If you’ve ever tried to follow a productivity system and thought:
“Why isn’t this working for me?”
I want you to hear this:
👉 You are not the problem.
This episode wraps up the series:
What If You’re Not the Problem: Productivity Systems Not Built for You (And How Moms Can Make Them Work)
And if you’ve been listening along, you’ve probably had at least one moment where you thought:
“Oh… THAT’S why this felt so hard.”
Ready to listen? Use the podcast player or listen anywhere you find your favorite podcasts. (Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!)
Rather read? Check out the show notes and episode content right here!
Show Notes: Productivity Tools and Systems NOT Built for YOU
Welcome to Episode #289 of The Secrets of Supermom show!
Why Productivity Systems Feel So Hard for Moms
Over this series, we covered some of the most popular productivity strategies out there:
- The 5 AM Club
- Time Blocking
- Eat the Frog
- Habit Stacking
- The Pomodoro Technique
- Inbox Zero
- The 12 Week Year
- The Two Minute Rule
- The Eisenhower Matrix
And here’s what we found:
👉 Every single one of these systems has something valuable.
But…
👉 Every single one of these systems also assumes a life that most moms do not have.
Most productivity systems assume:
- uninterrupted time
- predictable schedules
- consistent energy
- full control over your day
And motherhood?
👉 Runs on interruptions, unpredictability, and variable capacity.
Why Following Productivity Systems “Perfectly” Doesn’t Work
If you’re an ambitious mom, you’ve probably done this:
You learn a system…
And then you try to follow it exactly as taught.
Step-by-step.
No deviations.
No flexibility.
And when it doesn’t work?
👉 You assume you’re doing it wrong.
But the problem isn’t you.
The problem is trying to apply a rigid system to a life that requires flexibility.
What Actually Works for Busy Moms
Instead of following systems perfectly…
👉 We adapt them.
We take the parts that work.
We leave the parts that don’t.
And we build something that fits our real life.
A Simple Supermom Productivity Framework
Here are four shifts that will completely change how you use productivity tools:
1. Think About Energy AND Time
You don’t just need time to do something.
👉 You need energy.
Some seasons of life allow for more.
Some don’t.
And forcing yourself to operate at full capacity all the time will only lead to burnout.
2. Choose Progress Over Perfection
You don’t need:
- perfect timing
- perfect execution
- or perfect conditions
You need:
👉 small, consistent steps
That’s how real progress happens.
3. Flexibility Is a Strategy (Not a Failure)
When your plan changes…
That’s not failure.
That’s you responding to real life.
And that’s exactly what moms do every single day.
4. You Get to Decide What Matters
Not the system.
Not the book.
Not the expert.
👉 You.
You decide:
what actually matters in this season
what gets your time
what can wait
Your Next Step: Fix Your Calendar
Because here’s the truth:
👉 You don’t need more productivity tools.
You need a system that actually fits your life.
And that starts with your calendar.
That’s why I created the:
🌿 Spring Clean Your Calendar Challenge
A free 4-day challenge where we:
- clean up calendar clutter
- create white space
- organize your schedule
- and build a rhythm that works for your real life
It’s simple.
It’s doable.
And it only takes about 20–30 minutes a day.
👉 Join here: secretsofsupermom.com/spring
What’s Next
We’re heading back into interviews with incredible supermoms next week 🎉
So make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss what’s coming next.
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About the Host: Lori Oberbroeckling
Lori Whitney Oberbroeckling is a mom of four, corporate leader, podcaster, productivity expert, and author of the book Secrets of Supermom: How Extraordinary Moms Succeed at Work and Home & How You Can Too!
She is passionate about helping parents who want fulfilling careers–or side hustles or passion projects–while also wanting to feel present and connected to their families.
