The Unhurried Life

I'm so excited to be back to the podcast after 3 long months. I’ve missed you but at the same time I feel so refreshed. I left off talking about burnout and how my 3 month break was to practice what I preach when living unhurried…..

Now, that TUL is back it’s going to look a smidge different. In light of my decision to take some time off it gave me freedom to assess where I want to go in the future.  For the next 12 months I’ll be doing a single episode monthly instead of weekly. I’d like to invite you over to my website jbrazeal.com so we can stay in touch. Take a look around and find anything that strikes your fancy. Photo org, routines, TULSK, free LR preset and so much more. All these things are free and as soon as you put your email in it will wiz through digital space and land inside my email sender. Meaning, every week as I write personal emails on photo Org, podcasts, simplification and other big life changing topics we’ll be able to continue chatting weekly!

Since we’re back and I’m here now chatting, I wanted to talk about routines, since mine has recently changed and I have more change coming at the end of this episode so don’t skip out!

I once read that routines are supposed to be more of a bridge than a regiment. Taking you from one thing to the next more easily. My daily routine has adapted this mindset for sure.

As a work-from-home mama of 3 (still little ones) this frame of mind has helped make our days go so much smoother. You have lot’s that needs to get done in your day. In trying to sit down and write out a massive to do list or your step-by-step schedule of time might seem a bit overwhelming. And for good reason. At the drop of a hat life changes, kids meltdown, dinner burns, and someone inevitably gets sick! That means all the time you spent on your daily routine, writing everything out with nice ideal times next to it is completely trashed.

So, I want to take a little time and talk to you about my daily routine so that you can see what it looks like in order to adapt what would be good for your own life.

COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theunhurriedlife

THE UNHURRIED LIFE SHOW NOTES: https://jbrazeal.com/blog/lifestyle/my-daily-routine/

It's only April so why do you already feel like the year has come and gone? Why is everyday running together into one big lump and why oh why does it feel like you just can't catch a break?

Figuring out how to avoid mom burnout is on your to do list and it's been there for a while.

Kids fighting with each other, daycare calls that someone threw up, someone wet the bed, another one just needs to be held all day long, little hands tap your arm at 2 AM, it's Monday already, where did the week actually end go?

It's just part of life to be totally exhausted and in a haze, right?

I'll be the first to tell you that this stage of life, this season is not the easiest one you'll be in.

Telling you it's the hardest confirms your suspicion but doesn't really make anything better. So, let's slow down for a sec and have a real talk about where you are and where you want to be.

As we talk about mom burnout I want to encourage you to listen in all the way through the Unhurried Life Podcast. I have some big and exciting news coming at the end of this episode and a new plan moving forward that I think you'll love to hear about since it reflects how to truly change!

COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theunhurriedlife

THE UNHURRIED LIFE SHOW NOTES: https://jbrazeal.com/blog/podcast/avoiding-mom-burnout/

This may be my number one struggle that never seems to go away. Mostly cause those kiddos never seem to go away, I say with love in my voice! I was recommended, not that long ago, 2 parenting books.

Ok, I've been recommended and read dozens but these two have found their way to the top and become quick favorites. The first one is The Whole Brained Child.

I've read other books on the brain. But they've been for my brain. A grown up. I read those books with a different mind set. The Whole Brained Child is totally different, but also similar.

Parenting is one of those things you have no clue if you're doing right and by the time you know it's too late to do much about it. Parenting is one of those things you can totally lose yourself in. Your identity gets wrapped up here, your decisions are based off your children your date nights are spent discussing them!

I'm sure at some point you can relate to life feeling like it was either total chaos or you were struggling to keep total control?

Now think of your toddler. Ever see similar traits? Unable and refusing to share a train with brother and then losing his mind when brother takes it from him (raising my hand over here).

The Whole Brained Child does a beautiful job of explaining the parts of the brain and how they all need to work together to raise up our children.

We all do it and we all do it every single day. In fact you're probably eating on average of 3-5 meals a day, that's almost 1500 meals a year. Gosh, no wonder you get stumped, bewildered, and run out of ideas for meal prep.

Well my hope for you in the post is that I teach a (wo)man to fish instead of just feeding you for a day.

So, you won't find 50 of my best meal prep recipes here but you will find my formula for never running out of ideas and for having go to plans in the back of my brain - aka no brainers.

First, I want to let you know that the less you have to think about meal planning and prepping the easier it will be. Meaning if some of this can become automatic and habitual you'll cut out loads of stress. Don't worry because I'm going to show you how to do that.

Last week and this week plus the next few weeks I'm sharing some of the things I've been struggling with over the last year or so.

My hope is that I can impart some of my "learnedness" on you and together we can figure this (mom)life thing out. So let's dive into some meal prep ideas that can get you cookin'!

COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theunhurriedlife

THE UNHURRIED LIFE SHOW NOTES: https://jbrazeal.com/blog/podcast/meal-prep-ideas-for-mamas/

If you're anything like me, at some point in your life you've let quiet time with God go by the wayside. Maybe your mornings turned into 5 extra minutes snuggled in bed. Or maybe your mornings turned into your toddler waking up 15 minutes earlier everyday and dealing with that mess.

When your quiet time drifts away you probably start to feel ... guilt.

It's hard to figure out how to get started again or even what that would look like. Then let's remember those college years. Those mornings that were filled with steaming hot cups of coffee and curling up on the couch listening to praise music. Oh the peace. Oh the time.

Somehow you keep comparing your now quiet time to your absolute best months and years of quiet time and you're not measuring up.

