36. Mom Brain Meets CEO Energy: Running a Business on Minimal Sleep

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Welcome back to Caffeinated Chaos — In today’s solo episode, Whitney is serving up real talk for the moms and multitaskers trying to run businesses on little sleep and even less time.

If you’ve ever wondered how to tap into your CEO energy when your brain feels like mashed potatoes (yum), this episode is for you. Whitney’s breaking down five real-life strategies that help parentpreneurs make progress even in the most chaotic seasons.

Whether you’re answering emails while nursing, recording podcasts before the kids wake up, or just trying to survive on coffee and grit — you're not alone, and you’re doing enough.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:

• Why the "perfect morning routine" myth is keeping you stuck
• The power of microproductivity for busy parents
• How to work in mom-friendly time blocks (Nap time CEOs, unite!)
• The freedom of embracing “done is better than perfect”
• Sanity-saving automation tips for the non-techie entrepreneur
• And the most important one: Give yourself grace (and maybe a nap)

🛠 Tools + Tips Mentioned:

• Voice notes for on-the-go brainstorming
• Social media scheduling tools (even built into Instagram!)
• Email templates + website automation ideas
• The “Power Hour” during nap time or post-bedtime hustle

💬 Connect With Whitney:

Got a business-while-exhausted hack to share? DM Whitney on Instagram @caffeinatedchaospodcast or @aguonstudios — she might share it with the Caffeinated Chaos community in a future episode!

Cheers! Thank you for joining us for another episode. Have a chaotic moment, question, or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message or leave a review! If you loved this episode, share it with a friend who thrives in beautiful chaos too.

Let’s Connect:

• Connect with us via email at [e-mail]
• Follow us on Instagram: @caffeinatedchaospodcast or @aguonstudios
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• Sip and Share: Click here to submit

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to Caffeinated Chaos,where business deals happen
between diaper changes andfriendships are fueled by
caffeine.
I'm Whitney GaN, your host, andI'm here to talk all things
business parenthood, and ofcourse keeping up with the BFFs,
whether you're juggling theboardroom, the playroom, or just
here for some coffee fuel chaos.
We've got you covered.
Get ready for real talk, laughsand a whole lot of heart as we

(00:24):
dive into the beautiful messthat is entrepreneurship,
parenthood, and everything inbetween.
So let's embrace the chaostogether.
Ated, of course.
Welcome back to the podcast.
Okay.
You ever look at thoseentrepreneurs who wake up at 5
a.
m., they journal, they meditate,they do yoga, and then they

(00:45):
conquer the world beforebreakfast.
Whoa.
I can't even.
And think, Oh, that's cute.
I woke up at 3 a.
m.
because my toddler needed water.
My baby needed a diaper change.
And well, my brain decided that.
I just had to remind me about anemail I forgot to send yeah, so

(01:06):
if you're running a business onminimal sleep, questionable
amounts of caffeine, and sheerdetermination, I got you.
I got you today, because todaywe're talking about how to tap
into that CEO energy even whenyour brain feels like mashed
potatoes.
Did anyone else think thatmashed potatoes sound really
good right now?

(01:27):
I know, my brain and sleep havenot been friends today.
So grab your coffee because Ialready have mine and we are
about to make the most ofwhatever energy we've got going
on right now.
Question, do you believe that inorder to be a real CEO, you have
to have your life together,perfect morning routine, color

(01:50):
coded planner, and at leasteight hours of sleep every
night?
But wait, you have kids, so whatnow?
Morning routines turn into beingat the mercy of your tiny little
overlords.
Planners?
Colored in crayons.
Sleep?
What is that?
Yet somehow we are here.
We're still running a businessand if you're listening to this,

(02:12):
that means you are too.
Because let's throw out thisidea that we need endless time
and energy to be successful andlet's talk about how we can
actually make it work.
So guess what?
I got five more steps for you.
Take what you like, leave whatyou don't and Let's get into it.

