Hey sweet friend,

Welcome to the very first installation of the Dwell & Delight devotional!

As a busy mom of 2 and an external processor, I love sending voice messages to my friends (especially my mom friends; sometimes it feels like a playdate without being a playdate!).

My hope is that these weekly letters will feel like receiving a sweet voice message or text from a friend who is letting you know about fun things she is doing with her family, what has been helping her improve her life in small and effective ways, and what God is teaching her. And just as you would listen to a message from your friend, I’m sure you would reply to her with messages of your own struggles, lessons, encouragement, and growth. As you read these letters, my desire is that you also share with me and others what God is doing in your life, whether you implemented an idea from a letter and how it went, or any advice you may be able to give if you have walked through a similar season.

Each week, I will share at least one way you can “dwell” or sit intentionally in your faith and motherhood based on things I have done or want to do, one way you can “delight” or find magic and beauty in your faith and motherhood, and one verse and application that God has shown me that week.

With that, let’s dive in!

One thing I love about Substack moms is so many of us seem to share the same desire to live more intentionally and be more present and figuring that out in the constraints of a hectic external world and chaotic internal world (my mind feels like I am playing a game of dodgeball but they are all being thrown at once and and instead of dodging them, I am trying to catch and corral them all lol!).

So one way I have been trying to “dwell well” and be more present with God, with my family, and with myself is to look at the clouds. Yes, clouds.

I live in Texas, and one thing I have always loved is the big, open sky and how it can get decorated with fluffy white cotton-ball clouds.

Whenever I am driving my kids to and from school, I like to bring their attention to the clouds. Sometimes we try to guess what animals they remind us of, and sometimes we talk about how God made the clouds, and my oldest will usually make some dreamy comment about wanting to sleep on the clouds or something along those lines.

Something about fluffy white clouds brings me back to childhood and laying in the grass or on a friend’s trampoline and watching them roll slowly by.

Many people feel a sense of awe and peace when taking in a scene of mountains or the ocean. But for many of us, mountains and oceans are not accessible in daily life.

So this week, look at the clouds.

I became a mom in the middle of personal burnout and a brutal pandemic. So even though I wanted to have plants, I joked that was all I could do to keep myself and my kid alive, and there was no way I could also keep a plant alive. Thus, fake plants became a part of my interior design.

However, now my kids are 5 and 2, and we have much more stability, and my girls are kind and keen big helpers. We are spending a lot more time outdoors, so one way I am delighting in life more is by caring for and keeping plants.

Depending on your capacity, start small by displaying some cheap bouquets from Trader Joe’s or Costco. We also like to use the petals for crafts when they start wilting!

I recently picked up a few vegetable plants from Costco, and I have my kids help me water them. I have also replaced a few decorative plants with real ones from The Home Depot AND I even scored a beautiful fiddle tree from our local Buy Nothing Group. Basically, I am trying to make my home into a greenhouse lol.

We also have some very neglected garden beds filled with rocks and weeds that I have had my kids help me till and dig up so we can replace them with fresh soil, and since they have been spending so much time outside after school, it is has been a great bonding experience to work side by side with them and they have LOVED getting to dig.

So this week, try to find ways to bring nature indoors and allow your kids to take part in its care and keeping. Even if they die, the journey accounts for half the delight and opens great opportunities to talk about God’s power in creation and the responsibility of caring for something beyond ourselves.

And nature is just super pretty :)

I won’t always use a Substack note for the devotional section, but for this week, I think this note perfectly sums up my heart for this publication and the delight that God has for us and the subsequent delight He invites us to have with Him in return. I can’t think of anything more beautiful than that :).

Thank you for taking the time to be here for this first installation of the Dwell & Delight Devotional! May the Lord bless you and keep you and may His face shine upon you always, sweet friend.

Love,

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*If you’ve been encouraged by this and want to support my writing, I have set up a “buy me a coffee” link to make a one-time donation. This honors the time and resources that go into me creating gentle, faith-filled content. While it is greatly appreciated, it is not expected. I am deeply thankful to simply have your presence here!

You can also support me by checking out my growing digital resource library. It’s designed to be a calm, one-stop companion to the ideas I share here—something you can revisit whenever life feels heavy or overwhelming. This resource is optional, offered with pay-what-you-want pricing, and includes lifetime access as new tools and reflections are added over time.

Last year, I had the bright idea to sell flower bouquets my daughters arranged in our neighborhood, and, yes, it was as magical as it sounds!

When I was younger, I didn’t see the need for flowers. I enjoyed them, but never bought them for myself, and told people not to get them for me because “they just die anyway”.

I know, I know. I literally had no sense of whimsy.

This is also coming from a girl whose childhood heroine was Anne of Green Gables, and I just KNOW she would not consider me a kindred spirit if she heard me say that.

But then I had kids. And I started buying flowers because if I was going to be at home with my kids all the time, then dagumit I was going to have something pretty to look.

For months, I’ve loved buying flowers just because they make the house feel alive again. My oldest always helps me take the big Costco bouquets and turn them into smaller ones for each room. Lately, I’ve been seeing videos of people selling flowers from their own little stands, and I thought, “How sweet would that be to do together?” I don’t have a garden or anything fancy — just a few cheap store bouquets and some imagination — but I knew she’d love it. And she did.

Dwell & Delight reader-supported publication and your time and attention are so appreciated. My mission with each article is to encourage women in their faith, motherhood, and wellness. If you enjoy my work, I would be honored if you considered becoming a free or paid subscriber.

We made our bouquets the night before and set up a tiny stand outside the next day. I’ll be honest — she was tired and hungry, and I probably should’ve waited until the weekend. But once we got going, she lit up. She greeted every neighbor with her little confident smile and proudly told them how much each bouquet cost. My youngest sat in her stroller, eating snacks and waving to everyone who came by. By the time we sat down to eat dinner outside, I realized that what started as an ordinary weekday had turned into one of those golden-hour moments I’ll remember for a long time.

It reminded me that my kids can’t fully enjoy their childhood if I’m not enjoying my motherhood. The routine stuff will always be there — homework, baths, bedtime — but the magic is what we make space for.

Afterward, a few neighbors told us they loved seeing the stand or wished they hadn’t missed it. It made me think about that study that says time slows down when you do new and novel things with people you love. I felt that truth in my bones that day.

Needless to say, this was an activity that I will be repeating again this year and my hope is that this time, I can use flowers we grew ourselves! So if you’re looking for a whimsical little spring activity that builds connection with your kids and community and even a little lesson in entrepreneurship, make your own little family flower stand!

If you’ve been in a season that feels heavy or repetitive, maybe this is your reminder to do something small and whimsical this week — not to be productive, not to perform, but simply to delight in it. You might be surprised by how much beauty is waiting in the middle of your ordinary.

Much love,

Sarah

*If you’ve been encouraged by this and want to support my writing, I have set up a “buy me a coffee” link to make a one-time donation. This honors the time and resources that go into me creating gentle, faith-filled content. While it is greatly appreciated, it is not expected. I am deeply thankful to simply have your presence here! You can also support me by checking out my growing digital resource library. It’s designed to be a calm, one-stop companion to the ideas I share here—something you can revisit whenever life feels heavy or overwhelming. This resource is optional, offered with pay-what-you-want pricing, and includes lifetime access as new tools and reflections are added over time.

Hey sweet friend,

If you haven’t noticed already, I have changed the name of this publication to Dwell & Delight, and I have found it to be such a fitting name for where I’m at and what I’m doing here on Substack, as well as in my personal life.

I really want my articles and notes to all read as if they are texts or letters to a friend about what God is doing in my life, what He is teaching me, and the things I’m loving or learning as I grow as a woman of God, as a wife, and as a mom.

I have been very passionate about soft and slow living over the last few years, and that has morphed into an intentional approach across all areas of my life. After burnout brought me to the feet of Jesus, I have found that my only desire in this season of my life is to be faithful with where I’m at and learn how to slow down and dwell in the good AND hard seasons, and to find or create delight no matter the circumstances.

I will say it was a lot easier to do this in March because January and February brought bleak weather to Texas, with ice storms, dark yet early evenings, and a busier work schedule for my husband. Things have since lightened up a little bit with my husband’s job (and literally with daylight saving time), and the weather in Texas has brought longer days and more beautiful weather. I’ve been trying to soak it all in before it gets super hot here in Texas and stays hot for the next seven months lol.

Without further ado, here are the things I did in March to dive deeper into my faith and find joy in motherhood that did NOT include endless scrolling.

What the Analog Experiment Looked Like This Month

Seasonally Themed Activities

The first thing I did to kick off my joy campaign was to plan and execute seasonal activities for my kids and me to enjoy together.

I LOVE flowers (basically everything I have is some sort of floral print), so this was an easy season to plan for.

Here’s the list of activities that I made, some of which we have done and some which are still in the works:

1. make a fairy garden

2. ID plants on nature walks

3. make flower crowns

4. press flowers and turn them into decorations

5. make decorative paper chains

6. raise and release butterflies

We just finished our fairy garden adventure (here is an article on how I turned it into a fun scavenger hunt and what it taught me about faith!), and now we are in the chrysalis phase of raising our butterflies for release, which was a favorite activity from last year.

Over the last year and a half, I’ve really focused on creating seasonal baskets I can do with my kids, or themed crafts and activities that would be fun for all of us, so this next week I will be working on affordable bunny baskets for Easter!

Spending Time Outside

The second thing I have been implementing is being outside as much as possible. We finally got our back porch cleaned up after not touching it over the winter, and we were able to score some amazing patio furniture for free from a neighbor who had put it on the curb.

I have also made it a little game to try to find things for our backyard as affordably as possible, such as getting a few things like bubbles and a new kiddie pool from Dollar General, and checking out our Buy Nothing group for more things that we could use to play outside.

Because of the nice weather, our after-school time has been so sweet and intentional, where we eat outside, play outside, and read our Bible outside, and our family has been loving that intentional time. Along with that, for myself personally, I’ve been enjoying going on a lot of walks.

We live near a greenbelt, so just being able to listen to my Bible or go on a prayer walk around our neighborhood or in the greenbelt has been such a fulfilling, holy habit for me.

