Episode #105
Why working moms struggle to set boundaries, with Daffney Allwein | Ep. 105 | Working Moms Movement
Working moms burnout is real, and it doesn’t always look like a dramatic collapse. Sometimes it looks like doing alllllll the things and still feeling behind. The Life Management System™ is the podcast built for high-achieving working moms who are ready to stop managing mom guilt and start building boundaries that actually hold. Each week, host Courtney Cecil brings honest conversations about burnout, mental load, the invisible labor that never makes it onto anyone’s to-do list, and time management for working moms - and what you can actually do about it. If you’ve ever wondered whether the exhaustion is just the season you’re in or whether something needs to actually change, you’re in the right place. Boundaries for working moms are not about saying no, they are about protecting the time, money, and energy tied to what you value most. In this episode with Daffney Allwein, I get into how mental load builds when boundaries are missing, and how The Three W's© give you a place to start protecting what matters. Most working moms already know where their energy is leaking. What is missing is not motivation, it is a system that protects what matters instead of relying on willpower. This conversation gets into why I stopped accepting chaos at home I would never accept at work, and what changed once I did. If you've been searching for answers to any of these questions, this episode is for you: Why do I struggle to set boundaries as a working mom? How do I set boundaries without feeling guilty? How do I figure out what actually matters to me as a working mom? Inside this episode, I sit down with Daffney Allwein, host of Don't F*kn Shrink the Podcast, to discuss: How to better solve for problems at home The tiny home system built around dirty dishes that explains my whole framework My experience leaving corporate and the impact it had on my time The real difference between self-care and just feeling better about ourselves What you should ask yourself to better clarify what you value The practical applications of a realistic boundary Key reframes from this conversation: Not: boundaries mean shutting people out → But: boundaries protect what you have already decided matters most Not: self-care is body maintenance → But: self-care is whatever actually recharges you Not: you can have several priorities → But: priority means first, and you only get one The friction you feel at home is not a personality flaw, it is a system you have not built yet. Get specific about what you actually value, not what you think you are supposed to say. Once you are clear, protecting it gets so much easier. If this resonated, the Boundary Self-Check Quiz is a great next step. Resources mentioned: Free guide: My Top 25 Favorite Hacks Learn more about this episode Related Episode 96: Nervous system regulation for working moms, with Daffney Allwein Connect with Courtney on Instagram Learn more about The Life Management System ™ ⚡️ Apollo Neuro Wearable → Use code COURTNEYCECIL for $99 off Connect with Daffney on Instagram Visit Daffney Allwein’s website Keywords: boundaries for working moms, mental load, the three w's, working moms movement, self care for working moms, time management for working moms, invisible labor, burnout recovery, life management system, courtney cecil podcast, working moms burnout, energy management for working moms About the host: I’m Courtney Cecil, founder of Working Moms Movement and host of The Life Management System podcast, based in Charlotte, North Carolina and serving working moms and organizations across the U.S. Each week I share practical strategies, stories, and systems to reduce burnout, manage the mental load, and build sustainable careers and lives for high-achieving working moms and the companies that want to retain and grow them. For more free resources, stories, and ways to work together, visit workingmomsmovement.com.
