Simplifying Life’s Beautiful Bitchiness

Michelle Martinez
Simplifying Life’s Beautiful Bitchiness

Life’s a lot, so let’s make it easier. I help busy, overwhelmed women navigate the chaos with simple, no-BS Life Systems and Bespoke Wellness. From motherhood and chronic illness to everyday resilience, we’re talking about real-life solutions that actually work. Expect bite-sized, relatable episodes packed with humor, practical tips, and the occasional sports or movie reference (because why not?). Whether you’re looking to streamline your day, reclaim your energy, or just hear from someone who gets it, you’re in the right place. Hit play, take a breath, and let’s simplify life without the BS.

  1. 3D AGO

    15. The Hard Reset

    Seasonal Depression, MS Flare-Ups, and Saying “Fck It” to Strategy for the Summer May f****d me up again… and I’m talking all about it. In this episode of Simplifying Life’s Beautiful Bitchiness, I open up about the annual fog that rolls in every May—like clockwork—and how seasonal depression hits me hard (yep, right during Mental Health Awareness Month… oh the irony). I get real about what it feels like to hit that “what the hell is happening?” wall—chronic fatigue, brain fog, comfort food cravings, and MS flare-ups I hadn’t seen in a while. But in the midst of the mess? There was magic. My daughter turned 10, and joy reminded me I’m still here. You’ll hear: The signs I missed and what finally clickedHow I’m embracing a hard reset (a real-life WiFi unplug moment)Why I’m calling this my strategy-less summer—no rules, just rhythm This one’s for anyone who’s felt like their body or brain hit the f**k this button and needs permission to unplug, reset, and breathe. You’re not broken. You’re rebooting. ⏱️ Episode Breakdown:00:00 – Welcome to Simplifying Life's Beautiful Bitchiness 01:09 – The Struggle with Seasonal Depression 02:42 – Finding Joy in the Fog: Celebrating My Daughter’s 10th Birthday 03:24 – Questioning My Worth: Am I a Good Mom? Wife? Business Owner? 05:57 – What is a Hard Reset (And Why You Might Need One Too) 09:27 – My Strategy-Less Strategy: No Rules, Just Rhythm 13:32 – Final Thoughts: Take a Breath. Pull the Cord. Reboot. 🔥 What You’ll Walk Away With:What a “hard reset” really looks like in real life (not just self-help fluff)Why joy is a necessity, not a dessert you earnHow to listen to your body when it’s screaming “enough”The beauty of ditching rigid business plans and leaning into rhythm 💭 Mentioned in this Episode:My daughter’s 10th birthday (a much-needed joy bomb)MS symptoms and seasonal depression triggersStrategy-less strategy vibes (my new summer mood)Crocheting, creativity, and reclaiming calm 🧡 Let’s Keep It Real Together:If this episode hit home—or made you laugh, cry, or finally breathe—subscribe, rate, and review wherever you're listening. And if you’re doing your own hard reset? I’m cheering you all the way through it. Links + Resources: Bare Minimum System The 10-Minute Pick Me Up Read it here on my blog: https://www.mmvirtualresources.com/post/the-hard-reset Join the convo: Instagram Email Fam

    15 min
  2. MAY 9

    14. Permission to Rest (Burnout Isn’t a Badge)

    Let me say it louder for the ones still stuck in hustle mode—burnout is not a badge of honor. You will not get extra credit for running yourself into the ground. In this episode, I’m sharing a much-needed reminder: you’re allowed to rest without earning it, proving anything, or checking one more box. If you’ve been stuck in survival mode, this one’s your cue to stop performing and start breathing. Especially with Mother’s Day around the corner—whether you’re celebrating, grieving, or holding it all together—you deserve to pause. Without guilt. Without shame. Without folding that damn laundry. In This Episode:Why I stopped treating exhaustion like a weird flexMy unfiltered take on hustle culture and why it needs to goA permission slip to rest—yes, even if the to-do list is still longWhat I wish someone had told me before I hit rock bottomA little preview of what’s coming in Part 2 of my mental health journey Timestamps:00:00 — Uh yeah, you. Let’s talk about that endless to-do list 00:33 — Welcome to Simplifying Life’s Beautiful Bitchiness 01:20 — The cult of burnout and why I’m not here for it 02:05 — What rest actually means to me now 03:25 — A Mother's Day message for every type of mom (and every type of tired) 04:18 — A sneak peek at next week’s story: caregiving and the pandemic shift 05:30 — Final reminder: Inhale the calm. Exhale the fire. Links I Mentioned:💻 Blog Post: “My Mental Health Journey | Part 1: Toxic Job Burnout”⚡ Grab the Power-Up Planner – My go-to reset when I feel myself spiraling🧺 The Bare Minimum System – For when you just need the essentials handled Wanna Keep This Energy Going?🎧 Subscribe to the pod – New episodes drop every Tuesday + Friday💌 Join my email circle – I send cozy pep talks, real-life tips, and zero fluff