Following the Liturgical Calendar

The third thing is following the liturgical calendar. While I grew up Southern Baptist and currently attend a non-denominational church, I’ve had many sweet friends in the Anglican and Catholic traditions who have taught me about the beauty and traditions of liturgy and the rhythms of incorporating the liturgical calendar into seasonal activities.

We have been loving going through the book Sacred Seasons, and it offers wonderful ideas for adapting different rhythms and disciplines into daily life with the kids. It has also been interesting for us to learn about different saints, and there are also wonderful recipes and activity suggestions to follow, so it is something I highly recommend.

What March Revealed

This month showed me that when life slows down even just a little, it’s so much easier to notice what’s truly important. The extra light in the evenings, the warmer weather, and just being able to breathe outside with my kids reminded me how much joy is in simple, intentional moments.

Living more “analog” and “offline” has become much more second nature now than it was right around Christmas, as a lot of my focus has shifted from trying to find happiness in my phone to getting dopamine hits by putting things together for the joy of my family. As it turns out, it is way more fun to create moments of delight than it is to consume megabytes of dopamine. Who knew??

A Gentle Encouragement

If any of this resonates with you, let this be your sign to try your own analog experiment. It doesn’t have to look like mine, or like what you see online. It doesn’t even have to look the same month to month.

Making it an experiment gives so much more freedom. It lets you find sustainable ways to use your phone as a tool while also building a life you love offline.

I would love to hear what that looks like for you.

Thank you for being part of this. ✨

Much love,
Sarah

*If you’ve been encouraged by this and want to support my writing, I have set up a “buy me a coffee” link to make a one-time donation. This honors the time and resources that go into me creating gentle, faith-filled content. While it is greatly appreciated, it is not expected. I am deeply thankful to simply have your presence here! You can also support me by checking out my growing digital resource library . It’s designed to be a calm, one-stop companion to the ideas I share here—something you can revisit whenever life feels heavy or overwhelming. This resource is optional, offered with pay-what-you-want pricing, and includes lifetime access as new tools and reflections are added over time.

This may be a hot take (or maybe not, you tell me), but getting my nails done is not relaxing.

I love partaking in beauty services, but in this economy, I’ve had to become a bit of a DIY girly. I tend to do my hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes at home, but as someone who has tried and failed continuously at doing my own nails (and as a chronic nail biter since childhood), getting my nails done is my little splurge.

I do have a sweet friend who does my nails sometimes, and she is amazing! I adore the quality time with her, but our schedules don’t always align and, hey, it’s been a bit of a stressful week, so why not go get a little fancy? And so I went, feeling all whimsical and full of glee.

But as the service went on, I became just so acutely aware of how many things I would rather be doing than sitting there fighting for my life to not accidentally play footsie with the tech. I also never realize just how bad I am at relaxing my hands. Anyone else?? And I don’t know if it’s just me, but I always have to itch my face when one hand is in the dryer and the other one is being done.

It’s just a boring sensory nightmare all the way around—unless you get a pedicure with the massage chair lol.

It’s one of those places where, in a way, you are forced to deal with the boredom because you can’t use your hands or move a lot. Also, sometimes if I am trying to listen to something in an AirPod, I can get a little overstimulated because there are conversations happening around me, there’s background music on, sometimes there’s a TV, and it’s just a lot for my ADHD mind.

But while I was sitting there the other day, just looking around and taking everything in, my mind started to get frantic—thinking about what else I needed to get done or how I could use the 10 seconds of one hand being free to try to entertain myself. And I honestly just got the ick with myself. Like, why couldn’t I just be CHILL?

So while I did have an AirPod and tried to listen to an audiobook, I ended up taking it out and turning it off and just sitting there.

I started looking at all the colors of nail polishes and powders and just admiring the diversity of colors that there were and thanking God for such a wonderful display. That train of thought led to praising Him in my head and then praying for certain people as they came to mind.

Then I started feeling uncomfortable from slouching, so I sat up a little straighter and started doing some core exercises—simply engaging my core for a few seconds and then letting it go, and doing the same with my glutes. I added in some heel raises as well as some neck rolls to stretch out my body and basically got in a little chair workout.

In between sets of these little stretches and exercises, I practiced some deep breathing, and it hit me that I hadn’t actually taken a good breath all morning.

It was so fascinating to me how, since my hands were trapped and I couldn’t sit there scrolling, I was actually able to do things that I usually feel like I don’t have time to do, like stretches or core exercises. I realized, too, that while I engage in passive prayers throughout the day for the things I want and need, I am not always intentional about actively praying for other people or praising the little details of creativity and love God leaves for us to notice.

Heck, I was even able to think through some ideas for articles I wanted to write, notes I wanted to post on Substack, and plot points for the second children’s book that I’m working on!

It felt a little weird not to immediately put everything down in my phone because a lot of times, if I don’t write it down, I will forget. But just being purposeful with my thoughts, prayers, and body in the little bit of time that I was nail-trapped was actually such a good exercise in mindfulness.

Being present and being intentional is a discipline, and that’s something I’m learning more and more every day—and something I’m trying to get better at, because honestly, I’m not really good at it. Even if you don’t have your phone on you, it can sometimes be hard to be present if you’re just letting your mind wander all the time. It really does take a lot of spiritual and mental strength to take thoughts captive and be purposeful with how you are breathing in a moment, moving through a moment, and engaging in a moment.

So in a way, getting my nails done wasn’t just this little treat. It actually felt really good not to be rushing to get things done or rushing to try to entertain myself before I drown in my own thoughts.

So the next time you want to get your nails done and you need a way to justify the experience to yourself or to someone else, just say it’s good practice at being present 😉.

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For The Reader

What’s one small, ordinary moment this week that you can turn into an opportunity to practice presence and intention?

Hi sweet friend!

Let me ask you a question.

Do you delight in your life? Not just enjoy it or like it, but actually delight in it?

I recently renamed this newsletter to Dwell & Delight because that is essentially the focus of my life right now, as I learn to slow down and settle in (dwell) and find or make beauty (delight) in faith and in motherhood after a period of burnout and rebuilding.

I realized this week that I actually HAVE been finding delight in my attempts to create it, and that has been a wonderful revelation because I have not always been able to see the goodness of God in the midst of the hard or try to appreciate what I had in the way I’m learning to do now.

Before Motherhood

The first time I got pregnant was in 2019, less than a year into my marriage. Around that time, I had just been diagnosed with PCOS and generalized anxiety, lost my grandmother to cancer, and left a job I had enjoyed but felt like I was underperforming in. Looking back, I realize much of it was likely my undiagnosed ADHD, which was becoming hard to manage alongside the pressures of planning a wedding, starting a new chapter in my career, moving, and going through deep personal counseling for the first time.

I had also only been following Jesus intentionally for a few years, diving deeply into theology, while navigating that awkward transition after college. I had moved away from my friends, was still new to the area, and was still relatively new to the church my husband and I were a part of. I was unsettled in every area of life, trying to figure out who I was after college, adjusting to marriage, moving again, and building new routines. It was a lot all at once.

Loss and Grief

In July 2019, I started a new job about nine months after leaving my previous one. I had been looking for full-time work the whole time. I had an IUD and was not trying to get pregnant, but somehow it happened. I experienced an ectopic pregnancy in my fallopian tube. I was terrified and had almost no knowledge about what was happening. I was told I could not continue the pregnancy and that it could be fatal if left untreated.

I ended up losing the baby, and I was completely wrecked. Even now, years later, I do not think I have fully processed everything.

Trying Again

Once we were cleared to start trying for kids, we decided to let go and let God. I had only recently been diagnosed with PCOS and had learned that it could take months, if not years, to get pregnant. Somehow, it only took about two months. I was sick and throwing up the whole time, and then the pandemic hit. My anxiety skyrocketed, and I struggled with horrible anxiety during both of my pregnancies.

Motherhood in Survival Mode

When I had my daughter in July 2020, the world as I knew it was gone. Everything had been completely overturned again and again. In the five short years between graduating college and having my oldest, I was new to faith, new to motherhood, new to church, new to my town, and new to marriage. God had to do a lot of rebuilding on the blank slate that I was.

Between 2020 and 2023, I learned a lot about finding slow and intentional rhythms and how to evolve them based on the stage I was in and the capacity I had, which was often next to nothing. While I absolutely loved being a mom and adored my daughter, I was completely at the end of myself multiple times a day. I was wrecked by my limitations and found myself leaning heavily into God.

Looking back at the mom I was then versus the mom I am now, I can see that while I loved being a mom, I did not always delight in it. I never wanted to be away from my daughter, but I constantly needed breaks—not because of her, but because of me and my own limitations.

Growing Capacity And Making Things Magical

When I got pregnant with my second, it took a lot longer. We needed some external medical help, and while the pregnancy was still challenging, I felt like I had a solid foundation underneath me. My world did not completely change, and my love, my capacity, and my trust in myself and in God were so much stronger. I felt more capable and competent.

Having my second child and watching my oldest grow into the most amazing big sister brought so much joy. Seeing the delight that my youngest brought—and continues to bring—added a little bow on our family that filled me with so much happiness.

Now, as they get older and develop their personalities and quirks, their interactions are more involved and engaging. I am truly finding that while I have always had joy in life, I can now dwell in delight.

I saw that today while doing a fairy garden activity. A few weeks ago, I bought some things from the Dollar Tree to make a little fairy garden. Last year, I had just let my kids play with the supplies themselves, and it only lasted a few minutes. But this year, I spent the past few weeks working on themes to make it an intentional, fun, and beautiful activity.

I picked up all the materials during the spring decor sale, then got pretty envelopes with heart-shaped seals. I even had AI help me craft a letter from the fairies, asking my daughters for help to create a new fairy garden. Their old garden had been destroyed in a storm, and the letter explained that only children with the magic of love could rebuild something so magical.

I set up the envelopes with the letters next to little plush fairies and hid the fairy garden items around the yard. I read the letter to my kids and invited them on a scavenger hunt to find the pieces and assemble the garden. My youngest was a little distracted, but my oldest loved it. She is in kindergarten, practicing reading and writing, and she adored writing a letter back to the fairies. It was just so sweet to watch.