(02:34):
Step 1.
I want you to ditch the all ornothing mindset.
You do not need a three hourmorning routine or a full day of
uninterrupted work to moveforward.
If you have 20 minutes beforenap time and snack time, bless
you and use it.
Microproductivity is a thing.

(02:57):
Answer emails while you'renursing.
Brainstorm content ideas whileyou're folding laundry.
Small, consistent steps add up.
I mean, when I'm working, Iusually have some earbuds on and
if I think of a good idea, Iwill make a voice note that I
can review later.
Keeps my hands free, keeps meworking, whether it's laundry or
anything like that.

(03:18):
And I still get to add that intomy brainstorming folder.
So that's my little small tiptoo.
Step two.
Work in mom friendly timeblocks.
Forget the 9 to 5 schedule,because that was not built for
moms.
Instead, break your day intoflexible work blocks.
Do you have the morning hustle?
That's before the kids wake up,if you're lucky.

(03:38):
Like, literally, I'm recordingbatch solo episodes of the
podcast right now before my kidswake up.
Nap time power hour?
Now that's the golden windowwhere you can sprint through the
majority of your important tasksfor the day.
Or are you an after bedtime CEO?
Where you catch up, but only onthings that actually move the

(04:00):
needle, because that's all yougot before you have to hit the
bed.
So the key is prioritizing.
Let's be real.
We don't have time for busywork.
Okay.
Step three.
I want you to embrace the powerof good enough.
Listen, done is better thanperfect.

(04:22):
That social media post doesn'thave to be a work of art.
That email, just send it.
If you're waiting for everythingto be perfect, honey, we are
going to be here too long.
We'd never get anything done.
So let's embrace good enough.
And keep moving forward.
Done is better than perfect.

(04:45):
Just had to tell you one moretime.
Step four.
Automate like your sanitydepends on it.
Because, it does.
If you're still manually sendingevery email, posting in real
time, and chasing down clientsfor payments, stop.
Just stop.

(05:05):
Automate where you can.
Use scheduling tools for socialmedia.
There's even one inside theInstagram app itself.
Set up email templates.
Let your website do the heavylifting.
The less time you spend onrepetitive tasks, the more time
you have for actual level moves.

(05:27):
I know this can be hard for somepeople.
Some people are out there beinglike, but Whitney, I'm not
techie, I don't know.
Let's connect on Instagram.
You can leave us a comment.
You can send us a DM.
Pick our brains.
I am here.
We are here.
Let's just do this thing.
Okay?
Step five.
Give yourself grace.

(05:48):
And a nap.
If possible.
You are not a robot.
Some days, you are going tocrush it, mama.
You are going to crush it.
And Other days, you will stareat your laptop like it
personally offended you in someway.
And that is okay, too.
Your business isn't built in aday.

(06:09):
And your worth is not tied toyour productivity.
If you need rest, rest.
You'll come back stronger, okay?
So, if you're running a businesson minimal sleep, you are
already a superhero.
Congratulations.
You are proof that dreams don'trequire perfect conditions.

(06:33):
Instead, they requirepersistence.
so whether today is a gettingthings done day or a barely
surviving day, know that you aredoing enough and your business,
it's growing because of you.
All right.
And if you've got a running abusiness while exhausted hack,

(06:54):
please dM me.
I can get it out to our audienceand yeah, we could all use any
tips anyone has.
We are all in this together.
So until next time, keep chasingthose dreams, coffee in hand,
chaos and all.
I will see you in the next one.

(07:16):
That's a wrap on another episodeof Caffeinated Chaos.
I hope you're leaving with alittle more clarity, a lot more
inspiration, and maybe even anextra shot of motivation.
If you love today's episode,don't forget to follow us.
Leave a review and share it witha friend who could use just a
little chaos and caffeine intheir life.
Until next time, keep embracingthe mess.

(07:39):
Chase your dreams and make magichappen.
One caffeinated, chaotic momentat a time.
I will see you all soon.
Bye now.