39 | How to Create Effective Routines with The Habit Stacking Mom, Jess Przulj

The Happy SAHM - Find Joy at Home, Stay-at-Home Mom, Prioritize Yourself

In this episode, Yaritza welcomes Jessica Przulj, a stay-at-home mom of three girls and fellow podcaster based in Tennessee. Jessica shares her personal journey from salon owner to stay-at-home mom, discussing the challenges of losing her identity and the "mom guilt" that often accompanies this transition. She then dives into her passion: habit stacking, a technique she's adapted for overwhelmed mothers to reclaim their time and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Grieving the "Woman Before the Mother": Jessica candidly speaks about the struggle of transitioning from an independent business owner to a stay-at-home mom, and the sense of loss and resentment that can arise when a woman's previous identity shifts.

• The Birth of a Podcast: Jessica's podcast was born from her desire to help other moms who felt lost and overwhelmed, providing an outlet for her to share what she's learned about navigating motherhood while also seeking personal fulfillment.

• Habit Stacking for Moms: Jessica explains her approach to habit stacking, which she developed after reading James Clear's "Atomic Habits" and realizing its potential application for mothers. The core idea is to attach new, desired habits to existing, automatic routines (anchors).

• The Re-Stack Method: Assessing the Problem: The first step in Jessica's "Re-Stack Method" is an assessment. Moms need to identify where the problems lie in their day or week. She breaks life down into "5 Vital Pillars": schedule, home, food, self-care, and finance.

• Focus on the Schedule Pillar First: Jessica recommends starting with the schedule pillar, as it often dictates the rhythm of the entire day and can cause a "domino effect" on other areas.

• Outcome-Based Routine Blocks: To tackle overwhelming days (like the post-school rush), Jessica suggests breaking the day into routine blocks (morning, midday, evening) and defining a clear outcome or goal for each block.

• Defining Success: A routine is "working" when you can "stay the mother you want to stay in that moment" – calm, encouraging, and motivated, rather than stressed or frustrated.

• Prioritizing Self-Care: Jessica emphasizes the importance of prioritizing self-care, sharing her own recent shift to waking up before her children to exercise and get ready. This not only benefits her mindset but also sets a positive example for her daughters.

• Anchors: Anchors are predictable, automatic actions (e.g., letting the dog out) that can be used as triggers to attach new habit stacks, making them easier to implement.

• Test, Review, Adjust: The process of habit stacking involves continuous testing and review. Jessica conducts a weekly "stacking session" to assess what worked, what didn't, and make adjustments for the upcoming week, reinforcing the brain's natural desire for patterns.
  Connect with Jess
  http://www.jessprzulj.com
  Instagram
  Connect

  Email: [email protected]

  Instagram: @the.happy.sahm.podcast
  Parenting, Parenting podcast, Stay-at-Home Moms, Stay-At-Home Mama, Christian SAHM, SAHM, Christian Women Podcast, Personal Development, Self-Improvement, Leadership, Mindset, Healthy mindset, Spiritual Growth, Mom Mentor, Wife, Mom, Homemaker, Faith Based, Christian Motherhood, Encouragement, Biblical Motherhood, Christian Moms, Habits, Habit Stacking, Atomic Habits