De-Stress the Nest

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 - A tech platform designed to help families delegate seamlessly, automate reminders, and reduce the cognitive load of managing home life.
• ⁠Heron House Management⁠⁠ - 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.
• Working Moms Movement - 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

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 – 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 – Michelle Machado’s upcoming book, releasing August 11.
• Heron House Management⁠⁠ - 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

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- Amy Briggs’ family calendar app that helps parents automatically turn emails into calendar events and streamline scheduling.
• Heron House Management- 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

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 – A thoughtfully designed diaper bag brand founded by Alex Rutkay.

• Heron House Management⁠⁠ - 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, a coaching and system-based program designed to help working moms stop living in survival mode and start building a life that actually works.

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 House Management⁠⁠ - Virtual house management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most.
• Hawkeye Focus Coaching - 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

Living abroad gets plenty of attention. Coming home? Not so much.

In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan welcomes back David Schnurman, author of Eleven Suitcases, to discuss the unexpected realities of returning to the United States after spending several years living in Barcelona with his family.

David shares lessons learned from reverse culture shock, reconnecting with community, raising globally-minded kids, and how travel permanently changes the way you see home.

If you've ever dreamed of moving abroad—or wondered what happens after the adventure ends—this episode is for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Returning home can be just as challenging as moving abroad.
• Reverse culture shock is real.
• Living abroad changes your perspective permanently.
• Children and parents often experience transitions differently.
• The "W Curve" helps explain cultural adjustment and re-entry.
• Adventure can become part of a family's identity.

💬 Quotes from David Schnurman

• "Within a month, you start thinking to yourself, was that a dream?"
• "It's a bug that once you get, you sort of don't lose.
• "Nothing's ever as good as the first time."
• "We're going to continue to do more adventures."

📚 Resources Mentioned

• 11 Suitcases - David Schnurman’s book about moving to Barcelona with kids
• ⁠Heron House Management⁠⁠ - Virtual house management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most.

📅 New episodes every Tuesday

💛 This episode was sponsored by Heron House Management. Learn more at https://www.heronhousemanagement.com/

Childcare and paid leave aren’t “nice to have” benefits. They are essential supports for working families.

In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan talks with Paige Connell, content creator and advocate in the motherhood space, about the childcare affordability crisis, the lack of paid parental leave in the U.S., and how both issues disproportionately impact women and working parents.

Paige explains why childcare should be viewed as a societal and economic issue, not just an individual family problem. Together, Hannah and Paige also discuss why inclusive paid leave policies matter for all parents, how workplace culture needs to shift, and why support for families benefits everyone.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by childcare costs, frustrated by leave policies, or passionate about making work and parenting more sustainable, this episode is for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Childcare is essential: Most working families rely on childcare in order to stay employed and financially stable.
• Costs are rising quickly: Affordable childcare is becoming harder to access for many families.
• Women are disproportionately impacted: Mothers are more likely to reduce hours, change roles, or leave the workforce because of childcare gaps.
• Paid leave affects long-term equity: Lack of paid leave impacts earnings, retirement savings, and career growth.
• Leave should support all parents: Inclusive policies normalize involved parenting from day one.
• Workplaces play a role: Companies can help shift culture by offering and actively encouraging paid leave and childcare support.

💬 Quotes from Paige Connell

• “Childcare is often viewed as a ‘you problem,’ but it actually benefits the economy and society at large.”
• “The lack of affordable childcare disproportionately impacts women.”
• “People across the board believe there should be affordable, safe childcare.”
• “Every parent deserves this time.”
• “We need men to take leave, and we need companies not just to offer it, but to encourage it.”

📚 Resources Mentioned

• Paige Connell (@sheisapaigeturner) - Content creator and motherhood thought leader sharing honest conversations about gender equity, mental load, and the realities of modern parenthood.
• Heron House Management⁠⁠  - Virtual house management for busy families: we handle your to-dos so you can focus on what matters most.

📅 New episodes every Tuesday

💛 This episode was sponsored by Heron House Management. Learn more at
https://www.heronhousemanagement.com/

If you’ve ever spent hours organizing your kids’ rooms only for them to explode again by the next afternoon… this episode is for you.

In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan talks with Lisa Woodruff, founder of Organize365, about why so many parents are pouring energy into organizing the wrong spaces in their homes — and how shifting your focus can dramatically reduce stress and create more peace in your day-to-day life.

