How Iโm reducing stress & learning to regulate my emotions
If youโre a mom, you already know about the invisible load… the one no one else sees but you feel in your bones every single day.
Itโs the mental checklist running nonstop in the back of your mind:
Snacks packed? Did I switch the laundry? Why is the dog limping? Whoโs out of socks? Donโt forget to RSVP. Add yogurt to the grocery list. Oh, and be patient, be present, be calmโฆ
Itโs the weight of everyone elseโs needs stacking on top of your own, until suddenly you realizeโฆ you havenโt taken a full breath all day.
For a long time, I thought stress was just โpart of the jobโ and emotional overwhelm was normal. I told myself to just push through, but pushing didnโt make me stronger. It made me exhausted, anxious, reactive, and stuck in a cycle I hated.
The truth?
I wasnโt okay.
And that invisible load was crushing me.
What Finally Changed
One night, after snapping at my kids again, I sat on the edge of my bed and realized something had to shift. Not in a โburn everything down and start overโ wayโฆ but in a small, steady โI canโt keep white-knuckling my lifeโ way.
So I started making changes: simple, doable shifts that began rewiring how I show up, how I think, and how I care for myself.
Hereโs what has truly helped lower my stress and regulate my emotions:
1. I Slowed My Mornings Down
No more waking up in chaos.
Now I start with coffee, quiet, and intention.
A few pages of prayer or Scripture.
Coffee + breathing.
Just being before I rush into doing.
That alone shifted the tone of my whole day.
2. I Nourish My Body (So My Brain Can Function)
This one surprised me.
I learned that stress is harder to manage when your nervous system is running on fumes.
Thatโs when I started supporting my body with calm-supporting tools:
โ๏ธ Collagen + CBG in my morning drink
โ๏ธ Daily cannabinoids for emotional balance
โ๏ธ Functional mushrooms for focus + resilience
โ๏ธ Enough water + electrolytes so my system isnโt running dry
The difference in my mood and patience was almost immediate.
A nourished body produces a calmer, more regulated mind.
3. I Pay Attention to My Triggers Instead of Hiding From Them
Instead of stuffing emotions down, I started noticing them.
When I feel my chest tighten or my fuse shortening, I pause.
I breathe.
I ask: Whatโs really going on? What do I need right now?
It sounds simple, but this one practice has saved me from so many emotional spirals.
4. I Stopped Carrying It All Alone
Iโm learning to ask for help.
Iโm delegating.
Iโm telling my family what I need instead of assuming they should already know.
And most shockingly?
They actually want to help.
I just needed to let them.
5. I Built Tiny Moments of Comfort Into My Day
I used to think self-care meant spa days.
Nope.
Self-care is the small things that tell your nervous system, youโre safe.
A walk outside.
Ten minutes with my LumeBox.
Sitting in the car before going inside.
Saying โnoโ without apologizing.
Little things add up to big emotional shifts.
Iโm Not Perfect Now, But Iโm Present
The invisible load hasnโt disappeared.
But now? It doesnโt crush me.
Iโm more regulated, more patient, more aware, and more anchored in who I want to be.
If youโre carrying more than anyone knows, please hear me:
You donโt have to stay overwhelmed.
Small steps can change everything.
And youโre allowed to take them.
You deserve to breathe again.
You deserve to feel like you again.
And if you ever need support, tools, or a starting point, Iโm right here.





