Nervous System First, Hustle Second

How to Reset Your Stress Without Quitting Motherhood or Fleeing to Bali

Estimated read time: 8 mins (roughly the same amount of time it takes your kid to lose one shoe and forget how to chew)

Let’s cut to it, shall we?

You're out here trying to thrive, and instead you’re somewhere between feral and “just got triggered by a rogue sock on the floor.” And the world? Oh, it's still shouting “DO MORE!” at you while you’re over here Googling “How to reset my life without abandoning my family or going fully off-grid.”

Good news. You don’t need a plane ticket to Bali, a week of silence in the forest, or a stress-induced identity crisis to feel human again.

You need a nervous system reset.

And no, I don’t mean lying on the floor in starfish pose while toddlers crawl on your face (though…that does count as sensory input).

Why Your Nervous System Is Actually in Charge

Before we get all "practical tips and printable PDFs" about this, let’s get one thing straight:

You’re not lazy. You’re dysregulated.

You’re not unfocused. You’re overwhelmed.

And you’re not dramatic. You’re burnt the hell out because motherhood is a full-contact sport no one trained you for.

Your nervous system is the control center of everything. Energy. Mood. Hormones. Sleep. Digestion. Focus. The ability to answer “What’s for dinner?” without committing a felony.

So when it's fried, you’re fried.

The Big Lie: Hustle First, Rest Later

Oh yes, our culture loves the grind. Slap some concealer on those dark circles, drink coffee until your cortisol begs for mercy, and get that to-do list DONE. Who needs feelings when you’ve got productivity apps and side hustles?

Except... you do. You need calm. You need regulation. You need your body and brain to not feel like they’re in a constant episode of Survivor: Suburban Chaos Edition.

Which is why we’re flipping the script:

Nervous System First. Hustle Second.

Practical (And Actually Doable) Ways to Reset Your Stress

1. The 5-Minute Reset Routine
Because you don’t have time for a 2-hour morning routine that involves dry brushing and chanting at the moon.

Try this instead:

• Breathe in for 4. Hold for 4. Exhale for 6. Repeat for 1 minute.

• Name 5 things you see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, 1 you can taste. Hello, nervous system calm-down.

• Put your legs up the wall. Bonus points if you're hiding from your family when you do it.

2. Reclaim Your Mornings (Before Instagram Steals Them)
Check in with yourself before checking in with the internet. Even if it’s just:

• A sip of warm lemon water

• A quick stretch

• Saying “This day is mine before it’s theirs” like a spell

You deserve to exist before you start serving everyone else.

3. Snack Like a Grown-Up, Not a Goldfish
Your nervous system loves blood sugar stability. It also loves magnesium, B vitamins, protein, and healthy fats.

Try:

• A boiled egg and some avocado

• A handful of almonds with dark chocolate

• Literally anything other than your kid’s leftover granola bar

4. Ditch the Doom Scroll
Social media is fun…until your brain starts comparing your real life to someone else’s highlight reel of houseplants and smoothies.
Put your phone in another room. Or at least shut off notifications. Your nervous system can’t calm down when it’s pinged every 5 seconds.

5. Make Your Mess Peaceful
True story: You don’t need a clean house to feel calm. You need a few sensory signals of safety—think soft lighting, a cozy hoodie, a favorite playlist, or just 10 minutes with no one talking at you.

Moms thrive in comfort, not chaos covered by throw pillows.

6. Move. But Don’t Go Full Bootcamp Barbie
Movement calms your brain—so walk, stretch, dance in the kitchen. Do something that moves energy through your body without punishing it.

(And if the only thing you lift today is a toddler and your patience, that still counts.)

Real Talk: You Can’t Hustle Your Way Out of Overwhelm

When you treat your nervous system like the queen she is—fed, rested, and gently reminded she’s not in danger—you stop white-knuckling motherhood and start flowing through it.

And no, it won’t be perfect.

The laundry pile might still look like it’s plotting something.
You’ll still have days where you fantasize about hiding in your car with a snack you don’t have to share.
But you’ll start to feel grounded. Less reactive. More you.

And guess what? That “you” is the one who can actually get sh*t done—without burning it all down in the process.

TL;DR: Nervous System First, Hustle Second

• You’re not broken. You’re just running on fumes.

• Regulate first, then work, clean, create, respond.

• Stress reset doesn’t require silence, crystals, or Bali.

• You’re allowed to feel good before everything is done.

P.S. Got a messy house, loud kids, and a buzzing brain? Perfect. You’re exactly the kind of mom this blog was written for. 💥