Any way you slice it, Back-to-School is a sprint.

The extra load?! It’s real. And working mothers typically feel it extra hard.

And yet, there can be an unhelpful temptation the moment that back-to-school week is over…to immediately jump back into “real life”, without a moment to recover.

This will leave you spent. And contributes to burnout.

You might think “recovery” means preparing well for back-to-school. Reducing the load of back-to-school week itself. Promising yourself a vacation next spring as a reward.

And while none of these things are bad, they’re not exactly what’s required to recover.

You might think that taking any time at all to recover is precious time you don’t have.

But failing to plan a proper recovery can leave you operating in “survival mode” for months. Who has time for that?!

Let’s cut that whole process down to a week or two, shall we?

Whether your kids went back to school last week or last month, you’ll learn what you can do now to get your mojo back.

What You'll Learn:

• Why recovery time is vital to preventing burnout

• What Paralympic runners can teach us about the recovery period

• The best short- and medium-term tactics for getting back in gear after the back-to-school “sprint”

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

You’ve been angling for a promotion. And it should be yours.

You’ve got strong results.

Good performance reviews.

You get along with your colleagues.

And yet…that promotion still hasn’t come.

What’s going on here?

Is it bias?
A boss who’s not advocating for you?

Some hidden secret handshake you haven’t mastered?

Let me be clear: You’re probably not imagining it.

Vague, coded feedback like “be more strategic” or “your communication could be sharper” is all too common.

And yes — bias exists.

So do clueless (or overwhelmed) managers who don’t champion you.

But, here’s the other part of the equation: there is a playbook for getting promoted.

What’s often missing — and what this week’s episode breaks down — is the strategy behind what actually gets women promoted into leadership.

After coaching nearly 100 women into Director, VP, and SVP roles, I’ve identified 3 things you must have to get from ready on paper to “yes, promote her already!”

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the real stories of three incredible women who thought they were doing all the right things — and still hitting a ceiling.

And how understanding the promotion playbook took them from vague feedback and stalled momentum… to clarity, recognition, and the next level.

If you’ve been stuck in the waiting game — or feel like you’re constantly proving yourself with no clear payoff — this episode is your roadmap forward.

What You'll Learn:

• Why just “doing great work” often isn’t enough — and can actually trap you where you are

• Move over, mentors…women need sponsors

• The 3 forms of capital your promotion is riding on

• Leaving behind the “good student” mentality, so you can get ahead

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.

You’re presenting your big recommendation.

You’ve prepped. You’ve practiced. You’ve got the room’s attention.

And then…

Someone pushes back.
Challenges your approach.
Questions your recommendation.

Suddenly, you find yourself on the back foot.

Nervous.

Stammering.

Feeling defensive. But unable to defend yourself well.

I see this same pattern with so many brilliant women.

They’re strong on offense: those moments when they’re in control of the narrative. They’ve mastered the prep, the pitch, the polish.

But when the unexpected happens? When someone else takes the (conversational) ball?

Their confidence collapses. They’re trying to sell their ideas while feeling like a huge imposter.

Have you been there?

If so, I’m 90% sure it’s not because you lacked preparation. Or weren’t good enough at your job.

It’s because you hadn’t honed your “defensive game”.

Defense is not about the perfect comeback.

It’s about keeping your footing when someone else intercepts the ball.

It’s about facing a challenge with confidence.

And it’s about knowing that just because someone else has the ball, it doesn’t mean you’ve lost the game.

This week on The Mental Offload podcast, I’m breaking down what “playing defense” looks like in leadership. And why it might be the missing skill that unleashes your confidence.

Because even the greatest players don’t always control the ball. But they do know how to get it back in their court.

By the end of this episode, you’ll see pushback in a whole new way. Not as a threat, but as part of the leadership game.

What You'll Learn:

• The difference between offense and defense at work (and why both are critical for your confidence)

• How over-focusing on “preparation and delivery” leaves you surprisingly unprepared

• A simple mindset shift that helps you stay grounded when challenged

• Practical ways to develop your defensive game

For more information, visit The Mental Offload.