The Discipline of Delight

It became my goal to intentionally talk about Jesus and what He is doing in my life, even when it is hard. I also began looking for beauty and meaning even when it seems like there is none, and creating intentional, joyful moments with my family. Even though life still has its ups and downs, it has become a habit for me to make and savor these little moments. I am not a crafty mom, a Pinterest mom, or an aesthetic mom, but I find so much delight in simply spending time with my family and dwelling in the sweetness of God.

Now my girls are starting to talk more about the Bible and Jesus, wanting to read and share that time together. It reminds me of the sweetness in my own relationship with God, and that life does not have to be all rigid structure or discipline. It can also be about living intentionally and connecting meaningfully, something I am consistently learning and working on.

This is why I have this new name for my newsletter. My goal is to cultivate the discipline of delight in my faith and in my motherhood. I hope to encourage others to do the same. I started my motherhood journey feeling like a shell of who I used to be, unsure of who I was, and like a stranger in my own body, mind, and world. The discipline of delight has been key in reminding me that Christ is the solid rock I stand on, and all other ground is sinking sand, just like the hymn says.

Learning to delight in God, remembering that He delights in me, and delighting in what and who He has given me, and who He has made me to be, has helped me grow closer to my faith and my family. Even when I am hanging on by a thread, the discipline of delighting in the Lord has kept me going. I pray the same for you. Keep going, sweet friend. You are not alone.

Love,

Sarah

A Question For You

What is one way you can either slow down and dwell in your current season or one way you can create magic and delight in your life this week?

*If you’ve been encouraged by this and want to support my writing, I have set up a “buy me a coffee” link to make a one-time donation. This honors the time and resources that go into me creating gentle, faith-filled content. While it is greatly appreciated, it is not expected. I am deeply thankful to simply have your presence here! You can also support me by checking out my growing digital resource library . It’s designed to be a calm, one-stop companion to the ideas I share here—something you can revisit whenever life feels heavy or overwhelming. This resource is optional, offered with pay-what-you-want pricing, and includes lifetime access as new tools and reflections are added over time.

Oh look, it’s another rebrand lol!

And by rebrand, I mainly just mean a new title on Substack and maybe a new logo and color scheme. But in all seriousness, I just wanted to make a little note about what is going on over here and what this change actually means.

A Quick Backstory

If you are new to this newsletter, I originally had a previous publication here on Substack that was doing really well and that I was having a lot of fun with.

But in 2025, most of my focus was on trying to grow and learn how to create on short form platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

I used to work in social media marketing, and as a stay at home mom who was spending way too much time doom scrolling, I told myself that I either needed to get creative and start making things or just stop being on social media altogether.

All of last year I had so much fun learning the ins and outs of those platforms from a creator standpoint instead of just being a consumer.

But like anything good in this life, a good thing can become a god thing if you are not careful. I really was not writing as much. I was just trying to grow instead of bring glory to God.

The Substack Accident

Then I fell in love with the Substack community and began to take it more seriously.

However, right when I started taking it more seriously, I accidentally deleted my newsletter when I was trying to update my email.

I even got in touch with Substack support and they said there was nothing they could do. When something is deleted, it is gone. They could not even figure out how it happened. I think it was a glitch on the mobile app, but I lost all of my articles along with everyone who was subscribed to me and everyone I was subscribed to.

So in October I had to start fresh.

Trying to Do Too Much

I was feeling really overwhelmed trying to come up with a schedule that would work for me because I had so many ideas but not really enough time or bandwidth to post them.

I came out with a few different series and started repurposing some of my old content that I had backed up, even though I lost most of everything.

At the same time I also started working on my second children’s book and a digital product.

And in the midst of all of that, I started trying to make myself more into a brand.

I love the idea of personal branding and coming up with a way to cohesively tell a story through colors and fonts and images and things like that, especially as someone who used to work in marketing and branding.

I was trying to learn all these skills and eventually figure out how to make a little money through my writing and my creative work.

When Branding Started to Feel Like Pressure

But in the midst of it all, I started to feel like I was drifting away from my authentic voice because I was getting too focused on making myself into a brand instead of just being a person.

I wanted people who came across my work to feel like I had something valuable to offer.

But eventually it started to feel less like me sharing the things I have learned while rebuilding a softer, more intentional life after burnout and seeing how God has worked in my life and is still working in my life.

Instead, it started to feel more like I was trying to prove to others that there would be something worthwhile for them if I could just package and market my stories and my content more effectively.

I began to feel out of touch with how I was writing because I was so focused on making sure it would be useful to someone else instead of just sharing it like I would if I were texting a friend.

Why I’m Pivoting

Because on Substack, while you absolutely can build a business here and many people do, and I would love to do that someday, at the end of the day what I really love is connecting with people.

I love reading other people's journeys and learning from them through personal storytelling instead of branded marketing.

That is not to say that I did not learn a lot or that I did not have fun while I was doing it, because I really did.

But anything can slowly drift in a different direction if you are not paying attention.

So I want to reel it back in a little bit and refresh this newsletter.

Honestly, as a creative person, if you are not doing little refreshes every once in a while, you can start to lose your passion.

And since this is a personal newsletter and not really a business that I am running, I am realizing it is not that serious.

I want to take it seriously enough that it could lead to something more serious one day. But at the end of the day, this is a community building outlet.

What I Actually Want This Space to Be

While I do want to encourage others through my writing and my stories, I want to do it from the heart.

I want to share with you the way I would share with a friend, not the way I would share if I were the CEO of a nonprofit telling my story in order to get you to buy my product.

Even though I genuinely stand by what I have written and shared before, and even though I do have a digital product that I have been working on, I do not want to spend all of my time and energy marketing myself.

I want to connect.

And that is honestly the whole reason why I majored in public relations in the first place. At its core, it is about connection, and that really is the essence of who I am on a deeper level.

The New Direction

So with that, I am pivoting the newsletter away from trying to be this digital magazine that I was building and bringing it back to something that feels more like a little snail mail newsletter.

Something simple where I can share and encourage other moms and women.

All the advice I have heard from content creator coaches says that you should not create selfish content or content that focuses too much on yourself.

But at the same time, I lost my own voice when I kept trying to make everything about everyone else.

I just want to be open and share my journey and what God is doing in my life. I do hope it encourages others.

I also have a digital resource that I have been working on that gathers together themes that helped me when I was in the midst of burnout. These are themes I learned from other women, things I learned personally, ideas rooted in biblical principles, and practical and sometimes fun ideas that I have gathered along the way.

Why “Dwell & Delight”

So with that, I am calling this newsletter the Dwell & Delight newsletter.

And honestly, it might change again later. But right now it feels like the best way to describe the season I am in.

It captures my personal journey of learning to slow down and dwell with God in the mundane and savor the moments that I am in while I am in them.

It also means sitting with my feelings and actually feeling them instead of trying to rush past them. A few years ago my therapist told me that I do not really feel my feelings. I tend to intellectualize them instead.

So the content probably will not change all that much, but the delivery will. And I am hoping that this shift creates more connection between me and you, sweet friend.

Learning to Dwell & Delight

I am learning to dwell and delight in motherhood and in my faith instead of constantly rushing past things.

Sometimes it is hard to dwell when you are feeling burnt out. It takes intentional effort.

And sometimes it is hard to delight when life feels heavy or when you are walking through difficult seasons.

But that is my goal. That is the journey I am on as I try to live more intentionally, and I cannot wait to share more of it with you.

A Small Creative Refresh

I am also thinking about changing the color scheme a little bit and incorporating more yellow.

Yellow is not even my favorite color, but lately I have felt drawn to it now that it is spring. It just feels joyful and bright, and I want to bring a little more joy and lightness into this space and not take things quite so seriously all the time.

Delight as a Discipline

Because God delights in us. And we can delight in His law and His word.

Those things can sometimes feel challenging, and sometimes I think I have made the Christian walk feel so serious that it begins to feel like something I have to do instead of something I get to delight in.

Sometimes I even feel like God does not delight in me.

But I want to remind myself, and anyone reading this, that delight is actually a discipline.

And the discipline of delight brings us more in line with God’s design for our lives. When we engage in intentional rhythms, when we do the hard things now so we can enjoy the fruit later, and when we obey God’s commands, there is actually so much freedom in that.

We just do not always remember it.

So I hope you enjoy this little pivot for the newsletter and that we can learn to dwell and delight in the Lord and in life together, sweet friend.

Much love,

Sarah

Ok, please tell me I’m not alone is feeling like January felt like 10 years but Febrary felt like 10 seconds because what the heck do you mean it’s March??

Well, anyway, here is the analog update for February, but in March lol! I feel like “going analog” in February didn't really turn out the way I planned. But does anything in life ever go according to plan?

I had originally hoped to have a set schedule with my analog experiment updates coming out at the end of each month, but I actually think it works out better to have the first article of the month be my analog experiment update for the prior month. I hope you feel the same!

February was a blur. It was full of so many sweet memories, but I am honestly a little glad it is over.

When the year first started, we did not expect to have everything going on that we did. We had signed my daughter up for basketball practice with a classmate and ended up finding out that other people we knew, and their families, were doing the same league. It was so sweet and fun because she really enjoyed her Thursday night practices.

I was very nervous about having an extracurricular during the week. I had said I was not going to do an extracurricular during the week, and I did that for the first semester of her being in kindergarten. But she was adjusting well, and as much as I am a homebody, my children and my husband like to be out and doing things and being around people.

So it actually ended up being a really sweet bonding moment for all of our family to be able to go to her practices. It was at a wonderful church with amazing facilities and playgrounds for kids, and we got to see some friends more regularly during the eight-week period than we had before.

Then getting to get up and go to her games and have family come to her games on Saturday mornings for the eight-week season was so sweet.

On top of that, we had my husband’s birthday in the first week, my youngest's, who turned two, and I was also checking out a few moms’ groups and Bible studies. My husband’s work schedule unexpectedly became much busier than usual around this time of year, and he has been on and off sick. So we have had a lot of sickness and teething, and I have been managing a lot more at home because my husband has been focusing on work and just recovering.

