As we wrap up the year with this episode that may or may not be the final episode of 2025, Jesse and I sit down and talk through something real, something I’ve been wrestling with. I’m not really the type to plan out twelve months of episode themes. I record when it’s something actually shaping my life right now, and when it comes to this conversation? It has been shaping everything!

Jesse and I thought that we knew what this episode would be about, but we definitely didn't. What it turned into was a little year-end heart check and a look at two habits that I have wanted to build for months: going to bed on time and strength training - the everyday stuff that’s weirdly difficult when life is already overflowing.

Listen in as I share the moment a few weeks ago when I finally told Jesse, “I can't figure this out. Help me.” Between our kids’ schedules, it being baseball season, my own work rhythms, and that magical late-night second wind that has betrayed me many times, I truly wondered whether these habits were even possible, but Jesse then suggested something I never would have landed on by myself: a 5 a.m. class at our gym! I tell you how that first week went, what surprised me, and why the locker room shower in total silence may now be one of the great joys of my life.

I also discuss the domino effect that this small shift has had on our family, including Micah suddenly turning into a cheerful morning person and how a functional medicine appointment forced me to face the truth that I am not nearly as rested or relaxed as I thought! If you’re ending the year wondering whether a habit that you have been circling forever is actually possible, I hope this episode gives you some hope, some ideas, and maybe even a little permission to try something wild!

As always, I would love to hear from you, so send me an email at [email protected]!

In This Episode

[0:35] - This episode focuses on year-end lessons and rebuilding habits that finally stick!

[4:15] - I describe how daily unpredictability kept derailing her bedtime and workout intentions.

[7:10] - Hear how the schedule review pushes me toward trying a consistent 5 a.m. workout class.

[10:52] - I talk about how our 18-year-old daughter supports my first class where I finds a warm and encouraging gym community.

[12:48] - Early workouts give her peaceful morning routines and even improve her three-year-old’s mood.

[15:51] - I explain how earlier bedtimes boost my sleep quality, supporting the rest my doctor says that I need.

[18:42] - I realize that I have been disconnecting from my body and ignoring my own physical signals.

[20:36] - I have recognized that my constant “fight mode” is draining my body.

[22:48] - My therapist has warned me that nonstop high alert will eventually break me down.

[25:55] - I adopt a calm, light-free morning routine to support rest, grounding, and early workouts.

[27:25] - I share my full rhythm to encourage listeners to build habits aligned with your deeper values.

Links & Resources

Crystal Paine

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