    5 min
  3. MAY 6

    13. The Job That Looked Good on Paper (But Broke Me Behind the Scenes)

    🎙 The Job That Looked Good on Paper but Broke Me Behind the ScenesSummary:In this episode, I’m sharing my deeply personal story of how the highest-paying job of my corporate career became my breaking point. From unrealistic expectations to a toxic work environment and being pushed into survival mode, I share the emotional and mental toll of staying too long. I open up about my darkest moments, what finally pushed me to leave, and why walking away saved my mental health. (PS — Part 2 of this story is coming soon!) Quick heads up — this episode shares parts of my mental health journey, including depression and thoughts of ending my life. If that feels too heavy for you right now, please take care of yourself and skip this one or come back when it feels right. Your well-being comes first. 🧡 In This Episode:The "dream job" that wasn’t so dreamy after allWhy survival mode became my new normal (without realizing it)Quiet quitting before it was trendy → and why it happenedThe mental health spiral that forced me to face the truthHow caregiving and the pandemic gave me the push I neededWhy leaving wasn’t giving up — it was survival Timestamps:00:00 — Introduction: The Job That Broke Me 00:35 — Welcome to Simplifying Life's Beautiful Bitchiness 01:22 — The Reality of the Job: Overwhelming Territory and Roles 03:48 — Frustrations with Customer Service 04:59 — Quiet Quitting: Doing the Bare Minimum 07:23 — The Darkest Night: Battling Depression 09:04 — The Pandemic and My Father's Illness 10:17 — Resignation and Moving Forward 10:52 — Conclusion: Rebuilding Life on My Own Terms Links Mentioned:→ My Mental Health Journey - Part 1: Toxic Job Burnout → Picture of my sales territory here → Power-Up Planner → Your Bare Minimum System Resources:→ Subscribe to the podcast → Join my email community Next Up:The story doesn’t end here. Next week, I’ll share Part 2: How caregiving, chronic illness, and a global pandemic forced me to rebuild life on my own terms. Stay tuned — you don’t want to miss this one.

    13 min
  4. APR 11

    10. Can Systems Work When Life Is a Sh*tshow? Let’s Break It Down

    Feeling overwhelmed and wondering if life systems are even worth trying? In this episode, Michelle keeps it all the way real—answering your biggest questions about routines, motivation, unpredictability, and the myth of needing everything perfectly organized. If you’ve ever thought, “Where do I even start?” or “What if I’m just too damn tired?”—this one’s for you. 👩🏽‍🏫 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why you don’t need to “fix everything” to get startedHow to build flexible systems that actually fit your lifeWhat to do when motivation vanishesThe L.I.F.E. Framework for creating systems that stickA simple mindset shift (hint: the “easy button”) that changes everything ⏱ Episode Breakdown00:00 – Welcome to Simplifying Life’s Beautiful Bitchiness 00:18 – Real-life Qs: Where do I start? What if I’m too tired? 01:44 – Systems that meet you where you are 03:48 – The power of one small change 05:35 – Ditching rigid routines and embracing flexibility 07:57 – Systems when life is unpredictable AF 10:15 – How to keep going when you’ve got zero motivation 13:30 – Bonus mindset tip + your next step 🙌🏽 Ready for More?1️⃣ Grab your free Your First Life System Guide 2️⃣ Explore my starter offers on the Choose Your Own Adventure page 3️⃣ Come hang out on Instagram – I’m always down to chat 💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!What’s one part of your life that feels harder than it needs to be? DM me or reply to my latest post—I’d love to help you simplify it.