Needless to say, we have had so many wonderful things going on, but overall, life in February gave me multiple more little balls to juggle. It didn’t seem like too much but you can only juggle so much before things start to drop like deadlines, assignments, and maybe even sanity.

What’s the phrase? “Not my circus, not my monkeys"? Well, it definitely WAS my circus and it felt like my monkeys kept throwing stuff at me while trying to juggle.

Let’s just say, I don’t think I would make a good clown.

Taking a Step Back

I stepped back from content strategy, personal branding, and growth on other platforms around the holidays so I could focus on writing from the heart and building my community here on Substack. I have also been trying to find ways to organize my Substack in a way that is sustainable and life-giving to me while being valuable to you and glorifying to God. I am so grateful I took that step back because it not only gave me space to focus on my family and not feel overwhelmed when things get progressively busier after the holidays, but also led to a deeper introspection of my heart.

This analog experiment has been a very humbling thing. I am honestly surprised that I have even kind of kept up with it this long, but it has been a wonderful way to focus, prioritize, and actually do some hard work.

Because the month of February, I was not really the best about being off my phone. Like…at all.

What the Analog Experiment Is

If you are new to the series, or if this is the first post you are reading, and you are wondering what the heck an “analog experiment” is, don’t worry, I got you.

Around Christmas 2025, I was inspired by the analog trend that started appearing on my social media around that time.

Initially, I thought it was silly. I thought it was going to be another trend of people using slow living and the idea of being offline to their advantage, while essentially posting a bunch online about living offline.

But I really took it to heart because it revealed my own insecurity about how much time I was spending on my phone and online, even though it was for financial and creative hobby purposes.

So I turned my insecurity into inspiration with two goals in mind.

The first goal was to make my phone a tool again, rather than a tyrant that consumed my whole life.

The second goal was to find more ways to enjoy life offline. More offline hobbies, and not just writing online or creating content online and connecting with people online, even though those are good things.

Essentially, I wanted to build a life I loved offline.

What February Revealed

In January, I did a bunch of small changes. Some of them stuck, and some of them were not sustainable shifts.

February ended up being more of an eye-opening journey into how I handle stress that I did not plan for and how I handle overwhelm.

Because there were so many wonderful events and things going on in February, and because I was handling more at home with the kids while my husband focused on work, I noticed something about myself.

When I felt out of control in my day-to-day life, I tried to double down on the things I could control like the cleanliness of my home (hello rage cleaning!). But I also noticed that the temptation to retreat into my phone instead of pressing into God and my family was at an ALL-TIME high. Like" “plate-of-brownies-and-no one-around-while-you’re-on a-diet” high.

Even though it was not doom scrolling, I was retreating into writing, social media, content creation, and building a platform. It turned into this frantic energy that was burning me out, even though I was already the equivalent of a snuffed-out pile of ash. Not a great look.

It is not something I would have noticed before, because this time last year I was putting about the same amount of time and energy into building my personal brand and figuring out content strategy.

Since I was not doomscrolling or wasting time, I thought it was fine. I thought I was fine (disclaimer: I was in fact not fine lol).

But I noticed that I would get overwhelmed by my real life and just want to retreat into my online writing life. I would even get annoyed if someone interrupted that time.

It was not a life-giving hobby so much as my pacifier. I was handing myself the adult version of Cocomelon on an iPad and wondering why I wasn’t feeling any more regulated.

A Heart Issue

I have played around with different limitations for my phone, but overall I realized in the month of February that it was really a heart issue.

And honestly, how fitting is that, because February is the love month. The heart month.

I forced myself to lean into the discomfort of that realization.

At first, I felt really bad and like I was a horrible mom because I was retreating into my phone and my online life. Even though it was not doomscrolling, I tried to justify it.

But I realized I was making that my comfort.

That was the place I was running to instead of retreating into where true comfort comes from, which is God, or even retreating into being more present with my family.

It was a humbling realization, but it was also a beautiful one.

So I just let myself sit in that discomfort, gave myself grace, and started thinking through how I could make a plan for handling times of unexpected or long-term stress.

I am honestly very grateful for this experiment because I would not have been open to noticing it before. I really feel like God has been very gracious through this process and using a social media trend to lead to gentle conviction.

Analog Moments from February

So this month’s update is not really about all the ways I stayed off my phone. Instead, it was more about realizing what I actually turn to when things get stressful or feel out of control.

But I did have some really fun analog moments.

One of them was taking a class called Moms with Poms, which was basically an adult cheer style pom pom workout class. We learned routines and performed them for friends and family at the end.

As someone who played volleyball and basketball growing up but was always interested in cheerleading and dance and gymnastics, it was really fun to finally try something like that!

I also did more watercolor painting, started knitting again, and have been dreaming up lots of spring activities with my kids.

Because the weather has been so nice here in Texas, we have been eating outside more and playing outside more. I have been planning things like making a fairy garden, chaos gardening, growing butterflies, and just enjoying the spring weather together.

February felt like a month of dreaming and planning more than executing and I truly believe this experiment has made it so much easier and fun to dream of intentional activities for my offline life.

A Gentle Encouragement

If any of this resonates with you, let this be your sign to try your own analog experiment!

It does not have to look like mine or the what you see online. Heck, it doesn’t even have to look the same month to month!

Making it an experiment gives so much more freedom. It lets you find sustainable ways to use your phone as a tool while also building a life you love offline.

I would love to hear what that looks like for you.

Thank you for being part of this. ✨

Much love,

Sarah

*If you’ve been encouraged by this and want to support my writing, I have set up a “buy me a coffee” link to make a one-time donation. This honors the time and resources that go into me creating gentle, faith-filled content. While it is greatly appreciated, it is not expected. I am deeply thankful to simply have your presence here!

A Note From The Editor:
Sacred Stories is a new series here on The Selah Project. I created this space so others can lend their voices and share their real journeys through hard seasons and how God met them there. Burnout looks different for every person, and I do not want my voice to be the only one heard in this magazine.

You may not relate to every part of my testimony, but I hope you will see pieces of your own story reflected in the lives of the moms who bravely share here. My prayer is that, as you read, you will be reminded that God is at work not only in their lives but in yours as well.

I also pray this series becomes a double-edged source of encouragement for both the women sharing their stories and the women reading them.

Thank you for being here.

-Sarah

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I used to think that “alignment” was something you achieved through hard work and a clean planner. I thought if I just tried harder, I could outrun the chaos. But three years ago, God took me into a season of such profound emptiness that I finally had to stop running.

My journey into motherhood didn’t start with a nursery and a rocking chair. It started with a scramble. When my first daughter was born, we were essentially homeless. We didn’t get into an apartment until she was two weeks old. Before I could even catch my breath or heal from the birth, I saw those two pink lines again. I was pregnant with my second daughter.

That second pregnancy felt like a marathon run in sand. My body was failing me. At the end, I was so weak I could barely stand. When she decided to come, she came fast—premature and determined. I remember the frantic drive to the hospital, hitting the doors just ten minutes before she was born. She was a miracle, healthy and whole, but I was becoming a ghost of myself.

Then, the world literally fell apart. Hurricane Ian tore through our lives, taking our apartment and our sense of safety with it. Suddenly, I was a mother of two babies under two, living in a tiny, cramped FEMA trailer. Then my partner lost his job.

There were days in that trailer where the walls felt like they were physically closing in on me. We had no vehicle. I was trapped in a few hundred square feet with two crying babies, my own body aching, and a mind that was spiraling into a dark, suffocating postpartum depression. I was physically spent, mentally burnt out, and spiritually dry. I felt like I was failing everyone—my children, my partner, and myself.

It was in that trailer, at my absolute lowest, that I found out I was pregnant with my son.

I’ll be honest: I didn’t feel joy at first. I felt broken. I felt like I couldn’t possibly give any more because I was already empty. But that “breaking” was exactly where the Lord met me.

With nowhere to turn and no strength left to fake it, I began to seek Him. Not just a “Sunday-morning” seek, but a “Lord, if You don’t save me, I’m going under” kind of seek. I started a deep spiritual journey in that cramped trailer. I began to ask for His will, not mine. I surrendered the hustle and the worry.

And He rescued me.

He didn’t just give us a new apartment right before my son was born—though He did do that, and it felt like walking into a palace. He did something deeper: He restored my soul.

He taught me that I couldn’t pour from an empty cup. He led me back to the kitchen to cook balanced meals, not just as a chore, but as an act of worship for the body He gave me. He gave me the discipline to build routines to exercise and regain the physical strength I had lost through three back-to-back pregnancies.

Most importantly, He taught me that my “Legacy” isn’t about how much I can do for my kids—it’s about who I am with them because of Him.

Today, my foundation isn’t my business or my systems. It’s the quiet time I spend with Him every single morning. He took me from a place of suffocation and brought me into a large place. I am living proof that no matter how small your space or how deep your depression, God is bigger, and He is waiting to bring you into alignment with the beautiful life He planned for you all along.

Scripture

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18

Reflection For The Reader
Where have you seen God meet you in your lowest place?

Closing Note
Stories like this remind us that burnout is not the end of our story. Sometimes it is the very place where God begins rebuilding us. If Alexis’s testimony encouraged you, consider sharing it with another mom who may need hope today. If you would like to have your story featured, please send an email to sarah@bysarahsmith.com

*If you’ve been encouraged by this post and want to support my writing, you can “buy me a coffee” to help me keep creating gentle, faith-filled content.

Motherhood has a way of humbling us.

One week, we are full of plans and purpose.

The next week, someone is sick, the house is in shambles, and we are simply trying to make it through.

For the past few months, I have been writing about how God has put the pieces of my life back together after burnout by teaching me to slow down, heal, and establish rhythms for my family and home that were rooted in biblical principles. As it turns out, God’s design for things is better than my own design for my life. Who knew? Lol.

Healing was slow and definitely not linear, but over time, something beautiful began to grow from the seeds God planted in the soil of survival mode.

A New Creation

Motherhood changed me at the most fundamental level. Cracks began to appear in my life leading up to getting married in 2018, but my unexpected and traumatic ectopic pregnancy in 2019 shattered me. Prior to that pregnancy, I started to question whether I really did want to become a mom. While I am still grieving and processing that pain from 6 years ago, I can see how that part of my life altered me.

