From Burnout to Balance

By Your Health Magazine

How Prioritizing My Health Saved My Business and My Family Life

By Ashley Wall

When I first started my children’s publishing company, MamaBear Books, I thought that sheer hustle would be the key to success. I poured myself into every detail writing, editing, marketing, managing production, while also raising two young kids. I wore “busy” like a badge of honor. But behind the scenes, I was running myself into the ground.

Late nights blurred into early mornings. Meals were an afterthought, if I ate at all, it was usually something quick between emails. Coffee became my lifeline, replacing water. Exercise? That had fallen off my list completely.

At first, I told myself this was just a season. Entrepreneurs sacrifice, right? Moms push through. But eventually, my body told me otherwise. I was exhausted all the time, irritable, and foggy headed. I started forgetting things. My creativity, the very heartbeat of my business, felt like it was drying up. The passion that fueled me was being smothered by burnout.

I’ll never forget the moment I realized something had to change. My kids walked into my office one afternoon and asked if I wanted to come outside to play. I was too tired. Not too busy, too drained. I looked at their disappointed faces and thought, this isn’t the mom, or the business owner, I want to be.

That was my wake-up call. I needed to stop treating my health as optional and start seeing it as essential.

Sleep: The Boss of My Day

The first area I tackled was sleep. For months, I’d been waking to work in the early morning hours, convincing myself that those extra hours of productivity would get me ahead. But in truth, the less I slept, the more mistakes I made, the more time I wasted, and the less present I was with my family.

I committed to setting a hard bedtime, putting away my phone and laptop, and allowing myself to rest. Within weeks, I noticed the difference. I was sharper in the mornings, my moods were steadier, and the ideas started flowing again.

The ripple effect? My kids began to see bedtime not as a punishment, but as an important part of taking care of yourself. When Mom prioritized sleep, they did too.

Fuel: Choosing Food and Water Over Coffee

Next came nutrition. For too long, I had been running on caffeine and convenience snacks. It left me jittery, dehydrated, and mentally scattered. I started small: more water, fewer refills of coffee. I began carving out time for real meals, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole foods that actually nourished me.

The difference was immediate. My energy lasted longer through the day. I didn’t crash mid-afternoon. My focus improved. The simple act of eating well reminded me that I deserved the same care I was pouring into my family and business.

What I didn’t expect was how much my kids noticed. Suddenly, they wanted to drink more water, “like mommy.” They asked questions about food being “fuel” for our bodies. My small changes planted seeds for their own healthy habits.

Movement: A Reset Button for Body and Mind

Exercise used to be a regular part of my life, but somewhere in the chaos of business and motherhood, it had slipped away. I thought I didn’t have the time. But what I discovered is that movement isn’t just about fitness, it’s about mental clarity.

I started walking more, doing short workouts, and even incorporating fun dance breaks with my kids. Movement became my reset button. When stress built up or I felt stuck creatively, I moved my body.

That shift gave me more energy, more patience, and more joy. And once again, my kids followed suit. Walks became family adventures. Dance breaks turned into giggle-filled traditions. They began to see exercise as fun, not a chore.

Recognizing the Warning Signs of Burnout

Looking back, the warning signs were obvious: brain fog, constant fatigue, irritability, lack of joy in things I once loved. But at the time, I ignored them because I thought exhaustion was just part of success.

The truth is, burnout doesn’t make us better entrepreneurs, mothers, or partners. It makes us less of everything we want to be. Recognizing those signals earlier could have saved me months of stress. Now I tell other moms and business owners: listen to your body. If it’s screaming at you to slow down, don’t wait until you hit a wall.

The Ripple Effect of Mom’s Self-Care

Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned is this: when I care for myself, I care for my family too. At first, I felt guilty prioritizing sleep, nutrition, and exercise. But soon I realized that my kids were watching. They were learning what it looks like to balance ambition with health, resilience with rest.

Now they see me not only as a mom who works hard but as a mom who knows how to recharge, fuel herself, and enjoy life along the way. That is a lesson I want them to carry into their own adulthood.

And the biggest surprise? My business has grown stronger because I am stronger. I’m more creative, more productive, and more confident in my decisions. My work has more heart because I’m not running on empty.

Takeaway: Wellness is the Foundation, Not the Reward

So many moms and entrepreneurs think of self-care as something they’ll get to “once things calm down.” But I learned the opposite. Prioritizing my health isn’t a reward for hard work, it’s the foundation that makes all the hard work possible.

To the mom reading this who feels stretched thin, exhausted, and guilty for even wanting a break: your health matters. Your energy sets the tone for your household. Your wellness is not selfish, it’s one of the greatest gifts you can give your children and your work.

When you sleep enough, fuel your body, move your body, and listen to its signals, you’re not only restoring yourself, you’re building a stronger family and a stronger future.

I started MamaBear Books to inspire kids to dream big and believe in themselves. What I didn’t realize was how much I needed that reminder, too. Chasing dreams is important, but so is caring for the dreamer.

Bio: Ashley Wall is an award-winning bestselling author, educator, and mompreneur who launched MamaBear Books to publish empowering children’s stories, including The Day I Had picture-book series. When she isn’t writing or speaking at schools, she volunteers in her kids’ classrooms and explores creative adventures with her family in Texas.