Creating Space for What Matters: A Practical Guide for Mothers Who Feel Pulled in Every Direction
This image represents a quiet moment of space and reflection for mothers who often feel pulled in every direction. It visually supports the theme of creating space for what matters and finding small pockets of calm in the chaos of working motherhood.
Clarity doesn’t arrive in perfectly quiet moments.
Space doesn’t magically appear when life settles down.
And waiting for the stars to align before you focus on yourself?
That’s a fast route to staying overwhelmed.
If you’re a mother navigating work, home and everything in between, you already know this.
Space isn’t something you find.
It’s something you create — gently, intentionally and within the reality of your life.
This blog is all about how to do that.
Why Space Matters More Than We Think
Most mothers I work with aren’t short on planning skills.
They’re short on internal space.
Space to think.
Space to breathe.
Space to process.
Space to decide what actually matters.
And without that internal space, everything becomes harder:
simple decisions feel heavy
the mental load grows
overwhelm arrives quicker
small challenges feel larger than they are
Creating space doesn’t fix everything. But it gives you enough emotional and mental room to respond rather than react.
And that can change everything.
My Own Season of Limited Space and What It Taught Me
This autumn has been a full one for me. My two-year-old has had another disrupted week of nursery, my husband is still recovering from surgery, and work has been busy with new opportunities - including an exciting enquiry for a series of speaking events.
A few years ago, this kind of week would have wiped me out.
Now, something feels different.
Even in the chaos, I’ve been able to:
show up for my clients without cancelling
make room to create proposals for new work
write newsletters and blogs that matter to me
find small pockets of rest and quiet when I needed them
Not because life is easier, but because I’ve learned how to create space within it.
Small decisions helped:
choosing simpler meals
letting my kids watch TV so I could do the essentials
showing up to my own coaching session, even when cancelling felt tempting
letting go of perfection
asking for help
These tiny acts created room for clarity - and I could feel the difference immediately.
What Gets in the Way of Space for Mothers
If you feel like space constantly slips through your fingers, you’re not imagining it. Mothers often carry:
the visible load (schedules, meals, household tasks)
the invisible load (anticipating needs, remembering everything, managing emotions)
the emotional load (holding the family together)
the professional load (your job or business)
Add disrupted childcare, a sick partner or a busy work season, and it becomes even harder.
Space isn’t optional.
It’s essential.
But most mothers aren’t taught how to create it.
A woman sits at a tidy, minimal desk with her laptop and notebook open, creating focused space to plan, think and prioritise what matters.
Five Practical Ways to Create Space in a Busy Life
Here are grounded, real-life methods - the kind that work even during messy weeks.
1. Choose one thing to make easier
This might mean:
buying easy dinners for a few nights
lowering your expectations for the evening routine
reducing the number of errands you attempt
Lowering the pressure increases your internal space.
2. Ask for support - even small support counts
Space grows when the load is shared.
It doesn’t have to be big.
It can be 20 minutes so you can rest, think or breathe.
3. Honour your “bare minimum”
Every mother has one.
The trick is defining it.
Your bare minimum might be:
responding to two priority work tasks
getting everyone fed
one small step toward a project you care about
It keeps you grounded.
4. Create micro-moments of quiet
Even two minutes of stillness helps reset the nervous system.
A few ideas:
breathe deeply before you open your laptop
make tea and sip it slowly
step outside for a moment of fresh air
Small pockets of space compound.
5. Stop waiting for perfect timing
If you wait for life to calm down before you act, you’ll be waiting forever.
Start in the middle of the mess.
That’s real change.
The Space You Create Today Shapes Who You Become Tomorrow
When mothers create space, even tiny amounts, they begin to:
feel more emotionally regulated
make clearer decisions
reconnect with themselves
rediscover energy
show up more intentionally in work and motherhood
And they also begin to see what could be possible next.
Space isn’t indulgent.
It’s preparation.
It’s the foundation for every change you want to make.
If You Want Support Creating Space for What Comes Next
Coaching gives you a structured, supportive container for growth - a place to think clearly and focus on what matters most.
Many mothers begin coaching not because they have spare time, but because they’re ready to make space for themselves again.