The things I used to care about, I no longer do.
And now I care deeply about things I never did before.

Prior to motherhood, I didn’t have much ambition or passion. I liked working out and writing, but I struggled so much with my desire to be seen and loved, and it led to alcohol abuse, toxic relationships, disordered eating, and chasing after whatever I could to fill the emptiness inside. I didn’t know who I was because I was so busy trying to become whatever version I thought would make me accepted or, at the very least, tolerated. The sanctification process of marriage and motherhood has helped me stand on the truth of who God says I am, not who I think I am, or the world says I should be.

I do not need to find fulfillment outside of being “Mom.”
And I do not find my sole identity in being “Mom.”

Because first and foremost, I am a daughter of God.

And I believe God continues writing new chapters within us, even as the chapters of wife and mother unfold.

Our God is the master storyteller, after all, and I have been enjoying discovering new and different parts of me through the character development He has written into my story (well, mostly!).

Introducing The Magical Motherhood Series

In honor of my post-burnout character arc, I want to start a new series called Magical Motherhood as a companion to Rooted Rhythms.

Rooted Rhythms is about the development of stability and spiritual depth that occurred within and directly following burnout. Magical Motherhood is about building on that foundation of wisdom and finding beauty and wonder in God, life, and motherhood. One is the cake, one is the icing. Neither part can be enjoyed as well without the other.

In this series, I will talk about my current journey toward romanticizing life in the real world. Not in an aesthetic, unattainable way, but in a way that breathes beauty into dishes, school pickup, sick days, and ordinary afternoons.

Sometimes this will look like little side quests of exploring fun hobbies or themed days with my kids. Other days it may look like simply treating myself to something for the joy of it and sharing my ideas and the inspiration I have gotten from others.

These are not personality overhauls but soft, sustainable acts of stewardship that I want to help me bring beauty into motherhood instead of waiting for life to feel perfect before enjoying it.

God designed us to have an abundant life through walking in a constant closeness with Him and I want to enjoy what He has made, the gifts He has given me, the dreams He put in me, and most of all, the love He pours out on me.

A Gentle Invitation

If you have been craving more joy in your ordinary days, this series is for you.

You do not need elaborate plans or massive rebrand.

You need small, faithful choices that remind you life is still beautiful here.

What is one small way you could romanticize your life this week?

Love always,
Sarah

If you’ve been encouraged by this post and want to support my writing, you can “buy me a coffee” to help me keep creating gentle, faith-filled content.

Trigger Warning: Pregnancy Loss

This is a letter I wrote after a surprise pregnancy while on an IUD led to a traumatic ectopic pregnancy in 2019. If you have experienced pregnancy loss no matter how recent or far back, you are not alone

___________________________________

To the baby I didn’t get to have:

You were a complete surprise.

You were not planned but you were far from being unwanted or unloved.

You were a miracle.

Just as quickly as we found out about you, we found out we weren’t going to be able to have you.

My sweet angel baby, we didn’t want to let you go.

The Lord knit you in my womb but decided to finish His masterpiece in heaven.

You may not have been alive by our world’s standards but you were a life to me.

Thank you, my angel baby, because you changed me.

You made me a mama, even for the shortest time.

You taught me how to be selfless in a way I didn’t know I could.

For the first few days after I found out about you, I thought about all the things I would lose. Then I found out about how I was losing you and a part of me was lost with you that day.

I don’t know why God decided to keep you but I promise He can love you better than I can and heaven is a whole lot better than earth.

We love you angel baby. We will see you someday.

Let’s address the elephant in the room.

It’s been almost a month since my first post announcing my experiment to live more offline and make my phone a tool again. I said I’d share updates every two weeks, and here we are almost four weeks later 😅.

But honestly, I think that’s kind of the point. And probably a sign that the experiment is working.

So, what even is the Analog Experiment?

It’s not a detox. It’s not me going off the grid. It’s not a set of rules I’m trying to follow perfectly.

It’s really just me noticing that after burnout, my phone slowly became the place I went for everything. Work. Creativity. Connection. Regulation. Distraction. Rest. All of it lived in one place and that started to feel really heavy.

Instead of doing a dramatic digital detox, I wanted to try something slower and more sustainable for my life. Then I became inspired by the analog living trend online.

The Analog Experiment is me trying to make my phone a tool again instead of the default center of my life. And at the same time, slowly reintroducing offline rhythms that support creativity, connection, and presence.

It’s me experimenting in real time and each month, I’m sharing what I tried, what worked, what didn’t, and what I’m learning as I go.

What I Did This Month to Make My Phone a Tool Again

This month, I wasn’t trying to use my phone less just for the sake of it. I was trying to be more intentional about how and why I was using it.

So I put some boundaries in place.

I used a Brick device to add friction around social media. I deactivated and deleted apps. I set clearer rules for myself around when I check my phone, especially in the mornings and during family time.

Ultimately , I wanted to interrupt the muscle memory of reaching for my phone when I was bored, overwhelmed, or overstimulated.

I also realized that if I didn’t give myself alternatives, I would just default right back to my phone. So I started creating what I think of as analog and digital stations around my house. Basically, places where specific tools live so my phone isn’t always the easiest option.

That looked like keeping a journal nearby. Carrying a notebook instead of relying on notes apps. Having a digital camera with me so I wasn’t always using my phone to capture moments. And experimenting with both a physical planner and the planner on my phone.

How I Lived More Offline This Month

This was honestly my favorite part.

The habits around my phone were previously effortless. Adding little checkpoints of friction acted like spreading nails all over the road of smooth sailing, pricking the habit until it overall deflated. When I couldn’t access the things that had become second nature, the phone lost a lot of its appeal.

Once I stopped automatically reaching for my phone, I had all this weird in between space. And I needed something to do with it.

So I leaned into offline dopamine and hobbies in a way that felt gentle and fun, not productive!

My dad and I started writing letters to each other. He lives about seven hours away, and there was something really grounding and sweet about slowing down enough to write by hand. My daughter and I watercolored stationery together, then wrote letters to my dad and mailed them off. A few weeks later, we got our first letters back, and it felt genuinely special in a way texts just don’t.

My dad also gave me an embroidery kit, so I started learning how to embroider. While it was a good hour for me to get started, it was such a cool experience to learn something new and not give up just because I wasn’t immediately good at it. It was a different kind of dopamine hit from trying something new and initially challenging!

I also made a really intentional shift to use my laptop more for writing instead of trying to write everything on my phone. Having a designated space and tool for writing has helped my thoughts feel less scattered.

None of these things replaced my phone perfectly. But they gave my brain somewhere else to land.

What Worked and What Didn’t

Not everything worked. And that’s actually been really helpful to notice.

Some things worked better than I expected. Having a digital camera has been genuinely fun. I love taking pictures of my kids without immediately editing, sharing, or posting them. It’s something I want to keep leaning into.

Offline hobbies like watercolor and embroidery have also been a big win. They’ve given me simple ways to decompress that don’t involve consuming anything.

Other things did not work the way I hoped, though.

I really wanted a physical planner to be part of my analog life. But the truth is, it stressed me out more than it helped. As someone with ADHD, I actually function better when my calendar, reminders, and grocery lists live on my phone where they sync with my husband’s and support how our household runs.

Having to find a planner, write things down, and then remember to transfer them later just wasn’t sustainable for me. Instead of making life feel slower, it made it feel heavier.

That was a really good reminder that living more analog doesn’t mean rejecting digital tools altogether. It means choosing the right tool for the job and being honest about what actually works for your brain and your family.

Where I’m Headed Next

Next month, I want to keep refining what stays digital and what moves offline. I want to keep letter writing. Keep my hobbies slow and simple. And keep letting go of systems that look good on paper but don’t support my real life.

If you’re feeling pulled toward slower rhythms but overwhelmed by the idea of doing it perfectly, I’ve created a growing digital resource library that brings many tools and ideas together in one place. It’s designed to be a calm, one-stop companion to the ideas I share here—something you can revisit whenever life feels heavy or overwhelming. This resource is optional, offered with pay-what-you-want pricing, and includes lifetime access as new tools and reflections are added over time.

Closing

I am not sure if I am doing “analog living” the right way as defined by social media but I don’t really care to. It’s been a wonderful way to gain inspiration for intentional living and I am ALL for anything that brings me closer to God and the way He calls us to live.

The whole premise behind this publication, The Selah Project, is to find God in the pause. “Selah” was observed as both a musical and literary pause when used in the Bible and I want to live a life slowly and intentionally enough where I can be still and know the presence of God (Ps. 46:10).

Thank you for being here with me in the pause, sweet friend.

Much love,

Sarah

*If you’ve been encouraged by this post and want to support my writing, you can “buy me a coffee” to help me keep creating gentle, faith-filled content.

I grew up in church, but I didn’t start actively following Jesus until around 2016. Growing in my faith at that time already felt like how I imagined a baby feels as it learns to walk. But throw in becoming a new mom in the pandemic while also in a five-year burnout stint, and I felt like someone took the training wheels off my bike mid-lesson and pushed me into the middle of the Tour de France.

Long story short, I was a bit wobbly.

During this time, I became involved in a community group, learned to serve in the church, and took a nine-month, seminary-level discipleship class that deepened my understanding of theology.

In my daily life, though, I was flailing when it came to maintaining a consistent quiet time with God and figuring out how to read and meditate on the Bible when I couldn’t even remember if I showered or ate that day.

I was so bogged down by everything I thought my quiet time should look like in terms of time, content, and structure that I missed God’s invitation for how it was designed to be: a messy meeting between a loving, pursuing, relational God and a broken, burnt-out new mother in desperate need of her Father.

It was here that the first rhythm of my Soft 7 Rhythms of an Intentional Life was born.

What is The Soft 7?

