De-Stress the Nest

Ep. 91 - True Self Care for Overloaded Parents with Ajantha Suriyanarayanan

Self-care isn't about bubble baths—it's about making sure you have the capacity to care for yourself before burnout takes over. This week, Hannah sits down with Ajantha Suriyanarayanan, founder of Mental Load, to discuss why self-care falls to the bottom of the list for so many parents and how intentional systems can help change that. ✨ Key Takeaways * Self-care is different for everyone—and it's essential, not optional. * Schedule self-care the same way you schedule everything else. * Sharing household responsibilities creates healthier families. * Running on empty isn't sustainable. * Technology can help reduce mental load and create space to recharge. 💬 Quotes * "Women put self-care at the bottom of the bottom of the list." * "Self-care is whatever we need to do for ourselves to maintain our sanity, our health, and acknowledge ourselves as a person." * "Without self-care, we are burning ourselves out to a point where we can't give to others." 📚 Resources Mentioned * Mental Load – AI Companion for Life Management [https://mentalloadai.com/] - A tech platform designed to help families delegate seamlessly, automate reminders, and reduce the cognitive load of managing home life. * ⁠Heron House Management⁠⁠ [www.heronhousemanagement.com] - Virtual house management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most. Learn more at www.heronhousemanagement.com [http://www.heronhousemanagement.com/]. * Working Moms Movement [https://www.workingmomsmovement.com/] - Coaching and practical systems that help working moms reduce overwhelm, reclaim their time, and create a life that actually works. 📅 New episodes every Tuesday. 💛 Sponsored by Working Moms Movement https://www.workingmomsmovement.com [https://www.workingmomsmovement.com]

Ep. 90 - The Power of a “Sacred Morning” with Michelle Machado

What if the first few minutes of your morning could change the way you show up for the rest of your day? In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan talks with Dr. Michelle Machado, speaker, author, and mom of two, about creating a “sacred morning” before the house wakes up. Michelle shares how starting the day with reflection, prayer, meditation, and nervous system regulation helps her pour into herself before pouring into everyone else. Her upcoming book, Alive Again: Four Steps to Reclaim Your Life in a Distracted World, releases August 11. 🔑 Key Takeaways * Start your day by pouring into yourself first. * Avoid checking your phone before your feet hit the floor. * Even 5–10 minutes can create a meaningful shift. * Know your “why” before building a new habit. * Your brain will resist change, so consistency matters. * Small morning rituals can impact your whole family. 💬 Quotes from Michelle Machado * “That’s my time to pour into my cup.” * “Start with your why.” * “Don’t look at your phone.” * “Take ownership of your brain.” 📚 Resources Mentioned * Michelle Machado [https://www.instagram.com/drmichellemachado/] – Speaker, author, and mental resilience expert helping people get out of their own heads and reclaim their lives. * Alive Again: Four Steps to Reclaim Your Life in a Distracted World [https://michelledmachado.com/alive-again-single-unit-pre-order/] – Michelle Machado’s upcoming book, releasing August 11. * Heron House Management⁠⁠ [/home] - Virtual house management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most. 📅 New episodes every Tuesday 💛 Sponsored by Working Moms Movement [https://www.workingmomsmovement.com/]

Ep. 89 - The Secret to Streamlining Family Logistics with Amy Briggs

Family logistics can quickly become overwhelming when appointments, activities, school schedules, and household tasks are all competing for attention. In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan talks with Amy Briggs, founder and CEO of Aviva, about practical ways families can simplify scheduling, reduce mental load, and create systems that make everyday life easier. Amy shares why recurring events are so powerful, how a two-week planning window can reduce stress, and why family calendar meetings don't have to be all business. 🔑 Key Takeaways * Automate recurring appointments and tasks whenever possible. * Create shared ownership of family logistics. * Look at your calendar in two-week increments, not just one week. * Get ahead of scheduling before emergencies happen. * Build fun and connection into your planning process. * Use systems to create more freedom, not more work. 💬 Quotes from Amy Briggs * "Let's get them on the calendar. Let's make it a recurring event." * "If you're not in the habit of looking at two weeks of time, that's a great practice." * You're chiseling away little blocks of time that now are under your control." * "Put a carrot at the end of the stick." 📚 Resources Mentioned * Aviva [https://www.withaviva.com/]- Amy Briggs’ family calendar app that helps parents automatically turn emails into calendar events and streamline scheduling. * Heron House Management [https://www.heronhousemanagement.com]- Virtual House Management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most. 📅 New episodes every Tuesday 💛 Sponsored by Heron House Management

Ep. 88 - How Movement Helps Us Through Hard Seasons with Alex Rutkay

Movement isn't just about physical health. In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan talks with entrepreneur and City Mouse founder Alex Rutkay about how movement helped her navigate grief, build resilience, and prioritize her mental health during difficult seasons. Alex shares how exercise became a powerful tool for processing life's challenges and why even a few minutes of movement can make a meaningful difference. 🎙️ Key Takeaways * Movement supports mental health as much as physical health. * Small amounts of movement still count. * Parents often put themselves last, but self-care benefits everyone. * Consistency matters more than perfection. * Exercise can help process stress, grief, and difficult emotions. 💬 Quotes from Alex Rutkay * "Those things are not just for my physical health. They're mostly for my mental health." * "In order to show up and be a better mother, I have to prioritize myself." * "If I can move my body every day in some way, I'm winning at life." 📚 Resources Mentioned * City Mouse [https://citymouseny.com/] – A thoughtfully designed diaper bag brand founded by Alex Rutkay. * Heron H [https://www.heronhousemanagement.com/]ouse Management⁠⁠ [https://elevensuitcases.com/] - Virtual house management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most. 📅 New episodes every Tuesday 💛 Sponsored by Working Moms Movement [https://www.workingmomsmovement.com/], a coaching and system-based program designed to help working moms stop living in survival mode and start building a life that actually works.

Ep. 87 - Delegation 101: Strategies That Really Work with Hannah Morgan

Think delegation means giving up control? Think again. In this solo episode, Hannah Morgan shares the delegation framework she uses as a working mom of three and founder of Heron House Management. Learn how to identify what should stay on your plate, what should come off, and how systems can help you reduce mental load while creating more time for what matters most. 🔑 Key Takeaways * Focus on what you're good at, what you enjoy, and what only you can do. * Clear the backlog before building new systems. * Systems make delegation easier and more sustainable. * Accountability can be just as valuable as outsourcing. * Anticipating future needs reduces stress and last-minute scrambling. * Delegation is a strategy, not a weakness. 💬 Quotes from Hannah * "There is no shame in delegating, and there is no shame in building your team." * "We're not supposed to be parenting in a vacuum." * "Systems are the sweet spot." * "Our time is the most precious and valuable resource that we have." 📚 Resources Mentioned * ⁠Heron H [https://www.heronhousemanagement.com/]ouse Manag [https://elevensuitcases.com/]ement⁠⁠ [https://www.heronhousemanagement.com/] - Virtual house management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most. * Hawkeye Focus Coaching [https://www.hawkeyefocuscoaching.com/] - ADHD-focused accountability and deep work support for entrepreneurs and executives. * Body doubling * Accountability partnerships * Shared family calendars * Time blocking and future planning strategies 📅 New episodes every Tuesday 💛 This episode was sponsored by Hawkeye Focus Coaching www.hawkeyefocuscoaching.com [https://www.hawkeyefocuscoaching.com/]