Why does work suddenly feel intense again?


Have you noticed it?

The emails are coming faster.
Meetings are suddenly more urgent.
Projects that felt “early-stage” two weeks ago now have deadlines attached to them.

No one announced it.
But work is clearly speeding up again.

January felt like planning.
February feels like prove it.

This is the part of the year where working parents start feeling the squeeze.
Q1 deliverables.
Performance goals.
New initiatives that somehow landed on your plate.

And all of it overlaps with real life still happening at home: homework, practices, dinner, bedtime, laundry that never actually gets finished.

This is usually when burnout starts creeping in.
Quietly.
Before anyone realizes what’s happening.

So before your evenings disappear again, here’s one small line that can protect them:

“I can deliver this tomorrow morning, not tonight.”

That’s it.
No explanation.
No apology.
No paragraph defending your worth.

Just a clear boundary that says:
I care about my work, and I also have a life.

Most parents don’t burn out because they don’t care.
They burn out because they never interrupt the acceleration.

And February is when that interruption matters most.

This is the exact kind of moment I see come up again and again, whether I’m working with parents one-on-one, sharing boundary scripts, or talking with companies about sustainable expectations for working parents.

Because if you don’t protect your evenings now, they’ll quietly disappear by March.


If boundary language is something you struggle with, hit reply and say “scripts.” I’ll point you in the right direction.

KISm Parenting Solutions

I am a parent coach who supports and guides exhausted and overwhelmed working parents becoming successful in both their careers and parenting, while fostering connection and harmony in their homes. I am dedicated to providing practical solutions and strategies that empower parents to regain control over their time and create a calm and stress free environment, even in the face of challenges. Through personalized time management systems and nurturing support, I help parents achieve a sense of balance, enabling them to arrive at work on time and cultivate a deep sense of inner strength and well-being. Together, we will navigate the journey towards a family that works together, where connection and efficiency coexist, allowing both parents and children to thrive.

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