The Soft 7 is not a rigid checklist to accomplish, but a gentle guide that provides structure to my day and helps me move forward toward my goals while taking care of myself and my family. They are as follows:

1. Scripture (time with God)

2. Stillness (worship and meditation)

3. Sustenance (balanced and nourished eating)

4. Steps (joy-filled movement)

5. Story (creative pursuits)

6. Service (doing something for others)

7. Surrender (releasing the day back to God)

When I hit my lowest point of burnout, Scripture was one of the first rhythms I lost and one of the last I learned to hold again.

It wasn’t that I didn’t love God. I just felt numb. Overwhelmed. Like even opening my Bible took energy I didn’t have.

What Changed

Little by little, though, I started finding ways to reconnect as I became hyper aware of how much my kids were watching.

It was in the little things like:

• A single verse on the fridge that encouraged memorization

• Worship music during nap time or chores

• Bible memory songs with my kids on the drive to preschool

• Family Bible reading at bedtime

Other times, my time with God was more broken and pleading, coming in the form of crying out in prayer in front of my kids, asking for grace and wisdom, and demonstrating true, utter dependence on Him.

I would’ve never considered those to be “quiet time” moments with God. In my head, I was failing because I wasn’t having 30 minutes of intense prayer or study with God before my kids woke up. I was just a mom desperately reaching out for my Savior in the small moments of my life.

But those small moments began to rebuild something into a sacred, daily habit.

As a former church kid, it didn’t look like how I thought it needed to in order to be considered “enough,” but God multiplied these little offerings throughout the day into bigger things that changed my heart and the rhythms of my family.

Soft Faith Practice: The 3S Framework for Gentle Rhythms

If you’re in a similar season, it’s ok if you don’t start with a plan. I started with a framework — one I can carry into any rhythm, any day, and any level of energy.

I call it the 3S Framework: Slow Down, Simplify, Sustain. Here is how you can use it to gently weave in the rhythm of Scripture:

Slow Down

Before you try to do anything, pause. Take one deep breath and ask God to focus your heart for the next 5 minutes. Let your nervous system settle as best as you can. This is where you remember that God is already present; you’re not trying to reach Him, you’re responding to Him.

Simplify

Choose the smallest possible version of the rhythm. One verse to read. One song to listen to. One sentence of prayer. One quiet moment in the car or at the sink. Let “enough” be enough. Involve your kids too! I often found that sometimes even just reading a simple kids’ Bible story and letting the simple truth wash over me did more than trying to dissect a passage.

Sustain

Ask yourself, Can I do this again tomorrow?

If the answer is no, make it softer. The goal isn’t intensity but intention.

In hard seasons, focus on your consistency rather than your capacity. Capacity fluctuates, but consistency holds us firm.

This is how I begin folding the rhythms into the nooks and crannies of real life, instead of building a separate, fragile version of faith that only works on ideal days.

If you want to go deeper into this framework, I wrote more about the heart behind the 3S Framework and how I use it to rebuild life after burnout here:

Faith With Our Children

As my own faith grew, I noticed how naturally it began to spill into my girls’ lives.

We started small: reading a verse at breakfast, listening to Bible songs in the car, or thanking God for simple things before bed.

Faith doesn’t always have to be taught through a formal plan. It’s often caught through the rhythms of our daily lives.

I have often been surprised and humbled by how my now five-year-old manages her emotions and works through hard things because she has seen me visibly (and audibly!) break down and bring my heart and pain to God. Faith is best lived out loud.

When our kids see us turning to God in ordinary moments, they learn that faith isn’t a Sunday-only ritual. It’s an everyday relationship.

If You Need a Gentle Guide

If you’re in a season where even soft rhythms feel hard, I’ve been slowly building a small digital resource library for moms rebuilding after burnout with simple guides, soft faith practices, and printable rhythms you can come back to when your energy runs out. Your purchase includes lifetime access to it, along with all future additions, and pay-what-you-want pricing starting at $10, so hopefully it's financially accessible to anyone who needs it.

It’s here whenever you need something to lean on.

In Closing

God never promised us an easy life following Him, but He did promise that we would never be alone while doing it, and I want to remind you of that promise today, sweet friend.

Much love,

Sarah

*If you’ve been encouraged by this post and want to support my writing, you can “buy me a coffee” to help me keep creating gentle, faith-filled content.

If you’re a mom experiencing burnout or slowly rebuilding after a season of exhaustion, overwhelm, or survival mode; this is for you, sweet friend.

Over the past several years, I’ve been navigating my own journey of motherhood burnout. What I learned along the way is that recovery doesn’t come from doing more but from the intentional work of slowing down, removing pressure, and rebuilding with gentle, faith-rooted rhythms that actually work in real life.

As I walked through that process, I began collecting what helped me most: simple frameworks I created when my mind felt foggy, practices grounded in Scripture, prayers for overwhelmed days, and wisdom shared with me by women who had walked through burnout before me and graciously mentored me along the way. Eventually, that collection became something I wanted to share.

That’s why I created the Becoming After Burnout digital resource library.

This resource library is designed FOR moms BY a mom. It’s a growing collection of gentle, practical tools to support emotional, spiritual, and relational healing after burnout. While it’s especially helpful for moms rebuilding after burnout, you don’t need to be in crisis to use it. Many of the resources that are in the pipeline will also be helpful for intentional living, family connection, and creating a softer rhythm of motherhood.

The first edition currently includes five foundational digital resources, with more in the works.

As the Becoming After Burnout series continues, the resource library will continue to grow alongside it!

Inside the library, you’ll find tools that support:

• rebuilding life gently after mom burnout

• faith-based rhythms for overwhelmed seasons

• intentional connection ideas with family

• simple wellness and nervous-system-friendly practices

• whimsical, meaningful approaches to everyday motherhood

Your purchase includes lifetime access, meaning you’ll receive all future updates as new resources are added. I’ve chosen to offer this library as pay-what-you-feel-is-right, starting at $10, because my goal is to keep it accessible while honoring the time, care, and prayer that went into creating it. I built this the same way I would put something together for a close friend—honest, practical, and full of grace.

I didn’t wait until everything was finished to share this, because if it helps even one mom feel less alone or more grounded in this season, it felt worth releasing now.

All of my writing and encouragement here on Substack will continue to remain free. This resource exists as an optional, tangible companion for moms who want a one-stop place to return to or for those who want to support this work in a sustainable way.

I hope every interaction you have with my work reminds you how much you are loved by Jesus and that you are not alone. 🫶🏼

Thank you for being here.

Much love,

Sarah

When I was in burnout, I didn’t know how I was going to make it. Looking back, I see how tenderly God brought me through the hard times. The more I parented, the more I realized how much I also needed to be parented. I was growing alongside my kids.

It is when our cup runs dry as moms that God is then able to heal us, use us, strengthen us, and grow us through the overflow we receive when our eyes and our reliance are set steadfast upon Him.

I did not rebuild myself after burnout on my own. I am here today because my life, my discipline, and my rhythms have been the results of God’s loving parenting of me, and in turn, I am able to better parent HIS children that He so graciously gave me to steward.

The Soft Seven Rhythms for an Intentional Life

In Part 1, we talked about the 3 steps of The 3S Method: Slow Down, Simplify, Sustain—that help you create margin and begin rebuilding after burnout.
But once you’ve slowed down and cleared a little space, the question becomes: What do I do with that space?
That’s where the Soft 7 Rhythms come in.

These rhythms aren’t a checklist to conquer or a routine you’ll master perfectly every day. They’re small practices you can return to again and again that help you live with intention and connection in all areas of your life. When I was at my lowest, I didn’t need a complicated wellness plan. I needed tiny ways to reconnect with who I was, what I valued, and how I wanted to show up as a mom, wife, and woman of faith.
These seven rhythms became that structure for me.

1. Scripture
Anchor yourself in truth daily.
Even one verse can shift your perspective before the noise of the world creeps in. Sometimes it is a quick verse through my Bible app or singing Bible memory verses in my car. Other times, it is a more intensive Bible In A Year study. No matter how big or small in amount, God’s Word meets you right where you are.

2. Stillness
Pause long enough to notice your breath.
Stillness doesn’t mean silence or an empty house (though that would be nice!). It means being present enough to recognize that you’re safe, loved, and held—even in motion. Sometimes it’s two minutes in the car before pickup. Sometimes it’s a whispered prayer over the sink. Those moments count.

3. Sustenance
Feed your body kindly.
This rhythm reminded me that nourishment isn’t vanity but biblical stewardship. I stopped viewing food as either a punishment or a reward and started asking: “What will make me feel steady for the day ahead?” For me, that’s been protein in the morning, hydration before coffee, and grace when it’s just takeout night again.

4. Steps
Move your body gently
When I started working out again after years of fatigue and anxiety, I realized how healing simple movement could be. A walk with my kids. A Pilates YouTube video. Even just dancing in the kitchen with my kids. These “steps” became a form of worship and thanking God for the body that carries me through this season and reminded me that I didn’t need to work out the same way I did when I was a 20 year old gym rat.

5. Service
Do something small for someone else.
In burnout, we often turn inward because we’re so empty. But service refills us in ways self-focus never can. It can be as simple as sending a text to check on a friend, praying for someone in need, or reading one extra bedtime story even when you’re tired. Service softens us and can often pull us out of survival mode when we realize we aren’t alone in the trenches.

6. Story
Create or consume something that reminds you who you are.
This rhythm came alive through creative expression or communal collaboration. By engaging in a narrative outside of our own head by making something, sharing something, or listening to someone else’s story, this is another rhythm that connects us with others and reminds us we are not alone.

7. Surrender
Release what you can’t control.
Every night, I try to mentally hand God the things I tried to carry alone. The to-do list I didn’t finish. The prayers I don’t have words for. The worries that follow me to bed. Surrender doesn’t mean giving up but trusting that grace will meet you where your strength ends.

Together, these seven rhythms give your soft life structure without suffocation. They invite you to live intentionally, not perfectly. They’re how I rebuilt my life after burnout—not through massive overhauls or morning routines that only work for influencers—but through small, repeatable choices that remind me who I am and Whose I am.

The Soft 7 is a framework you can adapt to your season. Some days you’ll touch all seven rhythms without realizing it; other days, just one is enough.
If you’re in a rebuilding season, start small. Pick one rhythm this week and nurture it gently. Let it fit into your real life—between preschool drop-offs, work emails, and bedtime routines. Over time, these small acts of intention become the threads that quietly stitch your soft life back together.

