More Time for Mom

Dr. Amber Curtis

Are you a worn-out mom who used to be the star of the office, spend 45 minutes doing your hair and makeup, and take romantic getaways before you had kids…but now you’re constantly behind and out of PTO at work, there are three days’ worth of dishes piled in the sink, the kids scream when tablet time is over, and you’re so touched out by 8pm that you scroll Instagram instead of spending time with your husband?   Welcome to the club. If you’re paralyzed by what to do first whenever you miraculously find 15 free minutes and fall asleep in tears because you’ve always tried to do everything right but now it feels so wrong, you are NOT alone. I went crazy trying to “balance” it all and believing other experts who tell you to just wake up earlier or manage your time better. Turns out you’re not the problem; toxic productivity culture has led you to equate your self-worth with what you have to show for your time.   I’ve spent years applying my PhD research skills to find scientifically proven strategies for keeping up without burning out—then tailoring them for busy mamas whose hands, hearts, and schedules are fuller than they ever imagined. Now I’ve helped dozens of other women discover the hidden causes behind your stress so you can reclaim your time, restore your energy, rediscover your identity, and look back in 20 years with pride instead of regret.    Join me, Dr. Amber Curtis—certified life coach, behavioral science professor, public speaker, devoted wife, and mom of four—every Tuesday for real, raw stories and actionable advice on productivity, organization, time management, and that elusive thing we call work-life “balance” so you can be the happy, present wife and mom you dream of without sacrificing the talents you’re meant to share with the world.   Ready to make more time for YOU? Hit play and make sure to tune in for new episodes every Tuesday. It's time to take back your life for who and what you love. You’ll soon realize “time” was never the problem after all.

  1. 1D AGO

    Parentification: The Childhood Trauma Behind Overfunctioning, People-Pleasing & Burnout

    Send us Fan Mail Far too many women (especially eldest daughters) are wrestling with the aftermath of parentification, which occurs when children have to grow up too soon because of the physical absence or emotional neglect of their caregivers. In this episode, I unpack the many circumstances that can lead to parentification, the deep wounds it creates, and why it’s so damaging for your later relationships (namely marriage and parenting).   BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER: What parentification is, the various ways in which it occurs, and why The long-term psychological harm children suffer when forced into roles they’re not developmentally ready forThe difference between instrumental and emotional parentification—and which is more damagingHow even unintentional parentification can cause inter-generational damageAdult signs & symptoms that you may have been parentified so you can work to heal and break the vicious cycle  FOR SO MUCH MORE: Relevant past episodes on attachment styles: ·      4 Attachment Styles Every Mom Must Know: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471152/episodes/18536271 ·      3 Keys to Secure Attachment: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471152/episodes/18563959 ·      The REAL Reason You’re Triggered by Your Husband & Kids: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471152/episodes/19087521   Join the next round of Moms Made NewTM so stress no longer sabotages you—or your relationships: https://momsmadenew.com    Book a free consult with Dr. Amber 1:1: https://tidycal.com/solutionsforsimplicity/free-consult)   HOMEWORK: Take a deep breath and reaffirm: I am safe. I am enough. If this episode resonated with you, share your thoughts with me via email through the link in the show notes or DM me on Instagram @solutionsforsimplicity.     COMING UP NEXT: Join me back next Tuesday at 5am Eastern to keep unpacking the hidden sources of stress stealing your time and joy. CONNECT WITH AMBER: Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn  Ready to finally get to the root of your problems and change your life FOR GOOD? Book your free 60-minute consult to learn more about working 1:1 with Dr. Amber.

    21 min
  2. 5D AGO

    Why Mother’s Day Is So Hard (and How to Make It Better)

