For weeks, I kept saying the same thing in my head: Once this is over, I’ll get back on track. After the sixth round of sickness. After the birthday chaos. After the visitors left. Then I’d catch myself, staring at the overflowing laundry basket or the untouched to-do list, and wonder… Back on track with what? That season—six weeks of sickness followed by a month of birthday parties (including our own toddler’s big day) and non-stop social commitments—brought me to my knees. I was tired in every way a mama can be tired. And still, I kept clinging to the idea that if I just found the right routine, I could regain control. But I’ve stopped trying to get back on track. Because the truth is—that track no longer fits the season I’m in.
The Pressure of “Back on Track” Thinking
When I used to feel behind in life, I’d respond by doubling down. Rigid routines, to-do lists that didn’t bend, a flurry of “shoulds” running through my mind. That kind of structure used to feel like control. But it quickly turned into pressure. And pressure? It has a way of making everything crack. Now, as a mama and an early childhood educator, I know that regaining control doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from reconnecting to what matters. In the classroom, we know that children don’t learn best under pressure. They learn through rhythm, connection, and emotional safety. Why would it be any different for us? So I stopped trying to get back on track—and started asking: What do I need to feel grounded today?
The Shift That Changed Everything
It wasn’t a magical planner or a perfect system. It was one small cup of tea. Yep. That was my turning point. Each afternoon now, I make time to brew tea—something that used to feel like a luxury. Sometimes I forget it, and have to reheat it twice (you know the drill). But it’s not really about the tea. It’s about the pause, the permission to check in with myself. That’s when I realised I didn’t need to fix everything—I just needed to stop trying to get back on track and start listening to myself again.
- Where am I at emotionally?
- What actually needs to be done today?
- What can wait without guilt?
This gentle routine became my mama reset.
Like the Berry Street approach we use in early childhood education, I realised I needed to be “ready to engage.” Not just doing for the sake of doing. I needed to be emotionally available—for my child, and for myself. Just like we offer 5-minute warnings to toddlers to help them mentally prepare, I began doing the same for me. “Five more minutes, and then it’s bath time.” He’s regulating—but so am I. That’s co-regulation in action.
It’s Not About Catching Up
Let’s talk about that urge to catch up. It’s sneaky. It tells us we’re behind—that there’s some invisible race and we’re not keeping pace. Every time I tried to stop trying to get back on track, that little voice in my head would whisper, “You’re falling behind.” But slowly, I’ve learned that letting go of perfection doesn’t mean I’ve given up—it means I’m choosing progress over pressure.I used to look at the mess and think, “I’m so behind.” But lately, I’ve started seeing the mess as part of the rhythm. A visual reminder that we’re living. That sometimes, the most powerful mindset shift is choosing presence over perfection. When I feel that spiral coming, I lean on small shifts that help lighten the invisible load. Because being present doesn’t mean ignoring the chaos—it means not letting it define your worth.
What I Do Instead
Instead of trying to get back on track, I now focus on tiny resets throughout the day. Not grand overhauls. Just small moments of agency.
- I check in with my energy
- I re-prioritise with flexibility
- I use visual reminders and transitions at home like I would in the classroom
- I give myself permission to drop the ball
- And I’ve stopped pretending I can do it all
Some days, I still feel pulled in a hundred directions—especially while juggling the toddler and tasks. But I’ve let go of the idea that I need to control everything to feel okay. Now, my routines are softer. My expectations more humane. I plan in a way that leaves space for emotions, both mine and my child’s.
You Don’t Have to Be “Back” to Be Okay
Maybe you’ve felt it too—that weight of not being where you think you should be. If you’re sitting in a mess of catch-up chores, post-party debris, or just the emotional exhaustion of too many weeks in a row… I see you.
You don’t need to stop everything and overhaul your life.
You don’t need a perfect system.
You just need one small moment of emotional permission—to say I’m doing the best I can, and that’s enough today.
So if you’re there too—tired, stretched, and feeling behind in life—maybe it’s time to stop trying to get back on track. Maybe it’s time to build something softer, more honest, and more you.
A Quiet Reminder for the Mama Who’s Tired:
Stop trying to get back on track.
Start building something softer, steadier, and true to you.
You’re not behind. You’re just becoming.
If you’re feeling like everything is upside down, you might find comfort in When Life Turns Upside Down | Tips to Regain Control. It’s not about quick fixes. It’s about small truths that help us come back to ourselves.
I stopped trying to get back on track—and started listening to what I really needed. Not a perfect plan. Just a gentler way to cope.
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