If you want deeper support as you rebuild, my Digital Resource Library was created for moms who need guidance without pressure. Inside, you will find reflections, frameworks, and practical tools rooted in faith and designed for real-life seasons, not ideal ones.

These resources are meant to meet you where you are, whether you have five quiet minutes or a longer stretch to reflect. Think of it as a place to return to when your days feel scattered and you need something steady to anchor you again.

You can buy the Digital Resource Library here.

You are doing better than you think, sweet friend.

Much love,

Sarah

*If you have been encouraged by this post and want to support my writing, you can buy me a coffee to help me continue creating gentle, faith-filled content.

I’ll be completely honest, I rolled my eyes a bit when I saw the rise of “analog living” on TikTok.

But I had to do a heart check.

I came across this kind of content and its trend cousins (cottagecore aesthetic, romanticized homesteads, slow living, etc.) a few years ago, amid horrendous burnout.

Did some of it seem performative or make me feel bad about myself? Sure, but it reinforced my need to find my identity in God and contentment in my own life.

I found some creators who inspired me to identify where in my life I could live more softly and sustainably, but while using biblical principles and looking at the life of Jesus.

I realized that slow, soft, sacred, intentional living is biblical.

Remember, God had a perfect design for the way everything in this world should be. It shouldn’t surprise us that, amid a striving, burnt-out, overly digital world, there is a rise in people seeking connection and greater purpose in things that feel safer and simpler.

It also shouldn’t surprise us that this world will never be able to give us things the way God intended, and so we will see God’s design butchered and repackaged in a lousy, lazy attempt at mimicry.

But just like serving McDonald’s on a silver platter wouldn’t make it fine dining, so it is with these trends.

You will never be able to completely capture the essence of God‘s full design for an intentional and abundant life, and translate it digitally in a way that does it full justice.

I think that is why I love Substack so much: as someone who is sharing my experience and trying to live a more biblically intentional life, I don’t feel I can accurately convey the depth of what I want to say on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Being able to do so on Substack has been the closest thing, and I have also loved getting inspired by other intentional-living deep thinkers on this platform.

But on the other hand, I have noticed a tendency toward prideful frustration in myself and other intentional living writers and creators about things like the rise of analog living.

I think part of it is wanting to protect the heart of something that means so much to us and not to see it used and abused for the purposes of capitalist overconsumption or performative fame.

But we can’t be gatekeepers of things that aren’t actually ours.

And while scrolling through comments from people who are so frustrated about the supposed hypocrisy of creators sharing journeys of offline intentional living in an online space, and as I contemplated my own heart, I was convicted.

This is what inspired me to start my analog experiment.

My initial irritation at the rise of this new trend stemmed from the idea that MY heart was in the right place: wanting to live a more intentional life and share it, in hopes of connecting with and inspiring others and building a community of like-minded people, but that THEY were doing it from a place of pomp and performance.

So I decided to jump on the proverbial bandwagon, analyze this new trend, take what inspiration I could and tailor it to my life, cross-reference it with biblical principles, and leave the rest.

The digital age is not going anywhere.

Many people rely on phones and technology for connection and survival, and to make it through their lives. Being able to be offline and live a more analog life is a privilege that some people are not afforded.

But there shouldn’t be shame and ridicule for those who are honestly trying.

We only know and understand the intentions and motivations in our own hearts.

This is why I have taken a step back from posting the kind of content I do on other platforms and refocused it here.

Posting on those other platforms quickly shifted from authentic sharing of my journey to trying to package my heart in a way that was suitable for the insatiable algorithm monster.

I’ve been feeling a deep push to delete all other social media platforms for 7 days and focus purely on Substack, because those other platforms are things I struggle with when sharing the work that God has done in my life in a way that brings Him glory.

Maybe today will be the day that I answer that call.

There are many worse things that can be trending, and I want to move forward with a heart of grace when I see these kinds of things taking off online.

We should not be surprised that there will always be a cheap knock-off of God‘s perfect design.

So how should we respond as content consumers?

We should understand that what we are seeing is not the full picture and that we can appreciate the beauty and artistry, take inspiration, and be mindful of how it makes us feel.

If it brings up feelings of envy or comparison, maybe this is not a season for us to consume that kind of content; instead, let us look back on the face of Jesus for the needs we have.

If it brings up feelings of anger or pride, this might be evidence of deeper work that needs to be done in our own hearts.

It is important that problematic, heretical, and dangerous content and misinformation SHOULD be called out, but it is equally important for us to be digitally literate enough to see behind what’s going on with these trends as well as within ourselves, and to do all of this, most importantly, with love.

And how should we respond as creatives?

How should we respond as writers, artists, and creatives?

We should respond by always being as authentic in our work as possible and staying in tune with the intentions and motivations of our hearts.

If you are a Christian creative, especially, our work not only represents us but also our Jesus.

May we never lead anyone astray because we have turned the basis of our God-given talents and callings from humility into hubris.

Thank you all for being on this journey with me.

I’ve been so inspired by the writers whose work I have read and by the readers whose time, attention, and feedback are so dear to me.

My prayer is that this newsletter will serve as a ministry and not a monologue.

As I share my testimony of God’s continued work in my life, I hope it will point others not just to slow or analog living, but to a life lived intentionally for the eternal glory of Jesus.

Much love,
Sarah

If you’ve been encouraged by this post and want to support my writing, you can “buy me a coffee” to help me keep creating gentle, faith-filled content.

Hey sweet friend,

If you read part two and felt seen, but also wondered, “Okay… now what?” this article is for you.

When I was in the thick of burnout, I didn’t need motivation. I didn’t need another routine, planner, or list of things to try. I didn’t even know what the next right step was, and I didn’t have the capacity to research my way out of survival mode.

What I needed was a starting point. Something gentle enough to meet me where I was, but steady enough to help me rebuild.

That is where the 3S Method was born.

This is not a productivity system, a course, or a personality overhaul; it’s a framework I return to anytime life feels heavy, overstimulating, or unsustainable. It is the first step I took after burnout with God instead of trying to power through on my own.

I Didn’t Need Another To-Do List

Burnout is funny.

Everything feels urgent.

Everything feels overwhelming.

Even good things feel heavy.

Yet in all the urgency, I was paralyzed. I couldn’t make decisions but was riddled with anxiety.

I remember wanting to feel better but having no idea where to begin. My brain felt foggy. My body felt exhausted. My spirit felt willing but worn down.

In that place, adding more was never the answer.

What helped was learning how to remove pressure first, then rebuild slowly with intention.

The 3S Method became an easy framework for me to remember how to do that.

The 3S Method

The 3S Method is made up of three simple steps:

1. Slow Down

2. Simplify

3. Sustain

You do not rush through these. You do not perfect them. You practice them gently, in order, and you return to them whenever life starts to feel heavy again.

Step One: Slow Down

The first step is take a step back and take stock of your life. For me, I was head down in burnout whether from grinding to survive or because it was all just too much to me.

You can’t change direction if you don’t even know which way you’re going.

For years, my life was one long stretch of transition and stress. Even when circumstances improved, my nervous system never caught up. My body stayed in survival mode because it never felt safe to slow down.

Slowing down does not mean quitting everything or doing nothing. It means creating margin so you can actually see what is draining you and what is nourishing you.

For me, slowing down looked like:

• Doing the bare minimum on hard days

• Letting go of multitasking for the sake of efficiency

• Stopping the habit of stacking too many practices at once

• Saying no to good things because my capacity was limited

I had to grieve what I could not do anymore before I could rebuild what I could.

Step Two: Simplify

Once you slow down, the next step is release.

Simplifying is about letting go of what you can so your energy can go where it is most needed.

This was one of the hardest steps for me because my pride had to take a back seat. I wanted to be the kind of person who could do it all and keep everything running smoothly.

But burnout forced me to choose stewardship over appearance.

Simplifying for me looked like:

• Lowering my standards in certain areas and letting some things stay unfinished

• Using easy meals or paper plates during hard seasons

• Asking for help and actually accepting it

• Outsourcing or delegating what I could and letting go, to the best of my ability, of what I couldn’t

• Giving myself permission not to give one hundred percent to everything

When you simplify, you protect the energy you need for the people and practices that matter most.

Step Three: Sustain

Only after slowing down and simplifying can you begin to rebuild.

Sustainability is about choosing what you can realistically maintain in this season, not what looks impressive or ideal.

For me, this meant choosing very small, repeatable rhythms:

• A five-minute walk instead of a full workout

• A short prayer before bed instead of an elaborate quiet time

• A simplified dinner routine instead of constant decision-making

Sustainability asks one simple question:

Can I keep doing this without burning myself out again?

If the answer is no, it is not the right rhythm yet.

Sustainable practices may feel unimpressive at first, but over time they quietly reshape your life.

Where Faith Fits In

One of the most humbling lessons burnout taught me is that I was never meant to carry life with my own strength.

Jesus does not invite us into hustle. He invites us into rest.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The 3S Method is not about doing less for the sake of ease. It is about learning how to live in a way that honors the limits God gave us.

A soft life is not a lazy life but a surrendered one.

What Comes Next

Now that you have the framework, the next step is learning how to live it out practically.

In the upcoming articles, I will walk through my next framework, The Soft 7 Rhythms for an Intentional Life one by one and show how they layer into the 3S Method in real life.

If you are rebuilding after burnout, start here. Return here often. This is your foundation.

You do not need to overhaul your life overnight. You just need a gentle place to begin.

And always remember, you’re not alone.

Much love,

Sarah

*If you’re finding these frameworks helpful and want a gentle, visual place to return to them, I’ve created a growing digital resource library that brings many of these tools together in one place. It’s designed to be a calm, one-stop companion to the ideas I share here—something you can revisit whenever life feels heavy or overwhelming. This resource is optional, offered with pay-what-you-want pricing, and includes lifetime access as new tools and reflections are added over time.

*If you’ve been encouraged by this post and want to support my writing, you can “buy me a coffee” to help me keep creating gentle, faith-filled content.

