How I’m reducing stress & learning to regulate my emotions
If you’re a mom, you already know about the invisible load… the one no one else sees but you feel in your bones every single day.
It’s the mental checklist running nonstop in the back of your mind:
Snacks packed? Did I switch the laundry? Why is the dog limping? Who’s out of socks? Don’t forget to RSVP. Add yogurt to the grocery list. Oh, and be patient, be present, be calm…
It’s the weight of everyone else’s needs stacking on top of your own, until suddenly you realize… you haven’t taken a full breath all day.
For a long time, I thought stress was just “part of the job” and emotional overwhelm was normal. I told myself to just push through, but pushing didn’t make me stronger. It made me exhausted, anxious, reactive, and stuck in a cycle I hated.
The truth?
I wasn’t 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 “burn everything down and start over” way… but in a small, steady “I can’t keep white-knuckling my life” 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.
Here’s 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.
That’s when I started supporting my body with calm-supporting tools:
✔️ Collagen + CBG in my morning drink
✔️ Daily cannabinoids for emotional balance
✔️ Functional mushrooms for focus + resilience
✔️ Enough water + electrolytes so my system isn’t 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: What’s 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
I’m learning to ask for help.
I’m delegating.
I’m 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, you’re safe.
A walk outside.
Ten minutes with my LumeBox.
Sitting in the car before going inside.
Saying “no” without apologizing.
Little things add up to big emotional shifts.
I’m Not Perfect Now, But I’m Present
The invisible load hasn’t disappeared.
But now? It doesn’t crush me.
I’m more regulated, more patient, more aware, and more anchored in who I want to be.
If you’re carrying more than anyone knows, please hear me:
You don’t have to stay overwhelmed.
Small steps can change everything.
And you’re 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, I’m right here.
Raising Clean 