I’m not at full speed. And it’s more than okay to slow down and just be in this season, this wonderfully messy and meaningful chapter of life.
Because presence—that quiet, anchoring awareness—is the real path to balance.
🧘♀️ Being Present Is the New Productivity
Here’s something sport and life have both taught me: slowing down doesn’t mean falling behind. It means you’re finally catching up—to yourself.
When we stop glorifying the grind, we get:
More clarity.
More connection.
More calm.
More “ah-ha” moments in the middle of ordinary days.
It’s noticing that quick joke your athlete drops in passing. The post-game laugh between committee members. The quiet contentment of ticking one small thing off the to-do list instead of twenty.
🛑 Let’s Stop Glorifying Busy
Busy has become the default response when someone asks, “How are you?” But what if instead, we said:
“I’m steady.”
“I’m protecting my energy.”
“I’m choosing what matters today—and letting the rest wait.”
You’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re not broken because you want to slow the pace. You’re human. And you’re doing better than you think.
💡 Your Permission Slip (Stick it on the fridge if you need to)
To the coach juggling five roles and still showing up with a smile...
To the parent squeezing a board meeting between dinner and bedtime stories...
To the club volunteer wondering if anyone notices how hard you work...
To you—who might be feeling stretched, slowed, or somewhere in between...
You are enough. Exactly as you are.
Pause. Breathe. Celebrate the little wins. And remember—you’re not in a race.
You’re in a life. And it's unfolding in perfect, messy, meaningful time.