If You Feel Behind in Your Business Right Now, Read This

The other weekend, I forgot my daughter’s dance class.

And listen… I am a type A, paper-planner-loving, electronic-calendar-setting kind of girl. Normally, I am on top of things. I live by my routines. I write everything down, double-check, and color-code.

But with Thanksgiving week prep in full swing, my focus shifted. I was deep cleaning, grocery shopping, planning meals, preparing my house… and apparently, forgetting that my daughter had a one-on-one makeup dance class.

It was on both of my calendars. I just hadn’t checked them in the midst of the planning and prepping. So when that message came in from her teacher asking if she was going to make her class that morning, I panicked. 

I hate forgetting things. Especially when it affects someone else.

A familiar wave of shame showed up immediately. That little voice whispered things like, “You should’ve remembered this,” and “You’re slipping,” and “You’re falling behind.” It’s amazing how fast those thoughts appear, even when the mistake is small and unintentional.

But here’s the truth I’m learning in real time. Forgetting something doesn’t mean I’m behind. It means I’m human.

Why Feeling “Behind” Is So Common (Especially This Time of Year)

There’s something about this season that amplifies everything. The pressure, the expectations, the mental load, and the endless list of things to remember and do.

And if you’re a business-owning mom, the load is even heavier. Between appointments, sports schedules, holiday events, gift lists, family needs, and business responsibilities… most of us are carrying far more than we acknowledge.

So when something slips through the cracks, it isn’t a sign that you’re behind. Instead, it’s usually a sign you’re carrying too much. And honestly, most of us are carrying far more than we give ourselves credit for.

You’re not failing. You’re overwhelmed. And there is a difference.

Behind Doesn’t Mean Broken

Most of the time, feeling behind in your business has nothing to do with your actual progress. It usually comes from the story you tell yourself in the moment.

That you should be doing more.
That everyone else is further ahead.
That you’re not keeping up.
That you’re late to your own goals.

However, the truth is this: feeling behind usually means you care. It means you’re trying. It means you’re juggling a lot and want to do it well. It means you’re human in a world that rewards overextension.

If this resonates, you might also love the blog I wrote about learning how to step away from hustle culture and build my business more intentionally. The two go hand in hand.

A Softer Reframe for December and the New Year

Here’s something I want you to remember, and something I’m reminding myself too. You’re not behind because your content isn’t planned or because your systems aren’t perfect. You’re not behind because you forgot something on your calendar. And you’re definitely not behind just because business hasn’t grown as quickly as you hoped.

Most of the time, you’re simply in a season. And seasons aren’t meant to be judged. They’re meant to be lived.

You get to build a business in a way that fits your life instead of competing with it.

One Thing You Can Do Today

If everything feels heavy or scattered, start by choosing one small thing that would make your business feel lighter this week. It doesn’t have to be the most important task or even the most impressive one. Sometimes the smallest shift is what helps the most.

And if you need a place to start, try planning one piece of long-form content for December. A blog, an email, or even a conversation you want to have with your audience. Let everything else — your posts, your Reels, your themes — flow from that single anchor.

This rhythm has helped me enjoy creating content again instead of dreading it, and as a result, my business feels lighter too.

If You Want Support That Meets You Where You Are

You don’t have to hustle your way through this season. You don’t need to fix everything before January. You’re allowed to grow gently and at your own pace.

If you want simple, supportive marketing guidance each month — the kind that helps you grow your business in a way that fits your real life — join my email list.

I send two to four practical, calming emails each month designed for the mompreneur who wants clarity without chaos.

No pressure.
No comparison.
Just support from someone learning right alongside you.

Closing Thought

You’re not behind.
You’re becoming.
And you are right on time.

About the Author

Written by Alishia Egenhoff, Founder of Social EllaMents Marketing — helping small business owners grow through clarity, strategy, and authentic digital advertising.