Hey sweet friend,

Over the past year of sharing my story more openly, there are two questions I get asked more than any others:

“How do I know if I’m actually burned out?”

“How do you get out of it?”

This article is for the first question.

Before we go any further, I want to say this clearly: I am not a doctor, therapist, or clinician. I’m a mom sharing my lived experience and testimony, what burnout looked like in my own life, how God met me there, and what I’ve learned along the way.

Everyone’s story is different. Some people carry pain and trauma I will never fully understand. Others may find themselves in a lighter season than I was in.

There will always be someone who has it harder. There will always be someone who has it easier.

Most of us are simply trying to become the best version of ourselves we can be, and the best moms we can be, with the capacity we have right now. If that’s you, you’re in the right place.

I Knew I Was Struggling, But I Didn’t Understand What Burnout Really Was

For a long time, I knew something was wrong.

I knew I was exhausted.

I knew I was overwhelmed.

I knew life felt unsustainable.

What I didn’t understand was what was actually happening in my body, mind, and nervous system.

To me, burnout was just more of a casual phrase. It was something people said when they were tired, stressed, or at the end of their rope. I thought burnout meant you had finally hit your limit and needed a break. I didn’t see it as something cumulative, medical, or long-term. I didn’t realize it could describe an entire season of living beyond capacity.

I told myself this was a test from God. Or spiritual warfare. Or the result of my own lack of discipline or self-control. Or a clusterfudge of all of those things and more.

I thought I was just someone who was always tired, hungry, irritable, and grumpy. Someone who should be able to do better if she tried harder. Someone who just couldn’t get it together.

Rather than seeing burnout as a signal that my life needed gentler support, I treated it like a personal or spiritual failure. I kept pushing. I kept trying to do things with my own strength. I kept asking God to help me endure instead of also asking what needed to change.

Looking back now, I can see how compassionate God was toward me in that season, even when I wasn’t compassionate toward myself. What I assumed was justweakness was actually my body and mind asking for care.

Burnout, Faith, and the Refining I Didn’t Expect

I think it’s important to name this honestly.

I grew up in church. I always believed in God. But in my early twenties, after years of partying, alcohol, unhealthy relationships, and trying to fill a void with anything that promised relief, I hit a kind of rock bottom.

After one particularly unwise decision, I turned my life around and began actively following Jesus.

Not long after that, I met my husband. I stopped doing the outward things that were clearly destructive. From the outside, my life looked put together. I was doing the “right” things. I was growing in my faith, active in church, etc etc.

Then God used that five-year burnout season that to refine my faith to a depth I didn’t know possible.

I wasn’t living in visible, traditional sin anymore. But I was deeply self-reliant. I placed a lot of my sense of safety and security in my husband and finances. I struggled with pride, control, fear, and a quiet belief that if I just worked harder, stayed disciplined, and held everything together, I would be okay.

Burnout exposed those places.

It revealed how much I trusted myself instead of God. How much I relied on productivity and control to feel safe. How often I asked God to help me push through rather than asking Him what He was inviting me to release.

In many ways, that season felt like refinement by fire.

But Charles Spurgeon summed it up beautifully with this: “I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages.”

What Burnout Looked Like for Me

Burnout appeared in a variety of ways for me, and in conjunction with different battles I was facing, such as PCOS and ADHD, new motherhood, and the pandemic, but these were some of the general themes I noticed looking back that you may notice in your life:

Nervous System Overload

I was easily overwhelmed and overstimulated, especially by noise and light. My mind felt constantly overactive, even when my body was exhausted. It took me a long time to unwind at night. Even when I slept, I still woke up tired. I needed naps constantly in order to function.

Cognitive and Decision Fatigue

I loved the idea of being organized, but struggled to get started. I was forgetful and indecisive to an almost paralyzing degree, especially when it came to major life decisions. I was a big dreamer with minimal capacity to hold multiple things at once.

Emotional Sensitivity and Depletion

I became highly sensitive to criticism, rejection, and perceived changes in others' emotions. I was deeply empathetic, but that empathy drained me quickly and left me feeling exhausted for a long time.

Productivity Whiplash

I experienced bursts of productivity followed by long stretches of exhaustion and paralysis. Instead of recognizing burnout, I told myself I was lazy or unmotivated. At work, I felt like I had to overcompensate just to keep up.

Coping and Safety-Seeking

Burnout also showed up in impulsivity, shopping to self-soothe, emotional dependence, and anxiety around separation.

Why Burnout Was Hard For Me To Identify

Burnout often overlapped with anxiety, ADHD, hormonal changes, postpartum shifts, and chronic stress for me. It was reinforced by a culture, especially in motherhood and faith spaces, that praises endurance over gentleness.

Burnout is not a moral failure.

It is not a lack of faith.

It is not proof that you’re doing motherhood wrong.

It is a sign that your system has been under strain for a long time without enough restoration.

A Gentle Check-In

If you’re wondering whether burnout might be part of your story, sit with these questions:

• Does rest actually restore me?

• Am I present in my days, or just surviving them?

• Does doing more feel heavy or impossible?

• How am I sleeping/eating/thinking?

• Do I still take joy in the things I liked before?

For me, I never wanted to get out of bed, felt detached when with my family or doing things I used to enjoy, and didn’t have the energy to do the things I knew would provide actual restorative relief, like walking, writing, or reading my Bible.

If something stirs as you read this, honor it.

What Comes Next

This article isn’t about diagnosing yourself or fixing everything at once, but about taking stock of how you’re feeling, analyzing where you need more support in your life, and figuring out how to do the next right thing.

In the next part of this series, I’ll share the gentle framework I used when I didn’t know the next right step. How God began rebuilding me and doing it without pressure, perfection, or pretending I had more capacity than I did.

Note: These upcoming pieces were originally intended to be part of a paid series because of the time, care, prayer, and digital resources that go into creating them. After further prayer and reflection, I’ve decided to keep this series free so that encouragement and access don’t become a barrier for moms walking through burnout. Alongside the writing, I’ve created a growing digital resource library that brings these tools together in one place for those who want a visual, one-stop companion. This resource is optional and offered with pay-what-you-want pricing and the link is here if you are interested.

A Gentle Note About Getting Support

If you are experiencing severe anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, or thoughts of harming yourself or others, reaching out to a doctor or counselor is incredibly important. This series is not meant to replace professional care.

I also know how complicated that advice can feel. There were seasons when I didn’t have reliable childcare or the energy to leave the house. Telehealth became a lifeline for me.

If you’re exploring support, you may want to research options like BetterHelp, Talkspace, Cerebral, Amwell, or MDLIVE, or seek referrals from a trusted provider.

You’re Allowed to Need Help

One of the quiet lies burnout tells us is that we should be able to handle everything on our own because it is due to our own shortcomings.

But needing support, from God, community, or professionals, is not weakness. It’s wisdom.

And if today all you can do is name that something feels off, that’s enough for now.

You’re not alone, sweet friend.

Much love,

Sarah

If you’ve been encouraged by this post and want to support my writing, you can “buy me a coffee” to help me keep creating gentle, faith-filled content.

It started with the cottagecore aesthetic. Then the rise of slow living/homesteading content. Now the trend is about being “chronically offline” by being more “analog” with hobbies, media consumption, etc.

TikTok is full of people's making “analog bags” (think, screen activities you would pack for your toddler at a restaurant, but make it for adults).

To be honest, I was initially skeptical of all of it. For one, it seems like it would be overwhelming to try to keep up with physical tools when my phone conveniently consolidates things like my camera, GPS, notebook, and calendar. And two, it feels very meta to see offline living become a trend online.

But I think part of that skepticism comes from an internal belief that it isn’t for me or that it wouldn’t be possible for me. And shouldn’t I be encouraged that more people are wanting to be more intentional with their time, money, and relationships, even if some people are jumping on this trend just for aesthetic reasons?

So instead of feeling intimidated, I’m choosing to be inspired.

In 2026, I’m starting my own personal analog experiment, where I turn my phone back into a tool and document my authentic experience every other week here on my newsletter.

What My Analog Experiment Looks Like

I don’t want to completely abandon my phone. I still need it for lists, notes, and managing everyday life. But I do want to break the habit of using my phone for something productive and then getting sidetracked.

As part of this experiment, I’ll be:

• Getting a small notepad for my purse to write things down as they pop into my mind (hello, ADHD mom brain)

• Using a digital camera again (a total throwback to middle school)

• Reading on my Kindle instead of my phone

Ultimately, I want my kids to see me being busy or present with life-based things, not constantly on my phone. I want there to be a clear distinction for them.

There’s a level of conviction that comes with this for me.

Using Substack More

Another part of this experiment is using Substack more intentionally.

Substack is a social media platform home to long-form content by writers and creatives, but without the dopamine spike of endless scrolling and quick content consumption. The community feels more authentic, and the pace feels more human.

If you’re already here reading this, you know what I mean. And if you’re not, you’re welcome to check out my newsletter while you’re there.

Deleting Apps and Using My Laptop More

I’ve been deleting apps from my phone and using my laptop instead.

There’s something more grounding about turning your phone back into just a tool instead of a portal to a hole in the world. It doesn’t hit the same to use social media on your laptop versus your phone, and that difference matters.

The Brick Phone Blocker

The Brick phone blocker has also been a part of this experiment.

This was a really sweet early Christmas present from my husband, and I’ve been enjoying it a lot. I don’t fully understand why the psychology works for me, but I tap my phone to the device and it blocks the apps I’ve chosen.

While I do have the ability to easily “unbrick” my phone, I’ve noticed that when my phone is in Brick mode, I can use it without even thinking about getting on a social media app.

I plan on keeping this in my bag as part of my analog experiment.

Closing

I don’t know exactly what this experiment will look like long term, and I’m not trying to do it perfectly. I just know that I want to be more present, more intentional, and more aware of how I’m spending my attention. So for 2026, I’ll be putting my own spin to analog living.

If you’re feeling a similar pull, I would love to hear more of your thoughts! And if not, that’s okay too! Intentional living doesn’t have to be synonymous with analog living. Do what works best for your life and your family and I’m honored that you are here as I share what intentional living looks like for me and my family.

Much love,

Sarah

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