As a former elite athlete, I once lived with a singular focus: my training. My world revolved around pushing past pain, battling fatigue, and achieving perfection in every aspect of my performance. That intense mentality helped me reach the pinnacle of my athletic career as an Olympian, but it nearly broke me as a mother.

When I transitioned into motherhood, I quickly realized that the same "push through anything" mindset that had served me so well on the track didn’t translate to the chaotic, emotionally charged world of raising children. Perfectionism became my downfall. I tried to apply the same discipline and control I had in sports to every part of my life—only to discover that, as a mom, nothing was ever perfect. Perfect simple wasn’t possible….without sacrifice.

The reality of postpartum depression shattered my illusion that I could "handle it all." I felt lost, overwhelmed, and disconnected. I experienced "mom rage," stopped exercising, and, more often than I care to admit, had cereal for meals simply because it was easier than anything else. I was exhausted, constantly touched out, and my emotional energy was spent. Survival became my reality. The healthy lifestyle I had built as an athlete felt like a distant memory, a square peg trying to fit into a round hole of the demanding, messy world of motherhood.

But through the darkest times, I began to learn. I had to let go of the "perfect mom" ideal and redefine what it meant to be a mother, and more importantly, what it meant to take care of myself. I learned the hard way that perfectionism is a trap that leads to burnout. I had to rebuild my habits, reshape my mindset, and evolve into a new version of myself—a mother who could thrive, not just survive.