Habits that keep me sane in busy seasons - Ep 111
Summer is a season filled with high energy, endless laughs, impromptu trips, and late-night plans.
The spontaneity is unmatched, and honestly, it’s so much fun. But let’s be real for a second—at the ripe age of 31, all that "go with the flow" energy can also totally throw me off my axis.
It doesn't take much for a busy season to leave me feeling scattered, requiring a serious backtrack to regain some sense of routine and balance.
If you’re listening to (or reading) this during a chaotic, fast-paced season of life, this one is for you. I’m breaking down the exact habits, rituals, and tools that keep me grounded—and frankly, keep me sane—when the days are flying by and I barely have time to center myself.
From morning rituals and analog hobbies to the exact products making up my "hot girl walk" uniform, here is my survival guide for staying grounded.
Create & consume:
What Austen is creating: 4 things I’m weirdly passionate about reel
What Austen is consuming: Taylor Swift’s wedding content (what little we have to go on so far)
In this episode:
Digital and analog systems to keep the brain organized
Filling in my Notion hub
When life gets chaotic, my brain relies entirely on my Notion hub. I keep everything here: yearly goals, content ideas for the podcast, short-form videos, YouTube planning, and brand contacts. To keep from drowning in the day-to-day, I use it to map out:
Weekly goals: Breaking the big picture into bite-sized pieces.
Monthly check-ins: Pausing to see what's working and what isn't.
Want to get your life organized too?You can grab my Notion setup and stay on track by checking out this link.
Movement with the Peloton app
Consistency is my anchor. I try to get on the Peloton bike three times a week, but when I'm traveling or out of my usual routine, the Peloton app is a lifesaver. Those weekly streaks keep me incredibly motivated, and if I'm away from home, I just opt for their no-equipment workouts.
Leaning into analog hobbies
When your job and life live on a screen, you need offline hobbies. Lately, I've been getting into the habit of reading physical books—especially early in the morning on non-Peloton days, or right before bed.
The ongoing debate: should I get a Kindle? Let me know your thoughts, because the physical pages are great, but the convenience of a Kindle is tempting.
Other analog favorites: Painting, cooking, and needlepoint are all amazing ways to force your hands (and mind) to disconnect.
Grounding routines & the "hot girl walk"
Walking wherever, whenever
Never underestimate the power of a simple walk. Even if it's just to run a quick errand, getting outside keeps me feeling entirely grounded. It’s a habit you can take with you anywhere in the world.
If I'm doing a proper "Hot girl walk," I have a strict uniform. Here are my essentials:
Baseball cap & Sunglasses (Instant focus mode)
Calpak belt bag (Hands-free is non-negotiable)
Nike Zoom Vomero 5 sneakers (Like walking on clouds)
An iced coffee, water, or a sparkling water
Bike shorts
Non-negotiable morning rituals
How you start the day sets the tone for everything else. No matter how busy I am, my morning always includes:
Coffee (the ultimate incentive to get out of bed)
Eye patches (To fake a good night's sleep)
Reading or a workout (Moving my mind or my body first)
Making my bed (An instant, easy win before the day even starts)
Food, boundaries, and social connections
Intentional meal planning
Knowing which foods give me energy and which make me lethargic is half the battle.
Meal planning isn't always easy when you're on the go, but even just looking up menus ahead of time to find solid options nearby helps immensely.
Keeping a running list of meals you love in your rotation takes the decision fatigue out of dinner.
Setting social media boundaries
I’ll admit it: I’ve been decidedly not great at this lately.
But in general, I try to take three full weeks offline each year.
Whether it's deleting the apps entirely, using a Brick, or setting highly designated, strict scroll times, protect your peace from the comparison trap.
Connection rituals
When you're busy, friendships and relationships take effort to maintain. Here is how I keep those connections strong:
Phone calls on the move: Walking or driving is the perfect time to catch up with friends.
The 90-day dinner: Four of my closest friends have a scheduled dinner set in stone once a quarter. No back-and-forth texting trying to find a date; it’s locked in every 90 days.
Pizza fridays: Every single Friday, Andrew and I either order pizza or go out for a slice if the weather is nice. It’s less about the food and more about the ritual—it’s a beautiful signal to my brain that the week is officially coming to a close.
Comfort & the Sunday reset
Seeking out comfort creators & shows
When everything around you is in flux, there is immense comfort in seeking out familiar voices, faces, and storylines. I have a whole roster of creators and shows I turn to when I need a mental hug.
Vloggers I tune into weekly: Tara Michelle, Brooke Miccio, Amber Burns, and Taylor Morello.
Comfort TV Watches: Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, Psych (Curious about my ultimate Mount Rushmore of TV shows? Go back and listen to Episode 105 of the podcast!).
The Sunday reset
Finally, I cannot survive a hectic season without my Sunday Reset. It completely primes me for the week ahead:
Getting groceries and meal prepping.
Usually abstaining from drinking so I wake up clear-headed on Monday.
Setting goals for the week and coordinating calendars/plans with Andrew.
Updating my finance and budgeting sheets.
Scheduling emails for Monday morning so I don't have to think about them over the weekend.
Summary:
Finding balance in a busy season is a moving target, but these small anchors keep me from drifting completely off course.
I want to hear from you: What is one non-negotiable habit that keeps you grounded when life gets chaotic? Drop a comment below, or come chat with me over on Instagram!
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