Hey Reader heeeeyyyy!

Let me ask you something…

Is your job actually wearing you out — or is it the fact that you’re managing two full-time roles at once?

To the point where it leaves you internally feeling like 2017 Tyrese and asking…

Because whether you’re working a 9–5, between jobs, or fully committed to staying home right now…
you’re still on somebody’s clock.

And here’s the part so many moms quietly live with 😬
Even when there’s no paycheck attached — you’re clocked in.

You’re managing:
• deadlines at work
• schedules at home
• emotional labor everywhere​
• and everyone’s needs — often before your own

And on the outside?
You’re still the one who:
• gets things done
• doesn’t drop the ball
• shows up
• keeps everything moving

So no one calls it burnout.

They call it:
“Strong.”
“Reliable.”
“High-performing.”

And over time, many women start believing their value is tied to how much stress they can carry without cracking.

But this way of living isn’t serving women.
It’s not serving our homes.
And it’s not serving the workplaces we’re holding together.

Because burnout today doesn’t always look like falling apart.

More often, it looks like holding everything together while slowly disappearing.

Here’s what I’ve learned through my work with women, caregivers, and organizations:

Burnout (and the loss of JOY that comes with it) isn’t about being lazy or weak.
It’s about built systems — traditional ones — that keep asking for more than they give back.

And for working moms, that system isn’t just your employer.

It can be the invisible culture of your home too.

How many unpaid roles can you name just from managing a household?

Research has shown that working moms on average are clocking about 98 hours a week – the equivalent of 2.5 full-time jobs each week.

And since then?

We’ve added:
• navigating a new post-pandemic world
• the dawn of AI and constant connectivity
• rising expectations
• and the pressure to be everything — all the time

So when this level of responsibility goes unsupported, the cost shows up as:
• exhaustion you can’t rest away
• creativity that feels blocked
• resentment you don’t want to admit
• and a version of you that feels smaller than who you know God created you to be

My prayer this season is that more women reclaim REST — and with it, JOY — in how they live, lead, and love.

That’s why I’m listening closely right now.

As I step into the new year, I’m gathering insight from working moms and caregivers to better understand:
• what’s actually draining your time and energy
• what support would truly help
• and what you need to feel more whole, rested, and resourced

If this resonates, I would love your voice.

(Your responses are shaping something very special I’m building for next year 🙌🏾💃🏾.)

And if this conversation feels close to home, please know this:

You’re not alone.

This week on the JOYrney To Purpose® odcast, I’m sharing a powerful conversation with Sherry Cassano, Chief Talent Officer at Pfizer, about what it really takes to sustain yourself when life, leadership, and caregiving collide.

It’s one of those episodes that‘s PACKED with JOY-nuggets and makes you exhale and think,
​“Oh… it’s not just me.”

(More details below 👇🏾)

Until then, let this be your reminder:

You don’t have to earn rest.
You don’t have to justify your need for space.
And you don’t have to burn out to prove your worth.

We’re on the JOYrney™ together… one feel-good thing at a time.
Erica

The JOYrney To Purpose® Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Sherry Cassano, Chief Talent Officer & SVP People Experience at Pfizer, for an honest conversation about leadership, workplace culture, and what it truly means to thrive as a mom at the executive level.

You’ll hear:
• Why JOY is a measurable leadership metric — not a fluffy trend
• The boundaries required for long-term impact
• The unique pressures facing working mothers in leadership roles
• Why support systems — at work and at home — are essential, not optional

If you’re ready to lead with clarity, courage, and sustainability — without sacrificing your well-being or purpose — I hope you’ll tune in.

We’re on the JOYrney™ together — one feel-good thing at a time,
Erica