From Carpooling to Deadlines: How Busy Parents Can Regain Control

Your mornings start with packing lunches, wrangling kids and carpooling, only to jump straight into deadlines, meetings and emails. It’s a non-stop hustle from sunup to sundown.

For busy parents juggling work and home life, it can feel like you're barely keeping it all together. You’re constantly on the move, handling everyone’s needs, thinking, If I pause, even for a moment, it will all fall apart.

I’ve been there. I’ve had those moments of wondering if it’s all too much, feeling like one unexpected twist—one sick kid, one missed deadline—could throw everything off.

But here’s what I know for sure: It doesn’t have to be this way. You don’t have to feel like you’re barely holding it all together.

When you get clear on what you want your life to look like and make small, intentional changes, you can create a life that feels calmer and more in control.

That’s exactly what our True Vue Master (TVM) framework is all about: thinking, feeling and acting as if your dream life is already happening, so you can take back control—without waiting for a break in the chaos.

Why Life Feels Like a Never-Ending Juggle

Let’s be honest—parenting is a full-time job. So is your career. Add in household responsibilities, extended family activities, preparing and cooking healthy meals nevermind your own personal goals and it’s no wonder life feels overwhelming.

For years, I thought the answer was to manage it better. I believed I just needed to balance it all, plan smarter and hustle harder. You get so busy trying to keep up that you don't see any other way. But I’ve learned that more juggling isn’t the answer.

Here’s what I’ve come to understand:
You don’t need to juggle everything. You need to get clear on what matters and put down what isn’t helping you live the life you want. Sounds easy, I know... applying it can seem a little more complicated. Stick with me! 

Step 1: Think – Get Clear on What You Want

Everything starts with clarity. It’s impossible to make intentional aligned decisions when you don’t know where you’re going.

I ask myself—and my clients—this question all the time:
What do you want your life to feel like?

It’s such a simple question, but most people have never taken the time to answer it.

If you don’t have a clear picture of your future, you’ll stay stuck in survival mode, reacting to everything that comes your way.

👉 Reflection Prompt:

• What does an ideal day look like for you?
• How do you want to feel at the end of your day?

When you take the time to visualize it, your vision becomes real. The more you visit that vision in your mind, the more it starts to feel like second nature. The extra "fluff" becomes highlighted as unnecessary and you get your first ideas of where to start. And when you’re clear on your future, you naturally start making decisions that move you toward it.

Step 2: Feel – Act Like It’s Already Yours

This step is a big deal. I'm just going to say it... it's where the real magic happens, where everything shifts. Once you’ve created your vision, it’s time to feel it—right now, before anything has changed.

For example, if your vision includes feeling more present with your kids, imagine yourself fully in that moment—dinner time, no distractions, just laughter and connection.

It’s not just about visualizing it. You need to step into that energy and feel it in your body.

Here’s why this is powerful:
Your emotions drive your actions. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious or behind, you’ll make decisions from that place and everyone around you will feel it even when you haven't spoken a word. But if you shift into the emotions of your future self—calm, confident and present—you’ll start making decisions from that space instead... and everyone will feel it!

I remind myself every day:
How would I show up if I already had the results or outcome I want? What would future me do right now? And then I feel what that feels like. So good!!

Step 3: Act – Take Small Steps Toward Your Vision

This is where the outcomes you've been praying for come to life: taking new actions.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably fallen into the trap of waiting for the “perfect moment” to make big changes. But the truth is, transformation happens through small, consistent actions.

What’s one small step you can take today? It doesn’t need to be big. It just needs to move you closer to the life you want.

🎯 Small Actions You Can Take Today:

• Say no to one task or commitment that doesn’t serve your vision.
  For me, I stopped saying yes to late nights. Going to bed when I want to has been a game-changer for my energy and focus.
• Set a boundary: no work emails after dinner.
  No more mindless “chewing the rag” with people who only want to complain about life. You know the type! Setting this boundary has freed up my time and mental space.
• Take 10 minutes for yourself—no interruptions, no guilt.
  My morning and evening routines have become a non-negotiable in my house. Everyone knows this time is for me, and I can fully commit to it without distractions.

🎯 Big Actions You Can Plan:

• Reevaluate your commitments.
  Are there activities or obligations you can let go of? What can you say no to in order to say yes to yourself?
• Create a no-work zone during family time.
  This one’s a work in progress for me, too! I’m still figuring it out, but even small changes—like setting my phone aside during dinner—make a difference.
• Ask for help—from your partner, boss, or family.
  This can be huge. You don’t have to do it all alone. You can also hire help and it may be more affordable than you think! For example, I started with affordable house cleaning services and increased the frequency as my budget allowed.

Think outside the box: carpool with another family, coordinate with your child’s teammates or ask the school for support. There are so many options available if you pause and look for them. You’d be surprised at what solutions are right in front of you!

I know how easy it is to fall into the “I’ll do it all” mindset. But every time I’ve asked for help or set a boundary, I’ve felt stronger—and more in control.

What Is True Vue Mastery (TVM)?

In my coaching program, we use the True Vue Master (TVM) framework to help clients shift from feeling overwhelmed to living with intention.

Here’s how it works:

1. Think – Get clear on what you want your life to look like.
2. Feel – Step into the emotions of already having that life.
3. Act – Take small steps, every day, from a place of confidence.

When you do this regularly, it changes everything.

The idea behind True Vue Mastery is that people notice when their vision starts to come to life, it feels like déjà vu. They’ve been there before—in their mind, in their emotions and in their actions. And when the results show up, they’re ready for them.

Final Thoughts: You Can Take Back Control

In so many conversations I’ve had this past year, I’ve noticed a common theme. Parents and professionals alike are sprinting through life, overwhelmed, with no idea how to slow down—or even stop—to catch their breath.

If that resonates with you, I feel for you. I’ve been there. I know how heavy it can feel to carry it all.

I’ve seen it happen in my own life and I’ll be honest: doing this work has saved my life. Depression, anxiety, ADHD and an eating disorder were all warning lights going off inside me. And for a long time, I tried to push through, thinking I just needed to try harder or do more.

But I couldn’t ignore the signs any longer. I had to make a change.

If you’re feeling overbooked, overtired and over it, start by asking yourself:

What do I want my life to feel like?

Then, take small steps each day that move you closer to that vision.

The more you think it, feel it and act as if it's a done deal, the more you’ll see your future life taking shape.

And let me tell you—this isn’t just “nice to think about” fluff.

It’s clarity.
It’s belief.
And it’s action.

You’ve got this.

Keep the Faith,

xo Kate Hanson