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More Time for Mom

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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More Time for Mom

Moms’ HARDEST Week of the Year (and How to Get Through It)

December 30, 2025 • Dr. Amber Curtis • Episode 43

0:00 | 9:37

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In this episode, I name what so many moms quietly feel: the week after Christmas is often the hardest week of the entire year—not because you’re doing anything wrong, but because your nervous system is depleted and your circumstances haven’t caught up with your desire for a fresh start. I also share three very specific things you can look forward to—including free resources and a brand-new program designed to help overwhelmed moms stop white-knuckling their way through life and finally feel like themselves again.

If you’re feeling overstimulated, worn out, and stuck in limbo until the kids go back to school…this episode is your permission to start understanding what your brain and body really need right now.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

Why this in-between week feels so emotionally heavy for moms
Why your brain desperately wants to fast-forward to January
How boredom, chaos, mental load, and lack of structure drain you even more
How giving your brain something to look forward to can shift your emotional state
What actually helps when you feel stuck, unmotivated, and tapped out

AS MENTIONED:

FREE on-demand masterclass: “Unburdened: Releasing the Mental Load” available until Friday, January 2nd at 11:59pm Pacific at https://solutionsforsimplicity.com/unburdened
FREE LIVE masterclass: “Why Plans, Habits, & Goals Backfire – and What You REALLY Need for a Successful 2026” on Tuesday, January 6th at 1pm Eastern with replay included; sign up at https://solutionsforsimplicity.myflodesk.com/backfire
When you start healing at the level of your nervous system, your whole home feels the difference. Join my new 6-week program, Moms Made NewTM, to learn the six most fundamental life coaching skills EVERY mom needs to flourish. Starts Friday, January 16th; sign up at https://momsmadenew.com

HOMEWORK:

Take advantage of at least one (or ideally all three) of the opportunities above. Email me or DM me on Instagram @solutionsforsimplicity to share your thoughts. For so much more, sign up for a free consult at https://tidycal.com/solutionsforsimplicity/free-consult)

COMING UP NEXT:

Join me back next Tuesday at 5am Eastern to keep unpacking the hidden causes of stress keeping you overwhelmed and 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.

