#147| Why Trying to "Have It All" Might Be Holding You Back From Real Purpose & Creating Overwhelm: Overwhelm, Productivity, Time Management & People Pleasing

Do you ever look at your life—career, house, kids, partner—and wonder, why doesn’t this feel as good as it should?

In this episode, let's explores the quiet epidemic among high-achieving women: reaching every life milestone only to feel unfulfilled and disconnected. If you're constantly doing everything for everyone and still feel like something is missing, this conversation is your mirror and your permission slip.

In this episode, you will:

• Learn why having it all often means doing it all—and why that’s unsustainable
• Understand how traditional success metrics can leave you feeling empty
• Discover how to reconnect with yourself by redefining what success really means to you

If you’re ready to stop checking boxes and start feeling good in your life again, hit play now and reclaim what truly matters to you.

Wondering why you're overwhelmed? Take my "why am I overwhelmed" quiz to find out the source of your overwhelm, and what to do about it.

Send Me a Message - Have a question, comment, or just want to say hi? Message me here, I'd love to chat!

Work With Me - Interested in working with me 1-on-1, taking a class, or joining one of my coaching groups? Message me here to get the scoop.

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Life can be overwhelming, but on this podcast, you'll discover practical strategies to overcome overwhelm, imposter syndrome, and negative self-talk, manage time effectively, set boundaries, and stay productive in high-stress jobs—all while learning how to say no and prioritize self-care on the Overwhelmed Worki...

Episode Transcript

Michelle Gauthier (00:00):
The problem with having it all is that no
one ever told us that it wasn'tgoing to feel good.
You're listening to OverwhelmedWorking Woman, the podcast that
helps you be more calm and moreproductive by doing less.
I'm your host, MichelleGauthier, a former Overwhelmed

(00:20):
Working Woman and current lifecoach.
On this show, we unpack thestress and pressure that today's
working woman experiences andin each episode, you'll get a
strategy to bring more calm,ease and relaxation to your life
.
Hi, friend, if you've got thecareer, the house, the busy

(00:40):
calendar, the kids that youwanted and it feels like too
much and not enough all at thesame time, this episode is for
you.
It is a reality check and arelease, because I feel like
we've been sold the bill ofgoods, that having it all is the
ultimate goal, but what no onetold us about that is that
maintaining it is exhausting andit often leaves us feeling

(01:04):
disconnected from ourselves.
This is a problem that a clientjust brought to me this week
and that I have heard many timesfrom my clients.
And, to be honest, this isreally the reason why I became a
life coach, because I felt thisway, like I have everything I
ever wanted and I still don'tfeel good.
It didn't feel like I thoughtit was going to feel.

(01:26):
When you listen today, you'regoing to learn why having it all
often turns into doing it alland why traditional success can
still feel empty, and then whatto do about it.
So having it all often meansdoing it all.
You're checking every box Work,home, health, family,
friendships, partner and in theend, a lot of times, there's no

(01:49):
space left for you.
So you go to work all day youcome home, make the healthy
dinner, answer the emails, helpwith homework and literally
collapse into bed at 10 pm,wondering why you still feel
behind.
Your life probably looks reallyimpressive from the outside,
but inside you might be feelingtired and resentful and

(02:09):
definitely overwhelmed.
If that is you, you areabsolutely not alone.
The thing is, the success thatwe have been aspiring for
doesn't always feel like success.
So you got the promotion.
You have the paycheck that youwanted, you planned and went on
the best vacation.
You remembered the schoolsnacks.
You have the paycheck that youwanted, you planned and went on
the best vacation.
You remembered the schoolsnacks and all the little things
that you needed to do for theweek.

(02:30):
But instead of feeling proudand peaceful, you're asking is
this it?
And then going for the nextthing.
So okay, I got that promotion,now what?
I guess I need to work ongetting the next one.
So you end up being on thishamster wheel where you just
continue to run and checkeverything off your list and
move on to the next thing, butyou still probably lay awake

(02:53):
wondering what didn't I get donetoday and what all do I have to
do tomorrow to keep thishamster wheel spinning.
So I'm here to say that realpurpose isn't adding more.
It's really choosing andappreciating what matters right
now, because juggling everythingand doing everything and as
women, it's often doingeverything for everyone else it

(03:15):
really disconnects you fromyourself.
What I found when I was workingthrough this problem for myself
with a life coach was that Ididn't feel like I was present
anywhere.
I was running around all thetime not really appreciating or
giving my full focus to anything.
I was also spending a lot oftime on things that I didn't

(03:35):
even truly care about.
So letting go of that ideaabout what success should look
like and shifting it to whatreal success looks like for you
isn't about doing more.
It's about focusing on whatreally matters to you.
So for today, I just want you tothink about what part of this

(03:57):
having it all and I'm using airquotes when I say having it all
in this situation do I actuallynot want anymore.
Just ponder that question andmaybe get out a pen and paper
and actually journal about it.
Pretend that it's possible foryou to just cross anything out
of your life that you don't wantanymore and write that down on

(04:17):
a piece of paper and let thatguide your next decision.
And if your next decision is, Ineed help to figure this out.
I need help to transition my tofigure this out.
I need help to transition my onpaper successful life to
feeling good to me.
I can help you.

(04:40):
I have a one on one coachingspot open right now and I can
help you feel good about yourlife.
A lot of times people think thatthey have to do a major change,
they've got to change their jobor get a divorce or whatever it
may be and, yes, sometimes myclients do that but a lot of
times that a shift in mindsetand a shift in the things that
you're actually doing that aresmall things that are draining
your energy, can really make youappreciate and feel fulfilled

(05:04):
in the life that you alreadyhave.
So reach out to me.
I would love to talk to you.
I always do a free consultation, so even if you don't decide,
coaching is for you.
You will get something out ofthat meeting.
Okay, have a great week, andhere's to having it all in a way
that actually feels good.

(05:28):
Thank you for listening to theOverwhelmed Working Woman
podcast.
If you want to learn more aboutmy work, head over to my
website at michellegauthier.
com.
See you next week.