    Send us Fan Mail You carry the load all day, every day. Then Mother’s Day comes along (in the middle of one of the already-busiest times of the year) and just sets you up for disappointment. You’re not alone. And you’re not a “bad” mom if you’re left feeling let down, unappreciated, and worse than before. In this re-aired episode, I delve into what moms are afraid to admit about Mother’s Day: all the unspoken reasons Mother’s Day is so hard, what moms really want for Mother’s Day (but are too afraid to say out loud), and how you as the mother can gift yourself the recognition and validation you’re craving instead of feeling resentful that that no one else did.   BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER: Why Mother’s Day just exacerbates the painful gap between expectation and realityToxic positivity makes moms feel guilty for having honest emotions—and how important it is that you let yourself feel them anywayOne disappointing day does not define your motherhood or your family’s love for you.Very counterintuitively: It’s NOT your husband’s or kids’ job to make you happyHow to give yourself permission to stop waiting for appreciation and start creating the feelings you want for yourself   FOR SO MUCH MORE: Check out The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman Join the next round of Moms Made NewTM so stress no longer sabotages you—or your relationships: https://momsmadenew.com    Book a free consult with Dr. Amber 1:1: https://tidycal.com/solutionsforsimplicity/free-consult)    HOMEWORK: Share your thoughts with me via email through the link in the show notes or DM me on Instagram @solutionsforsimplicity.    COMING UP NEXT: Join me back next Tuesday at 5am Eastern to keep unpacking the hidden sources of stress stealing your time and joy. Loving this podcast? Please help it get found by more listeners by taking quick minute to leave a rating & review in Apple Podcasts. Take a screenshot of your text review before you submit it, then email that to help@solutionsforsimplicity.com and I'll send you my powerful Happy Mom Protocol™ (a $297 value) FOR FREE! CONNECT WITH AMBER: Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn  Ready to finally get to the root of your problems and change your life FOR GOOD? Book your free 60-minute consult to learn more about working 1:1 with Dr. Amber.

    26 min
  3. APR 28

    The REAL Reason You’re Triggered by Your Husband & Kids (It Has NOTHING to Do With Them!)

    Send us Fan Mail Not enough people talk about how HARD it is to stay emotionally regulated as a parent when you’re constantly triggered by your kids or husband—not because they’re doing anything wrong per se, but because they’re behaving in ways you didn’t get to as a child. Anger, fear, jealousy, grief…so many emotions surface as others’ carefree childhood drives home the reality that you didn’t have that luxury when you were little. In this deeply personal episode, I share a recent moment that underscores how your triggers aren’t about the noise, the mess, the lack of help, or even anything about the present situation. They’re a reflection of a nervous system that was wired for survival long before you ever became a wife or a mom. If you (or someone you know) are a high-functioning, type-A, “holds-it-all-together” kind of woman who ever finds herself overwhelmed, reactive, or resentful, this episode is going to hit deep—in the best way.   BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER: ALL behavior is a reflection of your nervous system—not a fixed personality traitThe hidden link between past childhood experiences and present-day triggers The emotional weight of being the “responsible one” and why you get so on edge when things feel out of control How high-functioning anxiety, control-seeking, hypervigilance, people-pleasing, and over-responsibility are learned survival patternsMany women carry an invisible mental and emotional load that others don’t see and may never fully understand (let alone appreciate) because they are wired differentlyHow to begin shifting from reactivity to repair    FOR SO MUCH MORE: Download my FREE quiz to pinpoint your default “F” response to stress: https://solutionsforsimplicity.myflodesk.com/stress-response-podcast   Join the next round of Moms Made NewTM so stress no longer sabotages you—or your relationships: https://momsmadenew.com    Book a free consult with Dr. Amber 1:1: https://tidycal.com/solutionsforsimplicity/free-consult)   HOMEWORK: Share your thoughts with me via email through the link in the show notes or DM me on Instagram @solutionsforsimplicity.     COMING UP NEXT: Join me back next Tuesday at 5am Eastern to keep unpacking the hidden sources of stress stealing yo Loving this podcast? Please help it get found by more listeners by taking quick minute to leave a rating & review in Apple Podcasts. Take a screenshot of your text review before you submit it, then email that to help@solutionsforsimplicity.com and I'll send you my powerful Happy Mom Protocol™ (a $297 value) FOR FREE! CONNECT WITH AMBER: Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn  Ready to finally get to the root of your problems and change your life FOR GOOD? Book your free 60-minute consult to learn more about working 1:1 with Dr. Amber.

