[265] The Secret to Getting Things Done When You’re Already Exhausted

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Ever have one of those nights where you’re staring at the fridge with no clue what to make for dinner, and no energy left to figure it out? You’re not alone. In this episode of the Real Happy Mom Podcast, we're talking about what to do when motivation has left the building and you're running on fumes.

Tune in to learn simple strategies that will help you get things done without burning out.

Mentioned in this episode:
👉 The Get Stuff Done Toolkit – The plug-and-play system to help busy moms go from frazzled to focused without overcomplicating life.
👉 Join the waitlist for Confident Mom Life – A 6-week guided experience to help you build simple, flexible routines that actually stick.

3 Takeaways from this episode:

1. Motivation is flaky—systems aren't.
   Relying on motivation is like waiting on a friend who only shows up when it's fun. Systems and routines are what help you follow through even when you're wiped out.
2. You don’t need more energy—you need fewer decisions.
   Decision fatigue is real, and routines that cut down the number of choices you make can make your day feel so much easier.
3. Simple = sustainable.
   The best routines aren’t fancy—they’re the ones that work when you’re not at your best. Think plug-and-play meals, 3-step evening wind-downs, and breathing room built into your day.

Links and resources:

• 🔧 Get the Get Stuff Done Toolkit
• 📥 Join the Confident Mom Life waitlist
• 📋 Grab the Sunday Prep Checklist

Support the show

Episode Transcript

Toni-Ann (00:00):
I am sure you've had those days where you are just
exhausted.
You are so tired, you can barelythink, and you are seriously
considering or probably havegiven the kids cereal for dinner
because you just don't have itin you.
And if you ever thought, Hey, Ijust need to get motivated, I

(00:22):
have a little truth bomb foryou.
Motivation is not the answer.
And in this episode we're gonnatalk about what actually helps
you follow through, especiallywhen you're exhausted, like I
was talking about, and you feellike you're running on fumes.
Hey there.
My name is Toni Ann.
I am the podcast host of TheReal Happy Mom podcast.

(00:42):
The podcast for busy workingmoms who need more time and help
with achieving their big goalswithout pulling their hair out.
And in this episode, we aregonna be sharing the secrets to
getting things done when you'realready exhausted.
This episode of The Real HappyMom Podcast was brought to you
by the Get Stuff Done Toolkit.

(01:04):
The Get Stuff Done Toolkit is aplug and play system designed to
help busy moms like you organizetheir thoughts, plan their days,
and get things done withoutovercomplicating life or
requiring hours of set up.
Whether you're brand new toTrello or you already use it and
just need a better workflow,this toolkit gives you the
structure of tools and quickwins to go from frazzled to

(01:25):
focus super fast.
Head on over to real happymom.com/done to learn more about
the Get Stuff Done toolkit.
So not too long ago, I wouldcome home just mentally done.
My body just wanted a bed or acouch to lay on, and I would go

(01:49):
to the kitchen and just.
stare at the fridge, even thoughI had a menu on the fridge to
tell me like, Hey, this is whatyou probably should make for
dinner.
I just didn't have it in me, andit was one night in particular,
I just remember being so tired.

(02:09):
I didn't even have a plan fordinner and I had no energy, and
I was just feeling like I haveso much to do.
And nothing to give.
I just could not bring myself tolike finishing out that day.
And something inside of me waslike, whispering, you know?

(02:32):
Oh, just push through it.
You know, you got this.
Be productive.
Like all the things that I talkabout here on the podcast and.
I just knew that pushing throughwould only get me even more
overwhelmed and exhausted.
So I realized is what I reallyneeded at that time was a system

(02:54):
that didn't require me to relyon my energy that I didn't have,
and that's what I want for you.
So the truth is, havingmotivation can be like having a
flaky friend.
You know the friend that showsup late and only wants to come
around when there's somethingfun going on.

(03:14):
That's the type of friend thatmotivation is.
But systems and routines, theyshow up no matter what.
So I wanna walk you through acouple of the secrets that I
told you we would talk abouthere today.
So first of all, motivation is afeeling.
It is not a plan.
Like I said, motivation onlyshows up late and only when

(03:38):
things are fun.
So you can't rely on motivation.
If you wait for motivation tostrike, you'll be stuck just
going through survival mode mostof the days because typically
motivation is nowhere to befound.
Secondly, you don't need moreenergy, you need fewer
decisions.

(04:00):
And I've talked about thisbefore in several other podcasts
about decision fatigue, and thisis why I'm so big on routines
and systems.
So for instance, when I wastalking about the Sunday prep
routine, I was explaining to youthat we make so many decisions
that a lot of times we areexhausted before lunchtime

(04:21):
because we've made.
Only a million decisions in ourbrain is just exhausted, so you
don't need to have more energyto make it through the day.
We just need you to operate withfewer decisions so you're not
feeling so overwhelmed, sostressed, and so exhausted.

(04:42):
Next up, simplicity equalssustainability.
A lot of times I have found thatwhen I'm trying to get certain
routines to fit into my life,especially as I'm going through
New Seasons, so like forinstance with back to School
that's coming up or with, um,going on summer break whatever

(05:03):
the case is, having a routinethat.
It is super simple.
Makes it so much easier becausewhen I rely on a routine that
only works when I'm on quoteunquote, it gets way too
complicated because if I'm noton and I'm not feeling it, I'm
not gonna do it.
So keeping routines simple,makes them sustainable.

(05:26):
And then next, remember that theright system makes it easy to
follow through even when you'retired.
So think of things that are justplug and play, like certain
meals that you know that thekids, will eat all the time,
even for the picky eaters.
Having a three step eveningroutine, having something built
in each day to give you somebreathing room and so that

(05:48):
you're not feeling like you'rejust constantly go, go, go.
Just think about things thatwill make it super easy for you
to follow through.
Those are the things that willhelp make it so that you can get
things done even when you'retired.
And then lastly, remember thatrest is not the enemy of
productivity.
Rest is a requirement.

(06:11):
And I have heard it said before,I believe it was Danielle Adams,
who I heard first heard her saythat rest is productive.
So remember, that systems willhelp you rest without falling
behind.
And it's okay to stop, to pauseand to take a break.

(06:32):
So if you're nodding like yes,this is definitely what I need.
I definitely need to incorporateeither one or all of these
things that I talked about.
I wanna make sure that you areon the wait list for my brand
new program coming out calledThe Confident Mom Life.
It's gonna be a six week guidedexperience to help you build
routines that support you,especially when you're running

(06:55):
low on motivation.
Plus, you'll get some earlyaccess and some special bonuses
and first dibs when the doorsopen.
So join the wait list byclicking on the link in the
description.
All right, now we've made it tothe end.
I want you to remember a fewthings for today.
Remember, motivation isunreliable, but systems are

(07:18):
sustainable.
You're not lazy, you're justtired, and that's totally
different.
Remember, fewer decisions equalsless stress.
And you can create routines thatwork even when you're worn out.
And lastly, you don't need tohustle.
You just need a structure thatgives you your energy back.

(07:38):
So hopefully you found thisepisode helpful to find the
links in the show notes for thisepisode.
Head on over to real happymom.com/ 2 6 5.
And make sure to stay tuned nextweek for another episode where
I'll be sharing with you whycomplicated planners don't
stick.
All right.

(07:58):
That's it for now.
Take care, and with lots oflove.