    14 min
  5. APR 8

    9. How I Discovered Life Systems (and Why They Changed Everything)

    This one’s personal. I’m sharing the real story behind how Life Systems came to be—not from a Pinterest board, but from rock-bottom moments of burnout, grief, and a WTF-do-I-do-now season. From learning how to ask for help to teaching my daughter the magic of shared chores (yes, even bathroom duty), I walk you through how I created something that finally made life feel doable again. Spoiler: It all started with one simple system. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps00:00 – Intro: The Idea That Changed Everything That “what if” moment in February 2022 when I realized I could flip standard operating procedures into something personal. 00:35 – Welcome to Simplifying Life’s Beautiful Bitchiness The vibe check: real talk, a few F-bombs, and plenty of “omg same” moments. 01:22 – From Defeat to a New Beginning Grieving my dad, navigating chronic illness, and sitting in silence with one big question: What now? 03:03 – From SOPs to Life Systems Why “personal standard operating procedures” didn’t click—and how a name change made everything finally land. 03:31 – The Household Harmony System The first system I built: learning to ask for help at home and letting go of being the do-it-all mom. 04:38 – Teaching My Daughter (and Myself) Responsibility Bathroom or dishes? The chore delegation saga begins—and how it shifted our whole dynamic. 07:10 – It’s All a Journey No perfect system, no overnight fix—just progress, real-life learning, and tiny wins that add up. 08:16 – Outro: Your Life System Starts Here If one system can change your life, imagine what a few more could do. You in? 👩🏽‍🏫 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How grief and illness sparked a whole new way of livingThe first system that helped me reclaim my sanityWhy asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s wisdomHow Life Systems can be a stepping stone to feeling more in control 🎧 Listen Now:📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Captivate.fm 🙌🏽 Ready for More?1️⃣ Grab my free starter guide → Download Here 2️⃣ Join my email family for weekly real-life strategies → Sign Up Here 3️⃣ Let’s connect! DM me on Instagram 💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!What’s one system you wish you had right now? Hit reply or DM me—I’d love to hear what’s on your mind.

    9 min
  6. APR 4

    8. Creating Life Systems to Combat Burnout and Find Balance

    You ever look around and think, “Why is everything so f****g hard?”* Yeah. Same. In this raw and real episode, I’m opening up about how Life Systems weren’t some cute biz idea—they were my lifeline. I was drowning in burnout, dealing with chronic illness, post-caregiving trauma, and trying to keep my house (and brain) from falling apart. We’re talking about why rigid routines don’t work, what actually does, and how you can build systems that support your version of a balanced life—especially on the days when you’re running on 12%. Whether you’re a tired mom, a spoonie, or just f*cking overwhelmed, this one’s for you. 👩🏽‍🏫 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why traditional routines often fail when you're low on energyThe difference between discipline vs. systems—and why systems winHow to create flexible, no-pressure Life Systems that meet you where you're atA new way to think about balance (hint: it's not Pinterest-perfect)How to get started with my Choose Your Own Adventure tool ⏱ Episode Breakdown:00:00 – Introduction: The Struggle is Real 00:26 – Meet Michelle: From Burnout to Breakthrough 01:18 – Welcome to Simplifying Life's Beautiful Bitchiness 02:04 – The Truth About Routines 03:13 – Building Life Systems That Work 05:09 – The Power of Flexible Systems 07:19 – Creating Your Own Adventure 09:25 – Conclusion: Finding Your Balance 🎧 Listen Now:📌 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Captivate.fm 💡 Mentioned in This Episode:Explore the Choose Your Own Adventure page → https://www.mmvirtualresources.com/choose-your-own-adventure 💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!What’s one thing in your life that could use a better system? DM me on Instagram or send me an email lifesystems@mmvirtualresources.com. I’d love to hear from you!

    10 min

About

Life’s a lot, so let’s make it easier. I help busy, overwhelmed women navigate the chaos with simple, no-BS Life Systems and Bespoke Wellness. From motherhood and chronic illness to everyday resilience, we’re talking about real-life solutions that actually work. Expect bite-sized, relatable episodes packed with humor, practical tips, and the occasional sports or movie reference (because why not?). Whether you’re looking to streamline your day, reclaim your energy, or just hear from someone who gets it, you’re in the right place. Hit play, take a breath, and let’s simplify life without the BS.

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