Lisa introduces the concept of “Swiss cheese organizing,” where parents spend tons of effort organizing spaces that naturally cycle back into chaos quickly, like playrooms and kids’ bedrooms. Instead, she explains why organizing your own personal spaces first — like your bedroom, closet, bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen — creates lasting impact, more calm, and more functional systems for the entire household.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated that your organizing efforts “don’t stick,” this episode will completely change the way you think about home systems and where your energy should go.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Organizing kids’ spaces first creates burnout: Children’s spaces naturally change constantly, especially under age 5.
• Your personal spaces matter most: Organizing your own bedroom, closet, bathroom, and laundry room creates daily peace and functionality.
• Systems should reduce stress, not create more work: Focus on areas that stay organized longer and require less constant resetting.
• Maintenance is easier than constant overhauls: Adult spaces typically need occasional upkeep, while children’s spaces are in constant rotation.
• Rest matters too: Sometimes the best use of your free time is sleep, not another organizing project.

💬 Quotes from Lisa Woodruff

• “Organizing your house with kids under 5 is like shoveling snow in a snowstorm.”
• “You are putting forth a lot of organizing effort in the wrong spaces in your house.”
• “Take a nap instead.”
• “The spaces you should focus on first are your bedroom, your bathroom, your closet, your laundry room, and your kitchen.”
• “Kids’ spaces have to be continually done.”

📚 Resources Mentioned

• ⁠Lisa Woodruff⁠: Founder of Organize365
• Heron House Management: Virtual house management support for busy families

📅 New episodes every Tuesday

💛 This episode was sponsored by Heron House Management
https://www.heronhousemanagement.com

Episode 83 – Naming the Heavy Expectations with Amy Bonsall

So much of what feels heavy… isn’t actually the workload.

It’s the expectations we’re carrying—often without even realizing it.

In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan talks with Amy Bonsall, founder of Light Actions, about what it means to name the heavy expectations out loud—and why doing so can immediately reduce their impact.

Amy shares how expectations—whether from work, culture, or ourselves—can quietly shape how we show up. By simply saying them out loud and asking “says who?”, we can start to reclaim control and redefine what actually works for us.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed but couldn’t quite explain why, this episode will help you identify what’s underneath—and give you permission to let some of it go.

✏️ Key Takeaways

• Naming expectations reduces their weight: Saying them out loud makes them visible—and gives you back choice.
• Most expectations are internal: Many of the pressures we feel are self-imposed or inherited, not explicitly required.
• Ask “says who?”: Questioning the source helps you decide whether an expectation is worth keeping.
• Awareness creates control: Once you recognize the expectation, you can choose how to respond.
• Comparison fuels pressure: Especially in entrepreneurship, your internal narrative can become the loudest source of expectations.
• You define “enough”: Align expectations with your values—not external noise.

💬 Quotes from Amy Bonsall

• “Saying the expectation out loud softens it. Once it’s visible, you have choices again.”
• “That’s a heavy expectation.”
• “Once I started looking for heavy expectations, I saw them everywhere.”
• “Most of the heavy expectations in my world are created by me.”
• “Ask yourself: says who?”

📚 Resources Mentioned

• Light Actions – Amy Bonsall’s coaching and consulting work focused on leadership and AI
• Heron House Management – Virtual house management for busy families helping reduce mental load

📅 New episodes every Tuesday

💛 This episode was sponsored by Heron House Management.

Learn more at www.heronhousemanagement.com.

Episode 82 – Using Your Systems to Create Rest (Not Just More Work) with Caroline Dilbeck

Systems are supposed to make life easier, but what happens when the space they create just gets filled with more work?

In this episode of De-Stress the Nest, Hannah Morgan talks with Caroline Dilbeck, founder of Home Team Playbooks, about using systems to create real margin and restorative rest.

Caroline shares why rest has to be more than a spa day or another productivity goal. True rest is not attached to achievement, it is predictable and rhythmic, and it looks different for every person. From meal planning to delegating household tasks, Caroline explains how practical home systems can create white space on the calendar and help busy parents actually use that space well.

If you’ve ever created a system only to immediately fill the freed-up time with more tasks, this episode is for you.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Systems should create margin: The goal is not to create more capacity for more work, but more space for what restores you.
• Rest is not another achievement: True rest is not about hitting 10,000 steps or checking off another self-improvement task.
• Rest should be predictable: Rhythmic, repeatable rest helps your body learn that stillness is safe.
• Rest is personal: What feels restorative for one person may not work for another.
• Clear systems make delegation possible: When tasks are clearly documented, others can step in with less confusion.
• Defensive scheduling protects rest: White space needs to be guarded the same way you would guard an important meeting.

💬 Quotes from Caroline Dilbeck

• “The second we get a little space, we instinctively fill it up with more to do.”
• “Systems inherently create margin.”
• “Restorative rest is not attached to productivity.”
• “It fills you up without demanding anything from you.”
• “We’re not great about protecting the space that’s most valuable to us.”

📚 Resources Mentioned

• HomeTeam Playbooks⁠ - A library of customizable playbooks that turn everyday family systems into simple, repeatable processes so your household runs more smoothly with less mental load.
• ⁠Heron House Management⁠⁠– 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