How to Set Better Boundaries as a Working Mom

The best time management strategies won’t make a difference if you don’t first know how to set boundaries. I know, I know. It's not what you wanted to hear. You wanted to hear that implementing Trello for your to-do list is going to change your life. That time blocking is the best way to get more done. Or that I have a strategy for keeping up with your inbox so that nothing falls through the cracks. And while I do have ideas and proof of tools that I've seen work for the hundreds of women I've coached, before any of those things will work for you, you have to learn the skill of setting and maintaining boundaries.

Knowing Where You Are Will Help You Get Where You Want to Go

Do you have a garden that you're getting into this time of year? I come by my love of plants and gardening honestly. My mom has the greenest thumb of anyone I know. Her garden and landscaping at my childhood home are seriously jaw-dropping. It's magical to be there during the summer. But I always used to tease her about the pictures she would take of her landscaping.

ProductivityKatelyn DenningApril 30, 2024progress, goals, planning, change

Maycember: A Working Mom's Guide to Surviving

Happy Maycember! The month that rivals December in the number of activities, events, and commitments, especially for parents. IYKYK. This is the time of year when everyone realizes that it’s almost the end of the school year and so we rush to fit all the things into the calendar while also juggling the holidays and other events that are fixed in May.

Simplifying LifeKatelyn DenningApril 24, 2024maycember, planning, seasons of life, busy working mom

Is Working "Worth It" When You're a Busy Mom?

Do you love your job? I'm curious if that answer has changed over the years. I know it has for me, especially after having kids. Before I had my oldest child, I worked because frankly, I was ambitious. After working hard for my degree and taking risks to get internships and move to new cities, I wanted to put it all to good use.

What To Do When You Have Too Many 'Open Loops'

How do we move stalled projects from in-process to completed? How can we focus and see something through to "done" before starting something new? And when you're a parent who's managing not just your own work and life but the lives of your family and your home, how much choice do you have in whether or not you start new things before finishing what you've already started?

Are You All Work and No Play?

I never used to describe myself as a "fun mom". Or even just a fun person! That just wasn't me. I've always felt like I was more serious than others, even as a kid, and grew up feeling "blue" more than not. After my first child was born, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and I remember worrying that he would turn also out to be a serious kid because he rarely saw me smile. And that broke my heart.

How to Categorize Your To-Do List

Do you sort or categorize your to-do list? Sorting is certainly not required, but it's something I want you to consider because it can make things easier when it comes time to plan. But there's one overlooked, yet particularly useful filter that can really make a difference in how efficient and effective you are with your time, especially as a parent...And that is sorting your tasks by those that are interruptible v. those that require focus.

What Are Your Working Mom Priorities?

The way I coach on priorities is that they are just another tool that can help you be intentional with your time. In the same way that a planner or project management app can help you manage your time. If you want to have fun with it, start by asking yourself a few simple questions.

How to Plan so You Get BIG Results

How could you benefit from deciding what you're going to focus on right now? From accepting that you don't have infinite time, and instead choosing to use the time you have effectively? If you feel like you can't choose... If you aren't sure how to break things down in a way that fits with your capacity... If you feel torn between focusing on professional versus personal projects... I can help.

Getting 'Caught Up' Is Not the Goal

Do you ever open up your inbox in the morning and vow that this is gonna be the day you get caught up Getting to inbox zero would be like sitting on top of the world. EVERYTHING else would be easier. Nothing would slip through the cracks. Your mind would finally be at ease. Let's pretend dreams do come true and you actually read, respond to, and file every email in your inbox. You get caught up! Woohoo! 🎉 But, because email is a conversation, all of those emails you send get responses. And tomorrow morning there will be more emails to read and respond to. And they'll continue coming in... today and the next day and the next. Now, this is the moment where you choose one of two camps…

ProductivityKatelyn DenningFebruary 22, 2024when will I ever get caught up, planning, task, productivity

How to Stop Resenting and Start Connecting with Your Partner

On the surface, you want more help around the house and to share more of the mental load because you have too much on your plate. And if you could get some help, you could have the space and capacity for more. More connection, more romance, more conversations, more being partners, and less being roommates. So yes, it is about who takes out the trash, who goes to the grocery store, and who picks up and drops off at daycare. But it's also about so much more than that.

How to Survive Endless School Closings & Sick Days

In the last two weeks, one or more of my kids have been home for a holiday, a cold day, a snow day, a positive strep throat test, and today, a terribly, obnoxious cough. Here's the step-by-step of how I go from receiving the phone call (or in my case today, hearing the cough) to getting things done and even having a little bit of fun on days when nothing looks like what I had planned.

ProductivityKatelyn DenningJanuary 24, 2024sick kids, change, taking care of sick kids, to-do-list