Whether you’re the CEO of your household or juggle a career outside of motherhood, you belong on your own to-do list. For busy moms, burnout isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a signal that something needs to shift.

We connected with members of the Dreamers & Doers community to uncover the simple but powerful rituals they rely on to stay whole amid the beautiful chaos of motherhood and entrepreneurship. Their answers range from the quietly personal to the wonderfully unexpected—and every one is a testament to the power of small, consistent acts of self-preservation.

From rucking to analog mornings, get inspired by the acts of self care keeping these six founder moms afloat.

I don’t start the day with my phone

Emily Byrne - Motherly
Sarah Demarco

“I try really hard not to hand my nervous system over to my phone first thing in the morning. Even a few minutes of analog time—morning light, making coffee, holding my daughter, or simply not filling the silence right away—helps me start the day from a more centered place. When I start the day with less input, I’m more grounded, less reactive, and more able to move through both motherhood and work with a little more steadiness. Sometimes, the most supportive thing isn’t adding another wellness practice—it’s removing something.” — Emily Byrne, Founder & CEO of Rise Centered

I spend time with loved ones

Rachel McCollum - Motherly
Maku Lopez

“Being around family—and letting grandparents, cousins, and others hold my son—reminds me I don’t have to carry everything alone. The shared support of a village keeps me regulated, and from that place, I can show up more fully in both my work and my motherhood. My nervous system softens when I’m not holding everything alone, and I remember that life is meant to be shared. The work I do creates this life for us, and being surrounded by family brings me back into trust and ease.” — Rachel McCollum, Founder of SYS

I prioritize movement

Ellen Hockley - Motherly
Jen Chanyi

“I’ve always known that movement keeps me grounded, and as a mom, it feels even more important. A little over a year ago, I added a weighted vest to my walks, and there’s something about the heaviness paired with the rhythm of walking that brings extra calm. I can’t move too fast, which gives me space to connect with both my mind and body while I’m in motion.” — Ellen Hockley, Founder, Community Builder & Podcast Co-Host of Ellen Hockley Consulting, SAGE Women and Good Ideas & Bad Decisions Podcast

I protect my Saturday mornings like a meeting

Ronit Menashe - Motherly
Kim Fox

“Every week without exception, I go to the gym and spend time in the sauna on Saturday mornings. I protect this like a standing meeting that can’t be moved. After that, my co-founder and I sit down together for two to three hours to plan the week ahead, talk through strategy, and actually catch up as humans, not just business partners. That combination of physical reset and intentional planning is what sets the tone for everything that follows. When my kids were little, I hired a nanny specifically to work Saturday mornings. This was a big commitment, but the routine creates a reliable seam between one week and the next. After years of protecting this time, my kids now fully expect it, which means there are no tears when I walk out the door and no guilt weighing me down while I am gone.” — Ronit Menashe, Co-Founder & CEO of WeNatal

I journal before the house wakes up

Allie Mirosevic - Motherly
Allie Mirosevic

“This is my daily journaling framework that I follow (almost) every morning: release what’s heavy, focus on gratitude, then connect to how I want to feel and what I need to do. I’m someone who can live in my head, so while exercise helps, writing things out feels like a true release. Journaling became a grounding practice for me during my postpartum years, and my mind now associates it with coming back to myself. I can start journaling feeling cloudy and leave with clarity, gratitude, and, usually, a next step.” — Allie Mirosevic, Founder of Bliss’d Co

I wake up before everyone else

Jessica Berg - Motherly
Micaela Malmi

“One ritual I rely on is waking up before everyone else in my house. That quiet window when the world is still asleep gives me space to ease into my day instead of starting in ‘go mode’ the moment my feet hit the floor. It gives me a chance to land in my body and start the day in a more regulated state. I avoid screens and spend that time meditating, journaling, or reading, which sets the tone for how I want to move through the day. Even if chaos follows, I’ve already created a grounded foundation to come back to.” — Jessica Berg, Founder of The RISE Collective