How We Push Through—Even When We’re Running on Empty
“How do you keep going when you’re completely exhausted? When your to-do list feels endless, your tank is empty, and you’re just not in the mood?”
It’s a question we ask ourselves often—and one we’ve learned to answer through real-life experience.
As working parents, Jana and I have been there (more times than we can count). Our boys, Brooks (3) and Hudson (9 months), are incredible, energetic, and full of joy… but they’ve both been notoriously poor sleepers. And when you’re up throughout the night, dragging yourself through the day, and still expected to show up fully for your job, your partner, your kids, and yourself, it can feel impossible.
But here’s the thing: life didn’t slow down after we became parents. If anything, it ramped up.
Our roles at work expanded. Our family grew. Our commitment to showing up as healthy, focused, and present as we could be, only deepened.
So we had to figure out how to sustain ourselves in a whole new way. Here’s how we’ve done it.
Prioritizing Nutrition to Fuel Energy and Focus
Over the past year, we’ve made big changes to how we eat. Not as a temporary diet, but as a lifestyle shift that gives us more energy, better athletic performance, and more mental clarity.
Here’s what’s made a difference:
We start every morning with bone broth (Brodo and Kettle & Fire are great options) and for our local friends in Northeast PA, House of Nutrition in Luzerne makes a delicious homemade version.
We eat at least three probiotic servings a day (plain Greek yogurt, Good Culture cottage cheese, kefir).
We’ve cut out enriched white carbs as much as possible.
The result? More stamina, fewer energy crashes, and a lot less reliance on caffeine to get through the day.
Sticking to a Routine (Even When It’s Hard)
It may seem simple, but consistency has been powerful. We try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day (even on weekends!). This small discipline has helped our bodies regulate and recover more effectively.
Tracking Biometrics to Guide Our Effort
We’re both data nerds in our own way. I wear a Garmin. Jana wears an Oura ring. And we use the data to inform our choices: how hard we train, when to rest, and what our bodies need on any given day.
We monitor things like sleep, resting heart rate, VO₂ Max, calories burned, and more.
If our Body Battery is low, we listen and go easier (well, usually... weekends are the exception!).
Navigating Feeding Choices Without Apology
Here’s the part I (Jana) wanted to share personally.
Dan and I decided, from the beginning, that we would exclusively breastfeed or bottle feed breast milk to our children. That was the choice that felt right for our family, and we share that with zero judgment toward anyone else’s path. Every family has to decide what works best for them.
What we’ve learned is that feeding our babies this way requires commitment, planning, and grace. Here’s what helped make it work:
A wearable breast pump: (Willow has been a lifesaver and yes, many insurance providers will cover part or all of the cost).
Meeting with a lactation consultant before each baby was born, not just for feeding support but to help set expectations and routines.
Letting comments roll off: People love to weigh in, but at 9 months, I’m still doing what feels right for us.
A strong support system: our family, friends, and incredible team (shoutout to Amanda Cresswell, Aimee Kenline, Becky Chen, and Stephanie Rarig) make a huge difference.
In Closing: It’s a Team Sport
Managing careers, raising young kids, and prioritizing health is a team effort. We’ve learned to communicate, adjust, and support each other through the tough moments and to celebrate the small wins, too.
We’re not perfect. We’re still figuring it out. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this:
You don’t have to be superhuman. You just need systems, support, and a whole lot of grace.
More to come on how we push through in the days ahead. Thanks for following along.