Have you ever reached the end of the day feeling like you worked nonstop… yet somehow your to-do list is even longer than it was that morning?
As busy moms, it’s easy to believe the answer is simply to work harder, get more organized, or find a better planner. But what if the problem isn’t that you’re not trying hard enough?
In this week’s episode of the Secrets of Supermom Show, I sat down with organizing expert and Organize 365 founder Lisa Woodruff to discuss her new book, Escaping Quicksand. Lisa shares the mindset shifts that helped her move from constantly feeling overwhelmed to living with more peace, purpose, and confidence—even as life became more complicated.
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: The Mindset Shifts That Help Busy Moms Escape the Quicksand with Lisa Woodruff
Hey, hey friend! Welcome to Episode #307 of The Secrets of Supermom Show!
One thing really stood out to me during our conversation: sometimes the biggest changes don’t come from doing more. They come from thinking differently.
Here are three of my favorite lessons from our conversation.
1. Replace Perfection with Excellent Effort
Many of us unknowingly live by an impossible standard.
We believe we should be able to do everything perfectly: keep a spotless home, succeed at work, volunteer, make healthy meals, attend every event, and still have endless patience with our families.
No wonder we’re exhausted.
Lisa shared that one of the most powerful mindset shifts she ever made was replacing the goal of perfection with the goal of excellent effort.
That’s such a freeing perspective.
Excellent effort means showing up, doing your best with the time and energy you have today, and recognizing that perfect simply doesn’t exist.
When we stop measuring ourselves by perfection, we create space for grace.
And something interesting happens.
The grace we begin extending to ourselves naturally spills over into our relationships with everyone else.
2. Focus on What You Can Control
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was Lisa’s story about driving her teenagers to school.
She realized she couldn’t force her child to move faster in the morning. She couldn’t change their personality. She couldn’t make them become a morning person.
Instead of spending every morning frustrated, she asked herself:
“What can I control?”
She started using that time differently. She listened to podcasts. She shifted her own routine. She prepared herself instead of trying to control someone else.
It’s such a simple concept, but it’s incredibly powerful.
As moms, we often spend enormous amounts of energy trying to change situations—or people—that are outside our control.
Instead, what if we focused on the things we actually can influence?
Our routines.
Our reactions.
Our expectations.
Our preparation.
When we shift our energy there, we often find much more peace.
3. Put Yourself Back on Your To-Do List
This may have been my favorite takeaway from the entire episode.
Lisa said:
“You are worthy of being on your own to-do list.”
Read that again.
So many moms feel like they need permission to care for themselves.
We justify buying a new laptop because it’s “for work.”
We schedule workouts because they’re “good for everyone else.”
We only rest after every other need has been met.
But what if you didn’t need an excuse?
What if taking care of yourself was valuable simply because you’re part of your family too?
That perspective shift changes everything.
When you care for yourself—physically, emotionally, mentally—you aren’t taking away from your family.
You’re becoming healthier, happier, and more present for the people you love.
One Small Step You Can Take Today
At the end of every episode, I ask my guests to share one small action listeners can take right away.
Lisa’s challenge was simple:
Decide when you’re done working.
Not when the house is perfect.
Not when every email has been answered.
Not when every item has been crossed off your list.
Simply decide on a stopping point.
Maybe today it’s 9:30 p.m.
Next month it’s 9:00.
Eventually it’s 8:00.
The goal isn’t to do less because you don’t care.
The goal is to create space for something moms often lose: leisure.
Reading a book.
Taking a bath.
Doing a puzzle.
Sitting outside with a cup of tea.
Having a conversation with your spouse.
You deserve time that isn’t spent serving everyone else.
You can’t change yesterday.
But you can choose how you show up today.
Whether your children are toddlers or adults, it’s never too late to become the mom—and the woman—you want to be.
About Our Guest: Lisa Woodruff
Lisa Woodruff is the founder & CEO of Organize 365. Lisa and 87% of Americans believe organization is a learnable skill. Yet less than 18% of those same Americans feel they are organized. As the host of the top-rated Organize 365 Podcast, with 24 million downloads & counting, Lisa shares strategies for reducing the overwhelm, clearing the mental clutter, and living a productive and organized life.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawoodruff/
http://instagram.com/organize365
-
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.
