Alive & Well – Burnout, Anxiety, Nervous System, Productivity, Time Management, Somatic Tools, Work-Life Balance

Today’s tech is not the same as the Saturday morning cartoons we grew up with. It’s faster, stickier, and designed to hijack attention, delay development, and disrupt regulation. And most of us are just trying to keep up—while feeling totally overwhelmed.In this conversation, I’m joined by The Screentime Consultant herself, Emily Cherkin, a former middle school teacher turned national advocate for tech-intentional parenting.With humor, deep empathy, and zero judgment, she’s helping us rethink the role of screens in our kids’ lives—and our own.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by how much your kids (or you!) are on screens—this one is a must-listen.We’re not anti-tech. But we are pro-child. And that means learning how to use tech in a way that honors real developmental needs, protects relationships, and puts the nervous system first.In today’s episode, we cover:Why today’s tech is rewiring kids’ brains (and what you can do about it)The hidden harms of educational technology (yes, even at school)How to start conversations with your kids and their teachers about screen useIf you’ve ever wondered, “Is this too much?” or “How do I set better boundaries without losing my mind?”—this conversation is for you.Your intuition is spot on. And today’s episode? It’s the guidance you’ve been craving.Press play and let’s get clear on what’s actually best for our kids—and how to lead the way with calm, courage, and intention.Connect with EmilyThe Screentime SolutionEmily on IGThe Screentime Consultant websiteRelated Links:Previous EpisodeWhy You Need a Family Mission Statement and 5 Steps to Writing YoursHow to Talk to Your Kids about Hard Things While Protecting Your Family’s Peace"Calm in the Chaos: 3 Strategies to Navigate Triggering Family Dynamics "Raising Strong-Willed Kids Without Losing Your Mind --- ➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️

Ever walked away from a conversation thinking “Why did I just say that?” “Why did I freeze?” “Why can’t I bring this up without freaking out?”It’s not that you’re bad at communicating. 🧠 Your nervous system is just running the show.In today’s episode, we’re diving into how your nervous system state is shaping your communication—whether you’re snapping, shutting down, or trying to keep the peace at your own expense.We’re breaking down:What fight, flight, freeze, and fawn actually look like in real-time convosWhy you can’t “talk it out” when your body feels unsafeSomatic cues to watch for—and what to do in the moment to shift gearsHow to build real awareness so your communication gets clearer, calmer, and more connected🎧 Hit play and learn how to stop spiraling in hard conversations—and start speaking from a place of safety.>>> 💌 DOWNLOAD THE NERVOUS SYSTEM RESET GUIDE 💌 <<<Related Links:Previous Episode5 Signs You're in Fight or Flight (Even if You're Not Feeling Angry or Anxious)Unlocking Calm Powerful Somatic Practices to Shift out of Fight, Flight or Freeze5 Signs You’re Parenting in Fight-or-Flight—and How to Shift Out of Survival Mode3 Body-Based Tools to Shift Out of Fight-or-Flight (Fast) --- ➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️

Let’s be real: spa days are great, but they’re not going to rewire your nervous system.You need self-care that actually works. The kind that helps your brain slow down, your body feel safe, and your energy come back online.In this episode, we’re redefining self-care for high-achieving women—and talking about 7 surprisingly powerful (and wildly underrated) ways to support your nervous system daily.We’re breaking down: Why multitasking is frying your prefrontal cortexHow hydration and circadian rhythm impact your emotional regulation7 daily self-care habits that actually move the needle on your healingIf you’ve ever rolled your eyes at “more self-care” while drowning in responsibilities—this one’s for you.🎧 Press play and learn the kind of self-care that actually works—especially for high-achieving women like you.>>> 💌 DOWNLOAD THE NERVOUS SYSTEM RESET GUIDE 💌 <<<Related Links:Previous EpisodeThink Self-Care Is Expensive? 3 Powerful Practices That Cost Nothing5 Everyday Habits That Dysregulate Your Nervous System (and What to Do Instead)3 Consistency Habits Behind 300 Episodes (And How They Can Work for You Too)Break Free from Perfectionism & Procrastination and Build Habits That Stick --- ➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️

