Episode 66: Top 3 Tips for Working Parents with Helen Harmetz

In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan is joined by executive coach Helen Harmetz to talk about what actually helps working parents feel more balanced, supported, and less overwhelmed.

Helen shares her top three tips for navigating the realities of working parenthood — including outsourcing what doesn’t truly need you, protecting personal time through intentional “nights off,” and building a strong, reliable community. These strategies aren’t about doing more — they’re about doing what matters most and letting go of the rest.

Throughout the conversation, Helen emphasizes that working and parenting are not solo endeavors. By setting clear expectations at home, releasing perfectionism, and leaning into support systems, working parents can create lives that feel more sustainable and aligned with their values.

This episode is a powerful reminder that systems, boundaries, and community aren’t luxuries — they’re essential tools for thriving as a working parent.

---

Key Takeaways

• Outsource what doesn’t need you: Let go of tasks that don’t require your personal involvement so you can focus your energy where it matters most.

• Protect personal time intentionally: Regular, guilt-free time off helps prevent burnout and allows you to show up more fully at work and at home.

• Build and lean on your community: Parenting and working aren’t meant to be done alone — strong support systems make daily life more sustainable.

Quotes

• “Working and parenting are not solo sports.”

• “You don’t have to do everything yourself to be a great parent.”

• “Figure out what only you should do — and let the rest go.”

• “Taking a night off shouldn’t require guilt or negotiation.”

• “Support systems aren’t optional — they’re essential.”

Resources Mentioned

• Helen Harmetz ⁠: Executive coach for working parents and tech professionals. Connect with Helen on ⁠Instagram⁠ @mindthebeet.

• ⁠Heron House Management⁠⁠: Virtual house management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most.st.

  Subscribe & Leave a Review:

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and continue to bring you valuable content!

Episodes Released Weekly on Tuesdays

This episode of De-Stress the Nest is sponsored by Heron House Management.

---

About Heron House Management:

Heron House Management⁠ is a virtual house management service that takes the stress out of your busy life by taking on your mental load and managing your To Do list. We provide fractional virtual house management for busy families at 10, 15 and 20+ hours/month.

Meal planning, signing up for kids activities, scheduling doctor's appointments, finding a house cleaner, planning your kid's birthday party, getting quotes for that home renovation project, or scheduling a monthly date night with your significant other and so much more. We do it all!

• Transcript

  [00:00] Hannah Morgan:
  Welcome to De-Stress the Nest, a podcast for busy parents where experts share bite-sized tips on how to create systems that minimize stress at home. I’m your host, Hannah Morgan.

  [00:12] Hannah Morgan:
  Today’s episode is sponsored by Heron House Management — the first-ever virtual house management service that lightens your mental load by handling your to-do list with monthly subscriptions of 10, 15, and 20+ hours per month. From meal planning and doctor’s appointments to birthday parties and home projects, Heron House Management helps busy families reclaim their time and live their best lives. Learn more at heronhousemanagement.com.

  [00:32] Hannah Morgan:
  So, Helen, you are going to share with us your top tips for working parents. I know this is something you’ve thought a lot about over the years, both personally and professionally, and I’m excited to hear what has really made a difference for you. Let’s talk about it.

  [00:55] Helen Harmetz:
  Thanks, Hannah. I’ll start by saying that I love working. I genuinely believe that working makes me a better human, a better parent, a better partner, and a better friend. Because of that, it’s been really important for me to figure out how to do it well so that I can live a full, intentional life.

  My tips are always evolving, but there are three that consistently rise to the top for me.

  [01:22] Helen Harmetz:
  The first one is outsourcing what you can. This is something we hear a lot, but I think it’s worth repeating. You have to figure out what truly matters to you, and then let go of how everything else gets done.

  For example, I don’t care how the dishwasher is loaded. If my husband does it, or our nanny does it, or the cleaners do it, and they do it differently than I would — that’s fine. It’s not important to me, so I don’t spend my energy there.

  What is important to me is volunteering at my kids’ school every month or so. That’s something I want to do myself. So it’s really about identifying what only you should do and letting everything else go.

  [02:15] Hannah Morgan:
  I love that distinction — figuring out what actually needs you and what doesn’t. We often feel like everything needs us, and that’s just not true.

  [02:55] Helen Harmetz:
  Exactly. My second tip is taking a night off — and doing it without guilt or negotiation.

  Every Sunday night, my husband and I look at the week ahead and decide who gets which night off. It’s built into our routine. When it’s your night, you’re off. You’re not doing bedtime, you’re not managing logistics, you’re not rushing home.

  [03:40] Helen Harmetz:
  That night might be dinner with friends, extra work time, a class, or honestly just sitting on the couch doing nothing. And the key is that it’s an expectation, not something we renegotiate every week.

  This has been huge for our marriage, our parenting, and our mental health.

  [04:35] Hannah Morgan:
  I love this because it looks different for everyone. Some people want social time, some want alone time, some want productive time. The point is having protected space that’s respected.

  [05:25] Helen Harmetz:
  Exactly. And my third tip is one I’m really passionate about: working and parenting are not solo sports. You need community.

  What that community looks like changes over time. When I had a newborn, it looked like a parent group. As my kids got older, it became other working parents — people who understand the juggle.

  But community doesn’t just appear. You have to build it intentionally.

  [06:30] Hannah Morgan:
  I love how you put that — parenting is not a solo sport. I hear so many parents say motherhood feels lonely, and I think so often it’s because we haven’t been taught how to build that village.

  [07:45] Helen Harmetz:
  Yes, and it takes vulnerability. It takes being the one to text first, to invite people over, to say, “Hey, do you want to walk together?” But so many people are craving that connection.

  [08:15] Hannah Morgan:
  And sometimes just being around other parents — even without talking about kids — is enough. The shared understanding is already there.

  [09:30] Hannah Morgan:
  So to recap, Helen’s top three tips for working parents are outsourcing what you can, taking a regular night off, and building a strong community around you. These are such powerful reminders.

  Helen, thank you so much for sharing your perspective today.

  [10:05] Helen Harmetz:
  Thank you — this was such a great conversation.

  [10:12] Hannah Morgan:
  Thanks for listening to De-Stress the Nest — the podcast where experts share bite-sized tips to help simplify your life. Don’t forget to subscribe and tune in every Tuesday for more ways to make home feel easier.