I’ve always been a planner.
Before I was a mom, I genuinely thought that meant I had things mostly figured out. I was organized, motivated, and pretty confident that with enough effort and good intentions, life would stay manageable.
Then motherhood arrived. Loudly.
I was juggling a sleepless newborn, building my photography business with zero childcare, and trying to keep things afloat while my husband worked long shifts as a nurse during COVID. Around the same time, my dad suffered a severe stroke that left him incapacitated, and overnight, I became a caretaker too.
Time didn’t just get tight.
It vanished into a black hole.
The Part that Still Makes Me Laugh a Little
Here’s the part that still makes me laugh a little: I have a master’s degree in social work. I deeply understood human behavior, mental health, and support structures. I knew how essential the right scaffolding is for people to function well.
And still, my own life felt like it was hanging on by a thread.
That’s when it clicked. I didn’t need more motivation, another planner, or to “try harder.” I needed systems. Real ones. Flexible ones. The kind that could survive exhaustion, curveballs, and days that absolutely did not go according to plan.
But Let’s Back it Up for a Second, Terry (IYKYK)
As a kid, I used to say I wanted to be a secretary. That dream was… ahem, highly discouraged. Aim higher. Dream bigger. You know the speech.
What I didn’t have back then was the language for what I actually wanted.
I wanted to be a COO.
I wanted to create systems and supports that helped things run smoothly behind the scenes. To anticipate needs, reduce friction, and make it easier for everyone else to succeed.
Turns out, that’s exactly what I leaned into during the toughest season of my life.
And it’s also when I realized something important:
I’m the COO of my home.
And I’m betting you are too.
The System that Changed Everything for Me
One of the very first systems I built for myself wasn’t a schedule or a routine.
It was a decision filter.
Because when everything feels important, deciding what to do next is often the hardest part.
That simple tool eventually became what I now call:
5 Minutes to a Lighter Mental Load: a Decision Filter
It’s a quick, practical way to clear mental noise and decide what actually deserves your energy right now.
If your brain feels like it has 47 tabs open, this is a good place to start.
What Simplify Life is Actually About
When my life runs on smart systems and realistic routines, I thrive. My home feels calmer. My brain feels quieter. And I have more space to actually enjoy the people I’m doing all of this for.
That’s what Simplify Life is about.
- Not perfection.
- Not doing more.
- Not squeezing productivity out of every minute.
It’s about building enough structure to support your real life, so you’re not constantly running on fumes.
If you’re here, chances are you don’t need another pep talk.
You need fewer decisions, clearer rhythms, and systems that work even on hard days.
You’re in the right place. Ridiculously glad you’re here 🤍
Want the Decision Filter?
If you want the exact tool I used to cut through the mental noise, you can grab it here:
👉 5 Minutes to a Lighter Mental Load: a Decision Filter
And if you’re anything like me, once the “what do I do next?” pressure lifts… everything gets easier to build from there.
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