The Truth About “Doing It All” (And Why I Stopped Trying)
By Celenise Mahmood, NASM-CWC, Your Wellness Bestie
The people who know me—really know me—know that I’ve got my hands in a lot of pots.
In February alone, I:
✨ Organized several initiatives for my organization (as a volunteer and in my full-time role)
✨ Accepted a leadership role for a new employee resource group
✨ Became a Reiki 2 Practitioner and led my first group Reiki session
✨ Started a not-for-profit
✨ Hosted Moodwell tea-mixing workshops
✨ Managed my kids’ homeschool
✨ Worked full-time
✨ Kept my babies alive, loved, and enriched
✨ And even carved out quality time with my husband.
I don’t share this to brag or say “look at me.” I share this to show you just how much I used to pile on without pausing.
“How do you do it all and keep it together?”
This is the question I’ve been getting a lot lately. And my honest answer?
I don’t do it all. And that’s exactly how I keep it together.
The Difference Between Meaningful Work and Martyrdom
There was a time I thought I had to do it all. And for a while, I did—on the outside.
I was a young mom, college student, and working professional trying to prove myself. I believed overachieving was the only path forward. I created magic for my family every birthday and holiday. I poured everything I had into my job.
And I paid for it.
The sacrifice? Myself.
The result? I lost who I was at my core.
I stopped recognizing myself—physically, emotionally, energetically.
Burnout Doesn’t Knock. It Breaks the Door Down.
I started to experience:
Chronic gut issues
Weight gain
Cystic acne
A weird neck bulge
Smelly pits
Moon face
Volatile mood swings
I was drinking more than I ever had. Wine after work. Road sodas on the way home. Chain-smoking during commutes. These were my coping mechanisms—and they were normalized in the work culture I was part of.
No one talked about wellness. No one said, “This isn’t okay.” We just tried to survive.
The Wake-Up Call
Eventually, I hit a wall. And I started choosing differently.
✨ I stopped trying to do it all.
✨ I started being intentional with my time, words, and energy.
✨ I redefined what success felt like—not what it looked like on paper.
As my mother-in-law wisely would say:
“Your words are mantras.”
And as Don Miguel Ruiz teaches in The Four Agreements:
“Be impeccable with your word.”
So I started speaking peace. And peace showed up.
Protecting My Peace Became My Superpower
Alcohol was one of the first things I shifted. Now, I might enjoy a cocktail (two max) on special occasions. Sometimes I go months without a drink, especially when I’m deep in my Reiki practice.
And I stopped saying yes to things that drained me.
“No, I don’t want to attend your event instead of relaxing with my family after a long week.”
At first, saying “no” felt wrong. But once I realized how much time, energy, and clarity I gained from setting boundaries—it became non-negotiable.
Your Wellbeing Is Everything
I’ve always loved movement—yoga, cardio, light strength training. But when burnout hit, I couldn’t move like I used to.
So I started small. A brisk walk. A mindful stretch. I chose gentle, restorative movement. And my body responded.
✨ Movement doesn’t have to be extreme to be effective.
✨ You don’t have to hustle to heal.
So How Do I Do It All?
I don’t.
I choose what matters. I speak what I need. I protect my peace.
And that’s how I keep it together.
You can too.
Ready to return to yourself? Come sit with me. Visit moodwell.us for resources, tea blends, and tools that actually support your wellness (not drain it).
Let’s thrive—not just survive.
xo,
Celenise | Your Wellness Bestie
@getwellwithcel
1 comment
Very insightful.