This season is busy. And often feels completely overwhelming. I just spoke to one C-suite mom of two who had 13 holiday events in 15 days between work and family. That’s a lot. I vividly remember when my own twins were younger, and I was scaling Brightstar Care. I hit a wall. I was wrapping presents at 2 a.m. after 12-hour days, exhausted and resentful.
The secrets I learned in the following years are not about working harder, but letting go of two destructive myths – that it needs to be perfect and that asking for help diminishes the experience.
Time management for an executive mom is an energy management problem, not just a calendar problem. Here are the five secrets I’ve learned for prioritizing tasks, protecting your time, and maximizing productivity during busy seasons.
Delegate the Details
Here’s what most people don’t realize. The best executive assistants handle both business and personal tasks. The real efficiency for me came when my EA became my right hand for work and life, so I wasn’t constantly code-switching between “CEO brain” and “mom brain”.
I didn’t outsource immediately—it took about 5 years in business and reaching $1M in profitability before I truly invested in it. But once I did, I became 2x more efficient. The best EAs free up your time and mental bandwidth, so you can focus on what only you can do.
While some holiday traditions are deeply personal, I have learned that being present and joyful matter more than being the one who physically does every little thing. Pay someone to wrap presents, run errands, and prep for you. One year, I had someone prep all my cookie dough and pie crusts. I still got to bake with my sons without the exhaustion of doing it all from scratch.
If you’re hosting, create a Google Sheet or sign-up genius so guests can claim dishes or tasks. People want to contribute. Make it easy for them to help.
Plan your energy
Time management isn’t just about blocking hours on your calendar. It’s also being intentional with your energy.
Start planning two days ahead. Block time on Monday to prepare for meetings or activities on Tuesday, and avoid scrambling at the last minute. You’re making mental space to think about what needs to be done.
Maximize productivity in short chunks
During the holidays, forget finding those mythical four-hour blocks of deep work. It’s about making the most of what you actually have. Block your calendar in 30-minute increments and protect them fiercely. The key is being specific about what to accomplish in that window. Not “work on strategy” but “review franchise agreement” or “respond to franchisee email.” One task, one block.
Having a dedicated office setup at home is essential. When I sit down there, everyone knows—including me—I am in work mode, even if it is just for 30 minutes. After those focused work bursts, I’d make time to move. Exercise isn’t just about physical health—it’s when I feel most energized and inspired. Some of my best thinking happens after a workout. It resets my brain, gives me clarity, and creates energy for whatever comes next, whether that’s mom mode or another work sprint.
The biggest productivity hack? Accepting that 30 focused minutes beats three distracted hours every time. Quality over quantity, especially during the chaos of the season.
Create traditions that serve double duty
As my sons got older, one of our best traditions became taking them each holiday shopping, just one-on-one. We’d get hot cocoa, I’d give them a budget, and they’d learn money allocation while picking out gifts for themselves and for our family. It was quality time that also taught them fundamental skills and got some shopping done. Those outings became more meaningful than any perfectly decorated house.
Develop intentional transitions
The truth is, you never fully “turn off” being a CEO or executive. But you can create intentional transitions that help you be present where you are. I made it a priority to pick up my sons from school or after-school activities whenever possible. That car ride home became our time—they’d tell me about their day, and I’d shift gears from business mode to mom mode.
I also committed to making dinner at least twice a week. Dinner together was non-negotiable when I was home. And phones weren’t allowed at the table – for any of us!
Once the boys went to do their homework, I’d get back to work. That’s the reality of being both a CEO and a mom. The key wasn’t pretending work didn’t exist—it was protecting those specific windows where I was entirely theirs.
The key is this: protect your work time as fiercely as you protect family time. Both require your full presence, and that only happens when you’ve been specific about what each block is actually for. The goal of time management isn’t perfection; it’s presence.
What is the one task you will delegate during the holiday season to free up your mental bandwidth?
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