Thriving In Motherhood Podcast | Productivity, Planning, Family Systems, Time Management, Survival Mode, Mental Health, Vision

In this episode, I'm sharing three things I want you to start thinking about as we get close to the end of the yar. These things will set you up really well when you sit down to create your vision for the new year. They come from two books I read in November, and it was really encouraging to see how much of the research lined up with what we've been doing in the Thriving in Motherhood Planner and Journal since 2015. But these books also highlighted a few angles that I think can help us look at things a little differently. In this episode, I walk you through: Why moms burn out Three ways to actually complete the stress cycle How to use your part as a tool instead of something that weighs you down What makes a future vision powerful enough to influence your present Why pausing every 90 days changes everything These ideas aren't about rushing into goals or "fixing" anything. They're just little shifts that help you understand what's going on inside your days so you can move into the new year with clairty and purpose.

If I could sit my younger self down - the brand-new mom who was sleep deprived, overwhelmed, and convinced she was doing everything wrong - there are five things I would tell her. They're simple, but they have changed everything. In this episode, I'm sharing the real-life lessons that came from a decade of raising kids, navigating sleep deprivation, stumbling through routines, shifting old patterns, and learning what actually makes motherhood feel lighter. I'm sharing: What helped me manage those long nights so I didn't spiral with anxiety Why going outside changed everything when the days felt suffocating How I stopped letting one hard hour turn into a "bad day" The realization that I was making everything harder than it needed to be (and the small mindset shift that make everything easier) The truth about deculttering that I wish someone had told me years ago I don't have motherhood all figured out, but these five things genuinely made my days lighter. Hopefully one of them does the same for you.

This week, I'm joined by Carly Thornock, who's joining us from a 400-year-old farmhouse in Portugal. Carly and her husband went from running a business and owning their dream home to traveling the world with their three boys—and finding more peace, health, and joy along the way. In this conversation, she shares the Shift 5, the process that helps them make decisions, pivot with purpose, and live a life that truly aligns with their values. We talk about: Creating a vision that keeps evolving Learning to trust God with the "how" Living intentionally through change and uncertainty Listen in for real stories, practical wisdom, and a reminder that it's never too late to rewrite your vision for a meaningful life.

When I first created the Thriving in Motherhood Planner, I was deep in survival mode, barely keeping up and looking for something that made life feel more doable. Over the years, it's become so much more than a planner. It's a tool that grows with me. The fact is, no one stays in one place for long. We all move through seasons, sometimes thriving, sometimes surviving, and our planning needs change with them. In this week's episode, I'm walking through what it looks like to use your planner along the five-step path from surviving to thriving and how it adapts to whatever season you're in. Here's a peak inside: Surviving: When life feels heavy and unpredictable, the planner helps you focus on what's actually true, not just what your brain is telling you. Reentry: As you start to get back on your feet, I'll show you how to brain dump, sort through the chaos, and gently find your footing again. Normalizing: This is where you rebuild your rhythms. Learn how to use your weekly pages and routines to create structure that supports you, not stresses you. Exploring: When you finally have a little breathing room, it's time to experiment. Test ideas, track habits, and see what works (and what doesn't). Thriving: Here's where the magic happens. You'll see how the planner helps you build systems that bring joy, peace, and momentum (without perfection). The Thriving in Motherhood Planner was never about doing more. It's about building a life that fits who you are and what matters most, one small, intentional step at a time. ✨ Get the 2026 Planner: thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/planner

I don't know if you've ever had a week like this, but I really didn't want to get out of bed this week. Between waking up multiple times a night with a two-month-old, homeschooling five kids, and doing most bedtimes solo, I'm just tired. My husband works long days and is gone many evenings, and right now, this season is stretching me more than ever before. My capacity is growing, but so is the fatigue. And honestly? This week, I didn't want to do it. But even in those hard weeks, I've learned there is a deeper reason I keep showing up. It comes back to the vision I've created for my life. The one that reminds me who I want to be and what really matters, even when I don't feel like it. In this episode, I'll share: What to do when motivation runs out How to keep showing up when life feels heavy The surprising shift that helped me find peace in our home What God taught me about strength in stretching seasons It's not about pushing harder or pretending everything's fine. It's about learning to walk with God through the weight of it — to see how even in the exhaustion, He's helping us grow stronger, steadier, and more grounded in what truly matters.

One of the things I wrote in my 2025 vision was to raise the standards in our home - for homeschooling, for housework, and for our daily routines. But I didn't want to just be about me pushing harder. I wanted the kids to come with me. This past week we had a breakthrough, and it actually worked without all the meltdowns and fights that usually come when we raise the expectations. Here are a few things that stood out: Vision matters. Creating it prayerfully with God changes everything. Resistance is real. It's not just the kids. I feel it too. Stories help. A family movie gave us a picture of what raising the bar could look like. We problem-solved. When things didn't go well, we found a better way together. Now, when I ask them to do something hard - like extra math or a new chore - we talk about it like high jumping. Nervous at first, but exciting. Sometimes you knock the bar over, but then you try again. And it feels so good when you finally clear it. So whether it's raising the bar in your own home, finding a metaphor that clicks with your kids, or just creating your vision for the year ahead, I hope this story gives you encouragement for your own journey.

When you're in a survival season, it can feel difficult to hold onto hope. Between the exhaustion, constant needs, and lack of margin, even the smallest things can feel overwhelming. In this post, I'm sharing four mantras that I've been leaning on during these postpartum weeks. These simple phrases have helped me steady myself when the days feel long, reminded me to focus on what matters most, and given me a way to keep showing up with more grace and confidence - even when I don't have all the answers. I'll share: A simple mindset shift that makes it easier to take the next step when you don't know what's ahead How to recognize when your expectations are pushing you toward burnout (and what to do instead) Why even the hardest breakdowns can hold the seeds of growth and connection A powerful practice that stops resentment from building and helps you get the support you need Each mantra has a story behind it, and together they've made survival mode feel just a little lighter. My hope is that as you listen, you'll find one that speaks to you and gives you strength in your own season.

When life feels overwhelming, it's easy to reach for your phone as an escape. A quick scroll can numb the stress for a moment, but before you know, hours are gone, your energy is drained, and the problems are still waiting. In this episode of the Thriving in Motherhood Podcast, I share how I re-designed my phone to actually support me in a survival season (postpartum, homeschooling, and juggling life with five kids). Instead of pulling me away from what matters, it now helps me stay anchored in the essentials. I'll walk you through: Why your phone might be keeping you stuck in survival mode The simple changes I made to protect my priorities How the three pillars of thriving (scope, structure, and soul) apply even to smartphone use Practical ways to create a system that keeps you focused on what matters most If you've ever felt like your phone is running your life instead of helping it, this episode will give you new hope (and some concrete strategies) for making technology work for you. 💡 Want more support? Grab the FREE 5 Step Path from Surviving to Thriving Checklist at thrivinginmotherhoodpodcast.com/checklist. And if you're ready for deeper help, the Surviving to Thriving Toolkit gives you bite-sized lessons, systems, and mindset tools to guide you through every phase: survivingtothrivingtoolkit.com.