Today, I’m chatting with Abby Dosen—mom of three and author of the brand new book Realistic Self-Care for Moms: A Guided Journal for Taking Care of You While Taking Care of Them. Her journey from scribbling in a notebook to publishing a full-on self-care journal is inspiring (and super relatable).

If you’ve ever felt like journaling sounds nice in theory but just isn't realistic in your busy day-to-day life, Abby gets it. And more importantly, she’s here to show you that it is doable—without needing a candle-lit desk, color-coded pens, or even more than 60 seconds a day.

Postpartum is one of those things that never goes exactly as planned. No matter how much you read, research, or prepare, there will be surprises—some good, some really challenging. But that doesn’t mean you can’t set yourself up for success.

Instead of trying to predict everything, focus on building flexibility, support, and simple systems to help you adjust as things unfold.

Postpartum is one of those things that never goes exactly as planned. No matter how much you read, research, or prepare, there will be surprises—some good, some really challenging. But that doesn’t mean you can’t set yourself up for success.

Instead of trying to predict everything, focus on building flexibility, support, and simple systems to help you adjust as things unfold.

Motherhood and personal goals often feel like they’re in direct competition. You want to keep working toward your dreams, but between sleepless nights, endless diaper changes, and figuring out your new normal, it’s easy to feel like your personal aspirations have to take a backseat.

You don’t have to choose between motherhood and your goals. You just need a plan that actually works for this season of life.

Self-care after having a baby can feel like a joke. Between feedings, diaper changes, and trying to remember the last time you drank water, the idea of a “self-care routine” can seem impossible. But here’s the thing—self-care doesn’t have to be a luxury spa day or a two-hour morning routine. It just needs to be sustainable—something you can actually stick with, even on the busiest days.

If you’ve always been the type to color-code your planner, triple-check your work, and set impossibly high standards for yourself, then postpartum might be hitting you like a freight train. Motherhood has a way of tossing perfectionism out the window—whether you like it or not. And when anxiety creeps in, it can feel like you’re constantly trying (and failing) to keep everything under control.

Let me remind you: You don’t have to do everything perfectly to be an amazing mom. Let’s walk through three simple ways to manage anxiety and perfectionism so you can enjoy this season without burning yourself out.