0:00

I may be the only one, but I find the week between Christmas and New Year's, or basically the week before the kids go back to school in January, whenever that is, to be, hands down, the hardest week of the year. Welcome to More Time for Mom, where overwhelmed moms get science-backed strategies to overcome the hidden sources of stress stealing your time and joy. I'm your host, Dr. Amber Curtis. Ready to make more time for you? Let's dive in. Your kids are already bored of their sparkly new toys from Christmas. They're fighting like crazy. Everyone's cooped up inside because the weather is usually cold and dreary. The house is a wreck, so your brain is going crazy from all the chaos. Your husband probably has to work, which leaves you dealing with it all at home. Either you or your family members have come down with something nasty after being around all kinds of people for the holidays or traveling. It feels like no one appreciates how hard you just worked to make the Christmas magic happen. And there is just no rest for the weary. Your brain wants to fast forward. You want to fill out your planner, make a vision board, solidify your goals for the new year. But you're basically dead in the water until the kids go back to school. It's a really hard feeling, but here's the silver lining that I keep reminding myself. Feelings are a choice. When you catch yourself feeling a way you don't want to, or a way that doesn't feel good in your body, you get, operative word, get, to choose whether to stay stuck with that feeling or not. One of the best remedies whenever you feel stuck is giving your brain something really good to look forward to. Even if you can't change much about your current circumstances right this moment, I want to offer you a few things that you can hopefully look forward to as much as I am. Now, these are time-sensitive, so if the events have already taken place by the time you're listening to this, the links I mentioned will be updated with more current information and a waitlist if applicable. The first thing you can do to feel better is take advantage of a free masterclass that I just offered a few weeks ago. You can still watch the replay for a few more days. It's called Unburdened, Releasing the Mental Load You Have Carried for Too Long. In this hour-long masterclass, I walk you through why women feel such an overwhelming mental load, what is really going on under the surface, and how to both practically and logistically, as well as emotionally and cognitively, free your mind, free your body of the weight that all of that pressure puts upon you. This is such an ongoing process, but it is so possible. I really want you to take advantage and watch this masterclass. It's going to make you so optimistic about what you can do in the coming year to stop carrying as much of the load as you have been up to this point. The second thing to look forward to is that I am going to be offering a second free masterclass the first week of January all about why not to plan out your year, why not to make big resolutions, and, of course, what to do instead. These are the lessons I have learned the oh-so-hard way. I was that classic person that couldn't wait for every new year to set new big goals and really just you know, do that proverbial clean slate, start fresh, go after big dreams, momentum. I really look back and realize now why that was so appealing to me, what I was really craving instead, and why all of my goals would inevitably fail until I learned what I am going to teach you in this masterclass. It's going to be free. You can sign up through the link in the description, but don't miss it. This is the number one thing you need to watch going into the new year when you are bombarded by all the other productivity and personal development gurus out there telling you that you just need to you know, set better habits and go after big goals. That message is so strong and it really resonates with those of us that are high achievers. But after all my years of struggle and study, I'm going to be telling you what I just wish I knew before I fell for all that propaganda that those other sources are offering. Then the biggest thing that I can't wait for and I really want you to get excited about as well is my brand new six-week life coaching program that starts on January 16th. It's called Moms Made New and this is the culmination of all of my years of certification and life coaching training and neurosomatic intelligence work and so much more. I am going to teach you the six most powerful skills that every woman needs to know to love your life and be able to not just handle the day-to-day stress and get through the hard moments, but really flourish so that your whole family can too. I'm going to help you understand your brain and your body like no one ever has so that you can finally work with instead of against them in order to understand why you do things, why you don't do other things, why you self-sabotage, why you get stressed, why you handle your stress the default way that you do, how all of that is really hurting your family, and of course, how to break free of that vicious cycle so that you can really be the next happier version of yourself. There is so much included, and this is the perfect time of year because it's really going to capitalize on the New Year's energy, but again, give you the practical tools that will put everything else in perspective so that you can make this year your best one yet. It's a virtual group coaching program with live sessions every Friday and of course the replays are included along with tons of resources that you will have lifetime access to so that you can go through as fits your schedule or revisit anytime you need to in the future. I specifically designed this program because I know that mom life is a lot. You hold your home together. You pour yourself out in love. But over the years, you've really lost yourself. Each of the six weeks, you are going to learn a new skill that is going to help you stop clinging to control and white-knuckling your way through mom life so that you can really rest without subconsciously thinking that you have to do certain things or check the right boxes in order to be a good mom. so that you can stop snapping at your husband and kids, so you can quiet that noisy voice inside of you that is always telling you you're not enough. After the whole program, you will feel like a whole new version of yourself. You will be so much more joyful, patient, and loving. You will cultivate stronger, deeper, more authentic and unconditional connections with those around you. and you will feel so much more refreshed from having taken this time for yourself each week. I have never offered anything like this program. It is seriously what my one on one clients pay me thousands of dollars for and in this first round I am offering it for such a fraction of what it's worth because I really want to make this accessible to every mom. I am so convinced that every woman needs these six skills and I'm on such a mission to help not just you, but your whole family. Again, check out the link in the description for more information. It is such a low price this time around and there are a variety of payment plans available to make it even more affordable no matter what your situation. I really, really want you in there. I know this is going to be the thing that solves everything for you. Unlike any other program you have ever tried, this program is going to help you see why those other programs failed and more than anything, show you that you are not a failure. You are not the problem. You just never knew how to work with your brain and body in the way that I will teach you. Come join us inside Moms Made New. We start January 16th, so don't miss this registration window. Alright, normal programming will resume next week once my kids are, fingers crossed, back in school. I have a little more time, a little more peace and quiet. I have so many amazing episodes planned for you this year as we continue to unpack the hidden sources of stress stealing your time and joy. Until then, remember nothing you do changes how wonderful and worthy you are. Have a great day. I know more than anyone how precious your time is, so the fact that you spent it listening to this podcast means the world. Make sure to subscribe, and if you got value out of this show, I would be so honored if you'd leave a review and share this episode with another busy mama who needs to hear it. We've got this.