    28 min
  4. APR 21

    6 Hidden Sources of Stress (& How to FIX Them)

    Send us Fan Mail You already know mom life is stressful. What you DON’T know are the real underlying reasons why. It’s not just the kids, the house, your job, your marriage, your to-do list. It’s the subtle ways your brain tries to sabotage you through six hidden factors: decision fatigue, procrastination, the planning fallacy, inefficiency, ineffectiveness, and overwhelm. In this episode, I break down each of these six hidden sources of stress, where they really come from, and (most importantly) how to FIX them. Punchline? What you think is the problem is merely the symptom. Each of these six stressors is coming from something way deeper.   BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER: How decision fatigue drains your energy before you ever get a chance to be productive.Procrastination isn’t laziness; it’s emotional avoidance.Overestimating what you can do in the short-term while underestimating your long-term potential keeps you miserable.Ineffectiveness comes from working against your body’s natural energy rhythms.Overwhelm is rooted in tying your worth to others’ perceptions and feeling a constant need to earn your worth.My signature “5 Ds” prioritization method to cut through the noise and clarify what really MATTERS most.  FOR SO MUCH MORE: Download my FREE quiz to pinpoint your default “F” response to stress: https://solutionsforsimplicity.myflodesk.com/stress-response-podcastSnag my FREE guide to understanding your body’s natural energy rhythms so you can get more done without burning out: https://solutionsforsimplicity.myflodesk.com/4rhythmsguideJoin the next round of my 6-week program, Moms Made NewTM so stress no longer sabotages you—or your relationships: https://momsmadenew.com Book a free consult to learn more about working with Dr. Amber 1:1: https://tidycal.com/solutionsforsimplicity/free-consult)   HOMEWORK: Share which of the six hidden stressors resonated with you most via email through the link in the show notes or DM me on Instagram @solutionsforsimplicity.    COMING UP NEXT: Join me back next Tuesday at 5am Eastern to keep unpacking the hidden sources of stress stealing your time and joy. Loving this podcast? Please help it get found by more listeners by taking quick minute to leave a rating & review in Apple Podcasts. Take a screenshot of your text review before you submit it, then email that to help@solutionsforsimplicity.com and I'll send you my powerful Happy Mom Protocol™ (a $297 value) FOR FREE! CONNECT WITH AMBER: Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn  Ready to finally get to the root of your problems and change your life FOR GOOD? Book your free 60-minute consult to learn more about working 1:1 with Dr. Amber.

    51 min
  5. APR 7

    Why You Feel So Overwhelmed (It’s Your Nervous System, NOT You!)

    Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, reactive, or like something is “wrong” with you…this episode will completely change how you see yourself. In this episode, I share an interview I gave diving into the truth about emotional regulation, nervous system healing, and the real reason so many high-achieving moms feel stuck, burnt out, or constantly on edge. Here’s the reframe most women have never been taught: You’re not broken. You’re not failing. Your nervous system is doing exactly what it was wired to do. The problem? Most of us were never taught how to work with our nervous system—only how to push through, perform, and suppress. This episode is your permission slip to stop fighting yourself and finally understand what your body has been trying to tell you all along—because when you feel safe in your own body, EVERYTHING changes.   BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER: What emotional regulation actually means. (It’s NOT staying calm all the time!)You don’t need to fix your life. You need to feel safe in it.Most high-achieving women are operating from trauma responses.Your body is constantly sending signals, you’ve just been trained to ignore them.Trying to avoid discomfort is what keeps you stuck.You can feel calm, even when your life is crazy chaotic!  FOR SO MUCH MORE: Join the next round of my 6-week program, Moms Made NewTM so stress no longer sabotages you—or your relationships: https://momsmadenew.com  Book a free consult to learn more about working with Dr. Amber 1:1: https://tidycal.com/solutionsforsimplicity/free-consult)    HOMEWORK: Share your thoughts with me via email through the link in the show notes or DM me on Instagram @solutionsforsimplicity.    COMING UP NEXT: Join me back next Tuesday at 5am Eastern to keep unpacking the hidden sources of stress stealing your time and joy. Loving this podcast? Please help it get found by more listeners by taking quick minute to leave a rating & review in Apple Podcasts. Take a screenshot of your text review before you submit it, then email that to help@solutionsforsimplicity.com and I'll send you my powerful Happy Mom Protocol™ (a $297 value) FOR FREE! CONNECT WITH AMBER: Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn  Ready to finally get to the root of your problems and change your life FOR GOOD? Book your free 60-minute consult to learn more about working 1:1 with Dr. Amber.

