The Lie We’ve Been Sold About “Balance” and Why It’s Burning Us Out
The Myth of Balance (and Why It Feels So Heavy)
If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s juggling work, parenting, and the hormonal chaos of perimenopause or menopause, you’ve probably heard the same advice on repeat:
“You just need better balance.”
It sounds nice, doesn’t it? But let’s be honest the version of “balance” we’ve been sold doesn’t exist.
Somewhere along the way, we were told that if we just organized better, planned smarter, or woke up earlier, we could “have it all.”
A thriving career.
A calm home.
A peaceful mind.
All spinning effortlessly… as long as we keep it together.
But here’s the truth: that’s not balance. That’s performance.
And for many women I work with, that performance comes with a heavy dose of anxiety, guilt, and exhaustion.
Why Overachievers Struggle Most With Balance
Highly driven, people-pleasing women are masters at doing everything for everyone else. They’re the ones managing work deadlines, caring for kids (and sometimes aging parents), and still trying to meal prep and “self-care” their way to peace.
Except peace never really comes because the list never ends.
Sound familiar?
You’re not failing at balance. You’ve just been given an impossible job description.
The problem isn’t your effort; it’s the expectation that you can do it all without cracking.
Now Lets Add Hormones!
Perimenopause and menopause bring their own kind of storm — brain fog, irritability, mood swings, and sleep struggles. Add parenting, a demanding job, and the pressure to “keep up,” and it’s no wonder so many women feel like they’re unraveling.
And yet, these women still show up for work, for their families, for everyone but themselves.
That quiet, tired voice whispering “something has to give”?
That’s the part of you asking to be cared for, too.
What Real Balance Actually Looks Like
Real balance isn’t about managing every piece of your life perfectly.
It’s about deciding what can wait and what can’t.
It may looks like:
Letting the laundry pile up so you can rest.
Saying no to one more commitment you don’t have capacity for.
Taking ten quiet minutes in the car before walking inside.
Letting yourself drop the mask and admit, “I’m tired.”
Balance isn’t a color coded calendar. It’s a mindset shift.
If You’re Feeling Like You’re Failing at All the Things…
You’re not.
You’re a woman trying to hold an extraordinary amount of life at once.
And if you’re tired of doing it alone, therapy can help.
I work with highly anxious, people-pleasing women in Gilbert, AZ who are parenting through perimenopause and menopause — women who love their work and their families, but feel like they’re losing themselves in the process.
Therapy is where we untangle the burnout, perfectionism, and pressure, and start rebuilding something more sustainable.
Ready to Find Your Version of Balance?
If you’ve been craving permission to stop pretending you’ve got it all together, this might be your sign.
Let’s talk about what balance could actually look like in your life — one that honors your body, your boundaries, and your bandwidth.
Click here to schedule a free consultation.
You don’t have to keep performing “fine.” You just have to take the first small step toward something real.