You won’t always feel the moment you leave survival mode.Healing your nervous system won’t always look like a big breakthrough. Sometimes, it’s quiet. Subtle. Easy to miss if you don’t know what to look for.In this episode, we’re unpacking 4 signs your nervous system is healing—even if you’re not “there yet.” These shifts are easy to overlook, but they’re proof your system is rewiring in powerful ways.We’re diving into: ✔️ Why feeling less reactive is a huge win for your brain✔️ How that moment of compassion is actually nervous system proof✔️ What it means when urgency starts to fade and presence returns✔️ Why joy is one of the strongest signals of regulationIf you’ve ever thought, “Is this even working?”—this one’s for you. 🎧Related Links:Previous Episode5 Signs You're in Fight or Flight (Even if You're Not Feeling Angry or Anxious)"Unlocking Calm Powerful Somatic Practices to Shift out of Fight, Flight or Freeze "How to tell if Your're in Fight, Flight, or Freeze5 Signs You’re Parenting in Fight-or-Flight—and How to Shift Out of Survival Mode --- ➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️

You can look like you have it all together… and still be starving inside.In this raw, deeply honest conversation, I’m joined by Real Housewives of New Jersey star, former attorney, and author Jackie Goldschneider—who opens up about her 20-year battle with anorexia and what it really took to heal.We talk about the hidden layers of disordered eating, the illusion of control, and how shame keeps so many women trapped in silence. Jackie shares how her relationship with food—and with herself—became a secret prison, how recovery cracked her open, and why she’s now using her story to set others free.We also dive into motherhood: how to raise kids who feel safe in their bodies, how to model self-acceptance in a culture obsessed with thinness, and what to stop saying about food and weight—especially in front of our daughtersIf you’ve ever felt trapped in a cycle of food, shame, and control—or you’re raising kids in a culture obsessed with body image—this episode is for you.Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:What recovery from an eating disorder really looks like (and how to know when you're ready)How to talk to your kids about food, weight, and body image without passing on shameHow healing your relationship with your body transforms everything🎧 If you've ever struggled with body image, disordered eating, control, or the pressure to look “perfect,” this episode will feel like someone finally said the quiet part out loud.Connect with Jackie:The Weight of BeautifulJackie on IGRelated Links:Previous EpisodeBanishing Diet Culture: How to Listen to Our Body’s CuesStruggle with Body Image or Stress Eating? Healing Your Relationship with FoodBurnout Recovery Blueprint (Part 2): Get Out of Your Head and Into Your BodyIs Your Body Holding Chronic Stress in Your Fascia? How Fascia is the Key to Healing[rewind] - Want Real and Lasting Change? How to Unlock the Mind-Body Connection --- ➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️

High-functioning anxiety looks like you're killing it.You’re answering the texts, running the meetings, managing all the moving pieces, smiling and saying “I’m good”... ...all the while your nervous system is stuck in overdrive.It doesn’t “look” like anxiety. But it might feel like:Overthinking every decisionTrouble sleeping, even when you’re dead tiredAlways rushing, never restingTight jaw, tense shoulders, shallow breathHere’s what no one tells you 👇The very habits that helped you survive are now the ones keeping you stuck.Stuck in performance.Stuck in perfectionism.Stuck in people-pleasing.Stuck in your head—disconnected from your body.But you can rewire this.In today’s episode, I’m breaking down 3 common mistakes that make high-functioning anxiety worse—and how to shift out of survival mode and into true peace.We’re diving into: ✔️ Why stillness feels so hard (and how to make it safer for your nervous system)✔️ The difference between empathy and emotional enmeshment (and how to stop absorbing everyone else’s energy)✔️ Why always being “the strong one” is costing you more than you thinkIf you’re done pretending you're fine and ready to actually feel better in your body, this one’s for you.Related Links:Previous EpisodeAre You a Perfectionist? 3 Reasons Perfectionists Have High Anxiety7 Ways to Release Stress and Anxiety From Your Body5 Things Your Anxiety Might Be Trying to Tell YouThe #1 Reason You Haven't Been Able to Heal Your AnxietyHow to Reduce Anxiety When It's Happening --- ➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️

Ever feel like your mind & body are stuck in overdrive?It's not just “anxiety.”It's your nervous system trapped in fight-or-flight.And you can't think your way to feeling better.In today’s episode, we’re diving into 3 powerful somatic tools that calm your stress response—fast.Think: science-backed, zero-fluff techniques that get your body back online in minutes.We’re talking about:✔️ Why you can’t just “think your way calm” when your body feels unsafe✔️ The science behind my favorite somatic tools✔️ How to interrupt the stress loop in real time and regulate on the spotFeeling better doesn’t have to be complicated.You just need the right tools—and a body that remembers how to feel safe again.Hit play and learn how to shift out of fight-or-flight, starting right now.⚡️ P.S. Registration for BRB closes TONIGHT!This is your last chance to join the Spring Corhort for 12 weeks of step-by-step nervous system healing.Head to michellegrosser.com/BRB to grab your spot. --- ➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️

