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The other day one of our amigas on TikTok asked me how I have time for everything, with our book, our brand/s and our viral TikTok page, our newsletter and my ranchito chores. The truth is that I don’t, and it’s hard to balance it all.
What she didn’t ask about was something not many people know about – that’s my freelance job. I also do PR and I have clients (I’m sort of what you call a consultant to help brands get media attention). When I have clients, that takes up a lot of my time, and it is always a priority since it’s my actual “job”. Oh, also I’m a mom!
When I first started trying to juggle all of these things, it just wasn’t working. I would try to work “al lote” meaning with no rhyme or reason throughout the day. Sometimes I would end up not doing anything, and watching TV, and others I would end up run down by the end of the day because I had packed too much into my day.
I would end up cranky, annoyed, and low energy and I’d get sick all the time.
@senora.era Here’s my morning. Link in our bio for those @potterybarn plates from the Puebla collection #campolife #señoralife #ranchito #cozycreator
So, if you’re in your busy era, how do you build an every day that doesn’t make you feel crazy and angry all the time?
By following a simple task-management plan using apps, and intentionally adding actions through the day, I have been able to get my jobs done and also keep myself calm and steady so I don’t burn myself out.
Here are 5 ways to keep calm during a particularly busy season:
- Use a Task Management App
The first step to having a calm day is to find a management tool that helps you stay on track and manage your deadlines. I’ve been using Akiflow alongside ChatGPT to keep my assignments moving through the day and give me a schedule that I need to follow. I just feed the tools my priorities and things I need to get done during the week.Tools for To-Do Lists & Task Management: Taskade, Reclaim,AI, Akiflow
Tools for Project & Work Management: Todoist, Asana, ClickUp, Wrike
- Get Outside
There is one element of my day that I can no longer live without and that is going out in the morning before I start work – especially if it’s a nice, sunny day. Going out in the morning helps you get some sun, which will help your body collect some of the vitamin D that it needs, and breathing in fresh air help you feel more grounded. As soon as you can after waking up, take a cup of cafecito or tecito and sit somewhere outdoors, making sure you’re directly under the sunlight.
- Take “No Work” Breaks
Some of the most stressful days for me have been when I have forced myself to work for hours on one task. You must take breaks if you want to retain the morning calm through the day. For me that’s sitting outside on my patio or going to check on the chicken, or playing with my giant dog out back.Working on one task for too long actually makes you less productive. After about 60–90 minutes, your focus, creativity, and decision-making naturally drop, which means you start spending more time for poorer results. You lose the “fresh eyes” that help you spot problems quickly, and the task begins to feel heavier and more frustrating. Switching tasks or taking short breaks isn’t laziness—it resets your brain so you can come back sharper, faster, and far more effective.
- Do What Your Love
Sometimes I like to add crafting or baking activities into my day – things that I actually love to do. That way, it breaks up the monotonous work and also gives me something to look forward to.Incorporating simple, hands-on tasks like making your favorite latte, feeding your sourdough starter, or preparing a more complex meal gives your nervous system a place to land. These rituals pull you out of your head and back into your body, helping you slow your breathing, ground your attention, and reset your mood. The small acts of measuring, mixing, stirring, or steaming become anchors—reminders that not everything in your day demands urgency. These moments of tactile, sensory focus create a calm throughline that you carry with you, even as the rest of your schedule moves quickly. - Stay Flexible
The last tip is to not put so much pressure on yourself. Staying flexible throughout your day is one of the simplest ways to protect your energy and prevent burnout. When you allow your schedule to shift—pausing when you need to, switching tasks when your focus dips, or taking a quick reset—you move with your brain instead of against it. Flexibility keeps you out of the pressure-cooker mindset where everything feels urgent and rigid. Instead, it creates space to breathe, adjust, and respond to your workload with calm rather than stress. This gentle adaptability helps you stay productive without sacrificing your well-being, making work feel lighter and far more sustainable.
Get more tips on how to incorporate calm back into your day in our book Radical Señora Era: Latin American Routines for a Healthier, Happier Life.
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