Whether you’re the CEO of your household or juggle a career outside of motherhood, you belong on your own to-do list. For busy moms, burnout isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a signal that something needs to shift.
We connected with members of the Dreamers & Doers community to uncover the simple but powerful rituals they rely on to stay whole amid the beautiful chaos of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Their answers range from the quietly personal to the wonderfully unexpected—and every one is a testament to the power of small, consistent acts of self-preservation.
From separate work phones to weekend solo time, get inspired by the acts of self care keeping these five founder moms afloat.
I prepare school lunches the night before
“One simple ritual I rely on is prepping the next day’s school meals the night before. It started as a way to ease busy mornings, but it’s become a moment of calm and connection—and it reduces both mental load and morning chaos. My boys often join, so it doesn’t feel like a chore. Since I work with artisan partners in India and Nepal, I also take a few minutes before my kids wake up to respond to quick team messages, which is easier to do when meals are ready to go.” — Anjali Purohit, Founder & Creative Director of Studio Variously
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I check in with myself every morning
“Every morning, before anything else happens, I ask myself one question out loud: Which version of me is running the show today? The one operating from survival or the one I’m actually choosing to be? For 60 seconds, I reflect on it. I know what running on the wrong version of yourself at full speed actually costs. Burnout happens when the version of you that was built to survive an emergency keeps running long after the emergency is over and nobody’s checked in with the actual you in so long that you’ve forgotten she exists. This morning ritual works because it catches the switch before I’m six decisions deep into the wrong lane.” — Natanya Wachtel, Founder & Angel of The New Solutions Network
My husband and I designate solo time every weekend
“My husband and I each get a protected four-hour solo block every weekend. One of us takes the kids while the other does whatever actually recharges them—and we don’t call or text during that time unless it’s an emergency. Rest becomes something real instead of half-rest while you’re still on standby. When I’m heading into a packed week, that uninterrupted time is what keeps me from starting Monday already running on fumes.” — Catalina Parker, Co-Founder of Relatable Nonprofit
I use a dedicated work phone
“For a long time, everything lived in one place, which meant I was always on. Having a separate device has allowed me to physically step away from work at the end of the day and to be more present as a mom without the constant pull of notifications. It gives me a boundary I can actually honor.” — Nicole Leon, Founder of L Leon Virtual Assistance
I focus on my breath
“Nothing is more powerful than taking a few conscious, deep breaths in moments when everything feels overwhelming, whether it’s my toddler’s tantrum or work deadlines piling up. At night, a few slow breaths help me finally switch my brain off and settle into a sense of calm before sleep. This is the fastest, most accessible reset I have. Unlike meditation and yoga, breathing doesn’t require planning or carving out extra time. I can do it in the middle of real life, while playing with my toddler or between meetings. It takes the pressure off ‘finding time for myself’ and turns it into small, grounding moments I can access anytime I need them.” — Anastasia Shubareva-Epshtein, Founder & CEO of Carea
