Wearing All the Hats: Juggling Business, Motherhood & Life Without Burning Out

By Lizzy Dawson 

Let’s talk about the chaos behind the calm.

Because if you’re a mum, business owner, professional, or all three you know exactly what it feels like to wear all the hats.

In a recent podcast episode on The Move. Talk. Thrive Podcast, Emily and I sat down to unpack the messy, beautiful, overwhelming reality of trying to be everything to everyone and still show up for yourself.

Whether you’re running a business with a toddler on your hip, trying to manage a team between school pickups, or folding washing while mentally preparing for a client session... we see you.

Why “Wearing All the Hats” Is So Universal

This is a season of life where the lines between who we are and what we do blur quickly. One moment you’re responding to an NDIS report, the next you’re responding to a tantrum.

The mental load is constant, the transitions are fast, and the expectations (mostly internal!) are sky high.

The truth? No one’s balancing it all perfectly. But we can manage it with more intention, more clarity, and less guilt.

Mindset Shifts That Actually Help

One of the biggest things Emily and I keep coming back to is this: guilt doesn’t serve us. It’s OK to not be able to give 100% to every area, every day. The goal isn’t balance, it’s alignment.

Ask yourself:

• Does how I’m spending my time match what matters most to me?

• What would “good enough” look like today?

• Can I let go of perfection to make space for peace?

When we lean into our values and stop measuring success by how much we get done, we start showing up more meaningfully - for our kids, our clients, and ourselves.

📋Time & Task Prioritisation (When Time is Limited)

Spoiler alert: You don’t need more time. You need fewer tabs open in your brain.

Here are a few things that help:

• Top 3 method: Each day, pick 3 things that must get done. Anything else is a bonus.

• Theme your week: Have admin days, creative days, family days, or “no meeting” days to create mental clarity.

• Batch your tasks: Group similar tasks together so your brain isn't constantly shifting gears.

This approach reduces mental fatigue and frees up more headspace for presence not just productivity.

🔋 Energy Management > Time Management

You can’t pour from an empty cup - we all know it, but do we live it?

We spoke about how learning to listen to your body, honour your energy, and plan around your natural rhythms is game-changing. Some days are high-energy execution days. Others are slow, reflective, and focused on home or self. Both are valuable. Both are valid.

Give yourself permission to move through seasons of doing and being, it’s the only sustainable way to wear all the hats without burning out.

👩‍👧‍👦 Parenting + Business with Intention and Grace

There’s no perfect balance. But you can create a rhythm that works for your family and your business.

Here are a few things we’ve found helpful:

• Communicate boundaries (even with your kids!)

• Let your children see your passion, it’s modeling!

• Know that your version of success may look different this season and that’s OK.

• Be present where your feet are quality over quantity every time.

Grace is just as important as grit. You’re allowed to adjust, reassess, and reimagine how this all works.

You are not alone.

Wearing all the hats isn’t easy. But you’re not alone.

With the right mindset, tools, and self-compassion, you can lead with clarity not chaos.

You’re doing better than you think. And you don’t have to do it all alone.

🎧 Missed the episode? You can listen to the full conversation here.