    47 min
  6. MAR 31

    What’s YOUR Default “F” Response to Stress? (Free Quiz to Find Out!)

    Send us Fan Mail Everyone has a default way they respond to stress based on the protective adaptations your nervous system took on from a young age in the face of real or perceived threat. In this episode, I run through a FREE quiz to help you determine whether stress makes you more prone to a fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or fix response. In addition to outlining what’s “good” and “hard” about each type, I also profile a series of common stress response combinations so you can better understand yourself—and others! Download the FREE PDF quiz & score interpretation guide here! https://solutionsforsimplicity.myflodesk.com/stress-response-podcast   BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER: Which of the five “F” categories are your default primary and secondary stress responses That many people are a combination, and your go-to response can vary depending on the situation or relationshipThe subconscious beliefs and fears at the heart of each stress responseThe pros & “cons” associated with each typeGentle growth opportunities for each type so you can begin re-patterning your nervous system for greater safety and capacity  AS MENTIONED: The Five Stress Responses, Part I: Fight, Flight, & Freeze Explained: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471152/episodes/18778797The Five Stress Responses, Part II: Fawn & Fix Explained: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471152/episodes/18831735   FOR SO MUCH MORE: Book a free consult to learn more about healing your nervous system so stress no longer sabotages you—or your relationships: https://tidycal.com/solutionsforsimplicity/free-consult)   Get on the waitlist for the next round of my 6-week program, Moms Made NewTM so stress no longer sabotages you—or your relationships: https://solutionsforsimplicity.myflodesk.com/mmn-waitlist    HOMEWORK: Download the free quiz to learn more about your default “F” response to stress. Be very gentle with yourself, remembering that none is better than another. Share your thoughts with me via email through the link in the show notes or DM me on Instagram @solutionsforsimplicity.    COMING UP NEXT: Join me back next Tuesday at 5am Eastern to keep unpacking the hidden sources of stress stealing your time and joy. CONNECT WITH AMBER: Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn  Ready to finally get to the root of your problems and change your life FOR GOOD? Book your free 60-minute consult to learn more about working 1:1 with Dr. Amber.

    22 min
  7. MAR 11

    The FIVE Stress Responses, Part II: Fawn & Fix Explained

    Send us Fan Mail Stress is not bad, and it’s not going anywhere. Yet how you handle stress isn’t random!!! It’s your nervous system’s pre-programmed way of keeping you safe from perceived threat. In this second of a two-part series on the five “F” responses (fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and fix), I go in-depth into the latter two—which are newer to be recognized and hugely important because they are learned behavioral adaptations rather than automatic physiological tendencies like the first three.    BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER: The core fear at the root of the fawn response that leads someone to maintain social connection at all costs—even the great cost of self-denial and abandonmentWhy so many high-functioning women naturally default to the fix responseWhat the fix response is REALLY masking for (it’s a doozy!)Why understanding stress responses is the key to understanding ALL human behaviorWhat true ‘emotional regulation’ really looks like  AS MENTIONED: The Five Stress Responses, Part I: Fight, Flight, & Freeze Explained: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471152/episodes/18778797Prior podcast episode on ‘martyr mentality’: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2471152/episodes/17083616   FOR SO MUCH MORE: Book a free consult to learn more about healing your nervous system so stress no longer sabotages you—or your relationships: https://tidycal.com/solutionsforsimplicity/free-consult)   Get on the waitlist for the next round of my 6-week program, Moms Made NewTM so stress no longer sabotages you—or your relationships: https://solutionsforsimplicity.myflodesk.com/mmn-waitlist   HOMEWORK: Share your default “F” response(s) with me via email through the link in the show notes or DM me on Instagram @solutionsforsimplicity.    COMING UP NEXT: Join me back next Tuesday at 5am Eastern for a powerful quiz to help you discern which stress response(s) best match your (or others') default tendencies. CONNECT WITH AMBER: Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn  Ready to finally get to the root of your problems and change your life FOR GOOD? Book your free 60-minute consult to learn more about working 1:1 with Dr. Amber.