If you’ve tried everything—therapy, time-blocking, supplements, mindset work—but still wake up tired, wired, and stuck in survival mode… this episode is your turning point.I’m walking you through the exact 7-step framework I teach inside The Burnout Recovery Blueprint to help high-achieving women regulate their nervous system and actually feel better.No more patchwork self-care plans. No more chasing quick fixes. This is root-cause healing.Inside this episode: ✔️ Why your nervous system—not your schedule—is the root of burnout✔️ The 7 science-backed steps that shift you from overdrive to calm, present, and powerful✔️ What makes BRB different from anything else you’ve tried - and how to know if it’s right for youIf you’re done operating from exhaustion and ready to feel like yourself again, this is the episode to hit play on. 🚪Doors to BRB are open! Let’s get you out of survival mode—for good.Related Links:Previous EpisodeAnxious or Irritated? Stop Trying to be Calm and Try This InsteadHow to Alleviate Overwhelm & Manage the Mental Load of MotherhoodTired of Being Tired? Top Causes of Chronic Fatigue and Powerful Energy-Boosting HabitsFeeling Overwhelmed with Work-Life Balance? 3 Mindset Shifts for Working MomsAre You a Perfectionist? 3 Reasons Perfectionists Have High Anxiety --- ➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️

Tired all the time? Mood all over the place? Period wrecking your week?But every time you get your labs done, it’s the same thing: “Everything looks normal.” 🙄This week on The Calm Mom, I’m joined by Dr. Leisha Drews—a hormone expert and functional medicine practitioner who’s here to say: you’re not crazy, and you’re not broken. As the host of the Happily Hormonal Podcast, Leisha shares her unique insights on how our bodies work and encourages women to take charge of their health.We're talking:✅ Why your labs might look fine—but your body doesn’t feel fine✅ What’s actually going on with your hormones and thyroid ✅ The first 3 shifts to start rebuilding your energy, mood, and cycle healthYou’ll learn how stress, blood sugar, and even your exercise routine are impacting your hormones—and how to support your body with small, practical changes that make a big difference.🎧 Let this episode be your permission slip to trust what you feel, ask better questions, and stop settling for “fine.”Connect with Leisha:📷 @leishadrews 🎙️  Michelle on Happily Hormonal Podcast📝 Take the Hormone Imbalance Quiz💪 Equip Protein PowderRelated Links:Previous EpisodeHeal Your Metabolism & Balance Your HormonesTry This Bedtime Drink to Lower Stress Hormones and Improve SleepIs Your Body Holding Chronic Stress in Your Fascia? How Fascia is the Key to HealingPath to Wellness: The 7 As of HealingHealing Anxiety & Burnout: 4 Non-Negotiables for Nervous System Regulation --- ➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️

If you’re waking up tired, dragging through your day, and barely making it to bedtime without snapping or crashing…You might not have a time management issue or even a sleep issue.💥 You likely have a nervous system issue.In this episode, we’re breaking down what’s actually draining your energy (spoiler: it’s not your to-do list)—and 3 science-backed shifts to help you get it back.You’ll learn:Why burnout messes with your mitochondria (yep, we’re going cellular)How your nervous system is hijacking your energy production3 research-backed ways to naturally rebuild your energy—without relying on caffeine or willpowerWe’re not talking band-aid hacks.  We’re talking real shifts that support your body’s ability to create sustainable, vibrant energy again. Because when your body feels safe, energy is created—not just spent.Hit play and let’s rebuild your energy from the inside out.Related Links:Previous EpisodeThe 4 Rs of Stress Relief: A Simple Framework to Calm Your Mind and BodyThese 5 Habits Are Causing Your Burnout3 Consistency Habits Behind 300 Episodes (And How They Can Work for You Too)Want the Keys to Success? Learn The Top 5 Habits of Successful MomsSustainable Habit Hacks: 5 Steps to Reset Your Habits --- ➡️ ➡️ > SAVE YOUR SPOT: "FROM ON EDGE TO AT EASE" WORKSHOP < ⬅️ ⬅️