Blog
When a Child Plays Alone: What If Nothing’s Wrong?
When a child plays alone at preschool, most adults assume something’s wrong. Shyness, isolation, neglect — we rush to diagnose instead of understand. But what ...
What a Preschool Drop-Off Taught Me About Questioning Societal Norms
A seemingly innocent moment at preschool stopped me in my tracks and made me realize how early societal norms begin shaping us. This story isn’t ...
When “Fine” Isn’t Good Enough: Trusting Your Gut In Motherhood
What if you didn’t have to push through every “off” day (for you or your kids) just because the world says you should? My almost-4-year-old ...
You Don’t Have to Be “All In” to Be Living Your Truth
I used to think living my truth meant overhauling everything – new routines, new mindset, new life. But what I’ve learned is that it can ...
When Mom Guilt Hits Hard: The Guilt You Should Let Go Of
The Kind of Guilt That Breaks You I fucked up this morning. Every day when I drop off my girls at daycare, my almost-4-year-old waits ...
What Money Can’t Buy: Remembering Your Soul Before It’s Too Late
I heard a lyric in a song this morning – Who Believes in Angles by Brandi Carlile and Elton John – that really struck me. ...
Good Exhaustion vs Burnout: Why Rest Shouldn’t Be Earned
I’m exhausted today – but in a good way. 😴 I didn’t really know there was such a thing before. I was used to burnout ...
Why You Think You Have to Earn Rest (and Why It’s Burning You Out)
I realized that “finish your homework before you can play” turned into “get your work done before you clock out” which turned into “do the ...
Why Choosing Joy Feels Irresponsible (and Why I’m Doing It Anyway)
Many of us spend our lives working hard, waiting until we’ve “earned” the right to rest or feel joy. But choosing joy now—even in the ...
The Lie Behind “That’s Just the Way It Is”
“That’s just the way it is” is the easiest excuse that leads to the hardest life. I’ll let you in on a secret… Life can ...
Burnout Is More Than Exhaustion: Here’s How To Fix It All
Burnout isn’t just exhaustion. It’s feeling constantly guilty. Like you’re never enough. Like you’re a failure. Like the expectations of the world are crushing you. ...
Burnout Isn’t You Failing – It’s the System Failing YOU
Burnout isn’t a sign you’re failing. It’s a sign the system failed you. I repeat: there is nothing wrong with YOU. Burnout happens as a ...
Redefining Rich: Finding Freedom Beyond Money
Dear friend, What if we’ve been chasing the wrong “rich?” I spent most of my life living under the delusion that you had to work ...
A Letter to My Daughters: Embracing the Woo in Life
Dear daughters, Embrace the woo in life. The world would have you believe there is no such thing as magic. There’s science. There’s religion. You ...
A Letter From Your Future Self: Finding Strength in Burnout and Beyond
Dear You, I’m writing from the future – the version of you who’s weathered the storm, who’s seen the systems fall and the truth rise. ...
Why Being Weird Is the Best Thing You Can Be (A Letter to My Daughters)
Dear daughters, Be weird as fuck. The world is going to try to force you to be “normal.” To fit in. Conform. Do what everyone ...
Why Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor
It doesn’t matter how much you have on your plate – burnout can still be a thing. I used to think that burnout happened because ...
Burnout Isn’t Just Being Tired: The Real Cause and How to Break Free
I used to think burnout was just about being tired – not having the energy to keep up with the to-do list anymore. And that’s ...
Life Is Happening Now, Not Someday: A Letter to My Daughters
Dear daughters, Today’s lesson: Life is happening right now, not “someday.” I spent a lot of your early childhood wishing away time – waiting for ...
Dear Daughters: Don’t Let the World Tell You Who to Be
Dear daughters, The world is going to try to make you into someone you were never meant to be. I know that’s a little harsh ...
Dear Daughters: We’re Done With Perfection
My dearest girls, I’ve spent way too much time and energy during your first years trying to make you good. Trying to make you fit ...
Modern Life Burnout: How We Forgot to Be Human
If you’ve ever wondered why life feels harder than it should, you’re not alone. Modern life burnout is everywhere — a result of systems that ...
How to Recover From Burnout: 3 Steps That Actually Work
You can’t bubble bath your way out of burnout. Despite what influencers might say, recovering from burnout isn’t as simple as taking more self-care days ...
Burnout in a Changing World: How to Stay Resilient
The world feels like it’s falling apart. And if you’ve been feeling heavier, more tired, and more burned out than ever, you’re not imagining it. ...
Mom Burnout on Monday Mornings: Why the Chaos Isn’t Your Fault
If you’ve ever dragged yourself out of bed on a Monday, already exhausted before the week even starts, you know the feeling of mom burnout ...
How to Heal Burnout (And Why “No More Burnout” Isn’t Enough)
If you’ve been Googling “how to heal burnout,” you’ve probably found the same tired advice: take a bubble bath, schedule more self-care, ask for help. ...
Navigating Mom Guilt: What I Learned from a Daycare Drop-Off Meltdown
Motherhood is full of impossible decisions — especially when you’re trying to balance your child’s emotional needs with your own. In those everyday but deeply ...
Why Burnout Feels Like Your Default (And How to Break the Cycle)
If you’ve ever sat down at the end of the day bone-tired but still buzzing with guilt, you’re not broken. You’re probably living in what ...
Hey, I'm Bailee!
Mom of two, recovering good girl, and the heart behind The Balanced Living Guide.
I spent years trying to do life “right” – checking all the boxes, following the rules, holding it all together. It was exhausting.
Somewhere between burnout and autopilot, I realized I wasn’t just doing it to myself – I was teaching my girls to do it too. That’s when I called bullshit on the whole thing.
So I started digging. Questioning “normal.” Learning who I actually am and how I’m meant to move through the world.
I made progress, felt freer, even tried to teach it until I realized I’m still in it.
Now, this space is the messy, thrilling middle of figuring it out.
Learning our design. Asking the questions no one else is asking. Telling perfection to fuck right off.
I don’t have the answers – but I’m here for the adventure.
Come with me. Let’s stop living fine and start feeling fully alive.