So your quiet time starts to look like, "next week" or "when I find the right devotional". You allow stress and hurry to take over your life, you allow the noise to keep you at bay from time where you can truly fill up.

Well, don't sweat it and for sure don't let that guilt settle in. We're going to take a look at some practical and beautiful ways to let quiet time seep back into your life and fill you up.

This week and for the next 3 weeks we're going to be looking at 4 of the areas I struggle in and have found myself really working on over the past few years. I wanted to share what I've learned in hopes to bring you along with me on the journey.

Each thing I'll talk about has brought me closer to learning about an Unhurried Life. They have also been things I have to continually remind myself, I'm a work in progress!

COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theunhurriedlife

THE UNHURRIED LIFE SHOW NOTES: https://jbrazeal.com/blog/podcast/does-your-quiet-time-look-like-this/

We all know fear is at the root of most of our inaction. Fear of the unknown and fear of failure. Two major paralyzers.

As moms, as "grown ups" we know we should be able to get past fear ... but why don't we?

You actually already know that it takes more energy to be in fear than to be free from it. But what about that next step. The step that leaves fear behind?

We first have to illuminate our fear and that's exactly what we're going to learn about in this weeks episode of the Unhurried life.

My guest this week, Erick James, broke through a wall.

"Move past fear"

We've all heard it, but she delivers the steps and process to do just that. Taking action, embracing a season of execution rather than passivity! Oooooo girl, this is so good!

Come join us this week, you'll walk away changed, no doubt!

COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theunhurriedlife

THE UNHURRIED LIFE SHOW NOTES: https://jbrazeal.com/blog/motherhood/how-to-overcome-fear/

Marriage. This word can come with so many different meanings and implications. What does a healthy marriage mean for you?

What does it mean for your kids and what will it mean for the generations coming along next? It's no secret that marriage, like any relationship, takes work.

That word "work" is not a fun one.

When you look up work you'll find things like, labor, drudgery, task, effort, duty, and a long line of "not so romantic" synonyms.

So how do you get motivated to put in the time for a healthy marriage?

Instead of trying to find or make your spouse into the perfect mate...try being the perfect mate first.

Jen Weaver and I sit down this week on and really sift through marriage. She brings to light some things I really needed to hear to get back on track. (Isn't it easy to get perspectives out of whack?)

Join us here as we talk real life and real relationships. What does it take to have a healthy marriage? Find out!

COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theunhurriedlife

THE UNHURRIED LIFE SHOW NOTES: https://jbrazeal.com/blog/podcast/signs-of-a-healthy-marriage/

Have you ever gotten stuck in your dreams. Maybe you're there now. You know there is a difference in dreamers and doers but how do you bridge the gap? How do you start taking action?

In this weeks episode we're going to go over the 3 ways that can get you into action taking mode as well as give you 6 tips to take action immediately.

The biggest piece of advice on taking action is that it's easier to encourage others to take action vs doing yourself. So grab a friend to share with.

So, here is your chance. Get a fire lit under you and tune in to discover how you can start taking action instead of just wishing you could.

Have you been collecting ideas instead of doing something with them? Don't get discouraged, in-fact, be encouraged. Taking action is way simpler than you may be thinking.

This is the last episode in the 6 week series of Becoming Bold! But it's not too late to tune in, print your worksheets and grab a friend. In fact, the time to take action is... now!

3 STEPS TO ORGANIZE YOUR PHONE PHOTOS: http://jbrazeal.com/phonephotos

COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theunhurriedlife

THE UNHURRIED LIFE SHOW NOTES:

When you look back at your life and search for the moments that define you and helped make you into who you are today...I bet you see the hard parts. Think back to the important parts that shaped you, they probably aren't the easy, simple decisions.

Try looking at challenges from a different perspective, instead of struggle, see successes.  These hurdles are what we need to forge on, create deeper character, and connect us through experiences.

Now I know, it's not easy to think this way when you're right in the middle of a tough spot.  However, training your mind to push through and overcome can be done.

And remember that when you're in the midst of adversity and hurdles this is a spot to grow. When you are weak allow the Lord to come in and be your true change.

This is a 6 week series called Becoming Bold and our dream is for you to go through this with a friend.  We’re giving you the tools to make the change, to take control of your life, and start living in a way that honors yourself and your family. All you have to do is tune in, print the weekly worksheet and find a friend to go through it together.

3 STEPS TO ORGANIZE YOUR PHONE PHOTOS: http://jbrazeal.com/phonephotos

COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theunhurriedlife

THE UNHURRIED LIFE SHOW NOTES: https://jbrazeal.com/blog/podcast/overcoming-challenges-becoming-bold-series/

The pressure that rests on the question: "How to find your purpose?" is enormous. For some reason you feel that when you fill in that blank it's there forever.

You only get one shot to get it right and to live it out. But what if finding your purpose evolved? What if your purpose was ever changing?

Let me pose a new question!

When you consider your "life purpose" you're really just asking, "what is an important and intentional way to use my time"?

When you think of it that way you take some pressure off and you look at it in a new light.

As we dive into purpose this week, we uncover some uncommon perspectives that I believe hold a lot of weight when it comes to finding your purpose.

3 STEPS TO ORGANIZE YOUR PHONE PHOTOS: http://jbrazeal.com/phonephotos

COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theunhurriedlife

THE UNHURRIED LIFE SHOW NOTES: https://jbrazeal.com/blog/podcast/how-to-find-your-purpose-becoming-bold-series/