Have you ever been told that you “care too much” or that you “try too hard”?

Me too.

I am a chronic over thinker and perfectionist, and honestly, it’s exhausting. And sure, sometimes it helps me to appear “productive” on the surface, but at what cost? I’m burnt out all the time and I’m sick of it. And if you've ever felt this way too, know that you're not alone.

In this solo episode of Balancing Act, I explore my thoughts on overthinking, perfectionism, and battling that really annoying inner critic.

I ponder:

• How and why other people are too caught up in their own minds to notice (or care) about your imperfections
• How to practice confidence until you feel confident
• The root of perfectionism and how regain perspective to combat perfectionist tendencies
• Taking control in the moment instead of catastrophizing
• Why motivating yourself through “I’m not good enough” doesn’t work
• Slowing down to reflect on your priorities and to allocate your energy wisely

Despite my perfectionist tendencies, I’m anything but “perfect”. I’m actively thinking about and working towards addressing my perfectionism to lead a more balanced life - which is the point of this podcast. (i.e. I talk a lot perfectionism and present some solutions but I don't have this figured out.) So let’s explore and rethink perfectionism together.

My key takeaways:

• People are often too caught up in their own lives to notice the small details of things that you’re insecure about. You are your own worst inner critic. It’s cliche but it’s true.
  • To combat this, approach every situation reassuring yourself that no one else notices your insecurities. Act as if you’re not insecure about these things, and people will treat you as if you are confident, helping you to actually become more confident.
• Perfectionism causes us to give some things unwarranted (and unnecessary) amounts of mental and emotional energy
  • Regain perspective by reflecting on your motivation for making this thing perfect. Is it fear or passion? Do you truly need it to be perfect? In twenty years from now, will you remember more about the perfect outcome or the toll it took to get there?
• Constantly striving to be “productive” is unhealthy and unsustainable
  • Reflect on your motivations. If your productivity stems from feeling like “I’m not good enough”, no matter how productive you are, you’ll never feel fulfilled because you will constantly feel the need to prove your worth. Instead, slow down and consider your values and priorities. Write a list of what’s truly important to you - not just what external pressures are urging you to value. Allocate your energy according to your authentic priorities.

Contact Balancing Act:
📧 Email Moorea: moorea@balancingact.life
🌐 Website: balancingact.life
📸 Instagram: @balancingact.podcast

DISCLAIMER: Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OUR SITE OR OUR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Phones are more than just devices—they're our connection to everything. Or at least they seem to be.

So how do we balance our online lives with the real world? In this episode of Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl, Moorea sits down with Kirsten McCormick, founder of Teen Connect Adventure Camps, to talk about navigating the tricky balance between technology and meaningful real-life connections.

Kirsten, a mom of five and a thought leader on screen-life balance, shares valuable insights on how teens can take control of their phone usage without the constant pressure from parents. This episode is packed with practical advice, personal experiences, and actionable strategies to help you unplug and reconnect with what truly matters.

In this episode, you'll learn:
📱 How to redefine your relationship with social media on your own terms.
🙌 How to have better conversations with your parents about phone usage.
👥 The importance of real-life connection and how it impacts your mental health.
🎯 Tips for managing screen time while still staying connected and not feeling restricted.
🌿 The power of unplugging and finding joy in real-world experiences.
🫶 How to push past awkwardness to connect with people in real life.

Connect with Kirsten McCormick:
📸 Instagram: @teenconnectadventures
🌐 Website: teenconnectadventures.com

Contact Balancing Act:
📧 Email Moorea: moorea@balancingact.life
🌐 Website: balancingact.life
📸 Instagram: @balancingact.podcast

DISCLAIMER: Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OUR SITE OR OUR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Have you ever felt like life keeps throwing storms your way, leaving you stuck in the rain with no umbrella?

In this powerful episode of Balancing Act, Moorea sits down with Gem Gale—a 17-year-old author of Storms Don’t Last Forever—to talk about how she’s turned some of life’s hardest challenges into strength and purpose.

From navigating her parents' cancer diagnoses to overcoming her own struggles with mental health and dyslexia, Gem shares how she found the courage to share her story and inspire others to keep going. This raw and honest conversation will motivate you to reflect on your own struggles, reframe how you think about setbacks, and remember that you choose how to move forward.

In this episode, Moorea and Gem dive into:
📖 How Gem turned her personal journals into a published book to help others feel less alone.
💪 The power of taking control of your story—no matter how messy it feels.
🌀 How to break out of cycles of isolation and reconnect with the world.
🏋️‍♀️ Why daily "me-time" and movement have been essential to Gem’s healing.
📝 How writing can be a tool for reflection and growth—even if it’s never shared.
🌟 The importance of realizing that while storms are inevitable, they don’t last forever.

Whether you’re feeling stuck in your own storm or just need a reminder that it’s okay not to have everything figured out, this episode will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and empowered to choose how you face life’s challenges.

Resources Mentioned:

Gem's Website
Gem's Book
Gem's Instagram

Contact Balancing Act:

Email Moorea: moorea@balancingact.life

Balancing Act Website
Instagram

DISCLAIMER: Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl cannot and does not contain medical/health advice. The medical/health information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals. We do not provide any kind of medical/health advice. THE USE OR RELIANCE OF ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED ON OUR SITE OR OUR PODCAST IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.