Finding Harmony: Sarah's Approach to Balance, Productivity & Personal Growth

Winning the Day—One Step at a Time

People often ask me, “how do you balance everything—work, personal life, motherhood, fitness, and all the societal pressures?”

The truth? It can be all too consuming. BUT--

I don’t strive for the perfect 'balance', because living by the thought that everything should be 50-50 will leave you really disappointed, especially when you are really pushing for something superior.  Instead, I focus on movement. Every day is about progress, not perfection, and I constantly tell myself that I need to just have 1 success to get me to tomorrow.

Here is my approach, as I try and keep it as simple as possible: I focus on what truly matters, eliminate distractions, and keep my energy directed toward what moves the needle.

Here’s how I do it.

1 Win a Day: The Power of MVP Thinking

I believe in getting the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) done first—whether it’s a meeting, a design, or a workout. I ask myself:

✔️ What is the core objective of this task?
✔️ What’s the most efficient way to accomplish it and move forward?
✔️ When can I return to iterate and refine it?

By approaching everything—from work to workouts—with MVP thinking, I keep making progress without getting stuck in the pursuit of perfection.

Sometimes, a win is simply showing up. Other days, it’s making huge strides. But every day, there’s progress. And that’s what counts.

I will give you an example. I went through 4 developers to get to my new launch website. 4 developers in 2 calendar years. It was ultra defeating and very exhausting. I ended up taking up this endeavor on my own, so what you see on Reaux's website came from yours truly when I have no background in software development.  So what did I do to achieve this? I told myself that not only do I have to learn 1 new thing a day, but I needed to make at least one change on my website a day that gets me closer to launch. It's not about perfect, it's about what is the minimum viable product that is 'good enough' to launch.  Once I get all the 'good enoughs' out there and launch, then I can go back and do a new iteration and just keep iterating until I am happy.  With this approach it took me less than 1 month to develop my website from soup to nuts.  Some days I spent over 12 hours on my website, others just 1 hour.  And to me, that is 'balance'.  With this MVP approach, I learned new skills, I saved my sanity, and I got to the finish line.

45 Minutes of Movement: It is Non-Negotiable.

As a former competitive gymnast, movement isn’t optional—it’s essential for my mental and physical well-being. Every day, I carve out at least 45 minutes for fitness. What I do depends on my energy and schedule, but my go-to workouts include:

🏃‍♀️ Running & Sprinting – For endurance and speed. MY TRUE LOVE RIGHT HERE!
🥋 MMA Training – For agility, power, and stress relief.
🏋️‍♀️ Strength Training – To build resilience and keep me strong. If you saw me at the gym, you'd laugh because I curl my 5lb weights like they are 50-pounders. And I am PROUD of it!! 
🧘‍♀️ Yoga & Pilates – For flexibility, mobility, and mindfulness, but my fave is BIKRAM HOT HOT FLAMING HOT YOGA!!!!!
🚶‍♀️ Walking & Stretching – I stretch every day before, during, and after my workouts. PERIOD.

Some days, it’s high-intensity. Other days, it’s just a walk. But I move every day—because it clears my mind, helps me reset, and keeps me in control of my day, instead of my day controlling me.

Journaling & Creativity: Releasing Emotional Tension

At the end of the day, I take one hour for myself—to reflect, decompress, and reset for the next day.

📖 Journaling for My Daughter – I write in a journal filled with thoughts, lessons, and reflections—something she can read when she’s older.

🎨 Creative Expression – Painting, sketching, or just doodling helps me process emotions that are hard to verbalize. And sometimes, I just want to get people to start thinking differently, gain a little perspective, and 'feel' something when they see my artwork. Creativity has always been a major outlet of mine.. can you not tell from my designs. :)

🔍 Tailwinds & Headwinds – I reflect on my "tailwinds" (what went well) what gave me flight and also my headwinds (what slowed me down). Instead of dwelling on setbacks, I strategize how to maneuver around them tomorrow.  It doesn't matter how small the obstacle, it's about the frequency of obstacles.  If you have 20 minor obstacles a week, that could easy amount to 1 whole working day of just maneuvering around these issues.  Can you imagine if you had 4 working days a month of obstacles given back to you if you didn't have these problems?!  Bottom line is- Uncover the root cause that is creating these obstacles, remove them immediately, and keep moving forward.

Writing things down give you clarity. It's moments that you are tired, stressed, and frazzled that make you deviate. Write down every goal and what keeps your feet planted to the ground and keep it where it's visible. Not in your phone notepad that is out of sight and out of mind.  Put it on the wall.  Put it on the mirror.  Put it on the sticky in your car. Remind yourself what your goals are.

If you don’t process your thoughts on why , they process you. 

Efficiency Over Keeping Up With the Joneses

I don’t waste energy trying to keep up with what looks good—I focus on what works best and what is sustainable.

💅 Function Over Flash: I type wicked fast— I also have a 2 year old, so I skip long fake nails and opt for a polished, well-maintained manicure instead. Easy. Clean. Manageable. 

🧖‍♀️ Skincare That Makes Sense: Instead of pausing my week for a facial, I stick to a consistent at-home nighttime skincare routine that allows me to feel confident enough to not put makeup on in the daytime. Simple, effective, and doesn’t disrupt my flow. Boom.

🛍 Minimalism with Purpose: I invest in quality over excess. I don’t need 50 pairs of shoes—I need the right ones that support my movement, lifestyle, and make sense with the majority of my wardrobe.

For me, efficiency = freedom. The less I clutter my life with unnecessary distractions, the more time and energy I have for what truly matters.

Final Thoughts: It’s About Intentionality, Not Perfection

I don’t strive for an Instagram-perfect routine- because it's not real.

I strive for what keeps me moving forward.

✔️ One win a day keeps the momentum going
✔️ 45 minutes of movement keeps me grounded
✔️ A mindful hour before bed keeps me centered
✔️ Efficiency over aesthetics keeps me free

I aim for alignment.

Alignment = 'Balance'

How Do You Find Your Flow?

I’d love to hear—what are your non-negotiables? How do you create progress in your life?

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💬 Let’s chat—DM me your thoughts at @shopreaux