    22 min
  8. MAR 3

    The FIVE Stress Responses, Part I: Fight, Flight, & Freeze Explained

    Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered why you snap in anger, spiral into anxiety, or completely shut down when things get overwhelming? Because your nervous system is under threat and trying to keep you safe. In this episode, I break down what’s actually happening inside your brain and body when you get triggered. Part I goes in-depth into the fight, flight, and freeze responses—three natural, physiological responses to stress. (Stay tuned for Part II where we’ll cover two other, even more important ones for women!) Crucially, stress responses are NOT personality flaws. They’re automatic survival strategies your brain and body use to protect you, and they’re essential for understand for human behavior and relationships. You can’t afford not to know this—especially if you’re a mother.   BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER: Stress responses are not bad — they are survival strategies.You don’t overreact because you’re flawed. You overreact because your nervous system is protecting you.It doesn’t matter if a threat is real or perceived; the biochemical stress process in your body is the SAME.Understanding stress responses helps you understand ALL human behavior like never before.This has sooooo many implications for parenting because too few parents realize their child’s “misbehavior” is simply an underdeveloped nervous system having a big threat response. When you maintain (instead of sever) emotional connection, a child’s behavior usually resolves on its own.How things like compulsive cleaning, mom rage, avoidance, overworking, and lack of executive functioning are often “F” responses in disguise  FOR SO MUCH MORE: Book a free consult to get to the root of your stress so it no longer sabotages you—or your relationships: https://tidycal.com/solutionsforsimplicity/free-consult)   Get on the waitlist for the next round of my 6-week program, Moms Made NewTM so you can learn to work with (instead of against) your nervous system and help your whole family flourish: https://solutionsforsimplicity.myflodesk.com/mmn-waitlist   HOMEWORK: Consider which, if any, of the three responses discussed so far (fight, flight, or freeze) best depict how you tend to handle your stress. Do you get angry? Do you escape into something that takes your mind off what's wrong? Or do you shut down, feel paralyzed by indecision, and go numb? Share your thoughts with me via email through the link in the show notes or DM me on Instagram @solutionsforsimplicity.    COMING UP NEXT: Join me back next Tuesday at 5am Eastern to learn the remaining two—arguably even more important—stress responses. (If you’re an oldest daughter, people pleaser, or high-functioning overachiever, you cannot afford to miss these!) CONNECT WITH AMBER: Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn  Ready to finally get to the root of your problems and change your life FOR GOOD? Book your free 60-minute consult to learn more about working 1:1 with Dr. Amber.

    15 min
5
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Are you a worn-out mom who used to be the star of the office, spend 45 minutes doing your hair and makeup, and take romantic getaways before you had kids…but now you’re constantly behind and out of PTO at work, there are three days’ worth of dishes piled in the sink, the kids scream when tablet time is over, and you’re so touched out by 8pm that you scroll Instagram instead of spending time with your husband?   Welcome to the club. If you’re paralyzed by what to do first whenever you miraculously find 15 free minutes and fall asleep in tears because you’ve always tried to do everything right but now it feels so wrong, you are NOT alone. I went crazy trying to “balance” it all and believing other experts who tell you to just wake up earlier or manage your time better. Turns out you’re not the problem; toxic productivity culture has led you to equate your self-worth with what you have to show for your time.   I’ve spent years applying my PhD research skills to find scientifically proven strategies for keeping up without burning out—then tailoring them for busy mamas whose hands, hearts, and schedules are fuller than they ever imagined. Now I’ve helped dozens of other women discover the hidden causes behind your stress so you can reclaim your time, restore your energy, rediscover your identity, and look back in 20 years with pride instead of regret.    Join me, Dr. Amber Curtis—certified life coach, behavioral science professor, public speaker, devoted wife, and mom of four—every Tuesday for real, raw stories and actionable advice on productivity, organization, time management, and that elusive thing we call work-life “balance” so you can be the happy, present wife and mom you dream of without sacrificing the talents you’re meant to share with the world.   Ready to make more time for YOU? Hit play and make sure to tune in for new episodes every Tuesday. It's time to take back your life for who and what you love. You’ll soon realize “time” was never the problem after all.

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