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In January 2024, I returned to college after more than a decade away.
I was working full-time, helping my grown kids navigate life, and somehow decided to take four classes per semester. Four.
Who does this? Me. I’m someone who makes a decision and goes all in—even when it doesn’t make a bit of sense.
But burnout and disappointment? They come fast.
Thankfully, I found some tools along the way that helped me process my emotions, lower my stress, and finish strong — diploma in hand by December.
So, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, I want to share seven real-life shifts that helped me beat stress and stay grounded — even when life was a lot.
This wasn’t about checking a box. It was about proving to myself that I could show up, finish something meaningful, and offer it to the world without overthinking it to death.
For the first time in years, I completed and released a digital product: my Speak Life Affirmation Cards—a printable mindset tool for women rebuilding their lives.
And I’ll be honest… this project felt challenging.
Because finishing something that matters is an emotional experience. Especially when it’s been a while.
When I decided to return to YouTube, I made a promise to myself: I wouldn’t just post free content and burn out again.
I want to help as many people as I can, but I also want to build something sustainable. This time, that includes profit, without shame or pressure. That’s where this product came in. I wanted something simple but transformational. Something that reflects how I’ve grown and how I continue to grow.
Designing the actual card deck almost took me out. I’m not a natural designer, and Canva felt like more of a challenge than a tool some days.
I had the affirmations. I had the prompts. But every time the formatting didn’t look right or the spacing got messy, I wanted to walk away. What helped me move forward was giving myself permission to take breaks when I felt overwhelmed, and then come back to it.
Over and over until I was finally done.
I eventually bought a template and modified it to make it my own. It still wasn’t easy, but it was possible, and that made all the difference.
I started journaling when I was seven or eight. I remember begging my mom for a shiny pink diary with a gold lock while we were at Kmart.
It was five dollars, and I wanted it so badly.
I mostly wrote about food (haha) and my activities at school.
Then I hid it under my mattress, as if it held all the secrets in the world (good times).
It wasn’t consistent back then, and it wasn’t deep. But looking back, it was the beginning of something I would return to again and again, especially in the hard seasons.
Fast forward to now: I journal every single day.
Long form in the morning, quick and to the point at night.
But here's the thing I want to tell you — I don’t just journal when things feel heavy.
I journal even when life feels good.
Most mornings, I write during the first hour of my workday. No distractions. Just me and the page.
I freewrite whatever is on my mind (good or bad), jot down a few lists, and write my daily affirmation. It’s not a ritual I force. It’s a rhythm I return to.
Then, on my lunch break, I usually write again. I sit in the courtyard and let my thoughts settle. Sometimes I process something that is bothering me.
Other times, I find clarity or come up with a solution I couldn’t see earlier.
The writing itself is what helps me move through it.
Last week, I shared a glimpse into a hard season that shook my routines, energy, and finances. It wasn’t easy to talk about, but I knew I couldn’t keep shrinking myself or pretending everything was fine.
What’s been even more powerful than telling the truth… is learning how to live through it.