Breaking Free from Survival Mode: How I Rewired My Brain and Transformed My Homemaking

Have you ever found yourself snapping at your kids before breakfast even hits the table? Feeling overstimulated before the day has even really begun? You wake up exhausted, rush through your day in survival mode, and collapse into bed—only to do it all over again tomorrow. Worst of all, you don’t even recognize the woman, mother, and wife you’ve become.

I used to live in that cycle. My homemaking days were filled with frequent outbursts of anger, constant crying, and overwhelming overstimulation. I tried detoxing from social media, decluttering my home, changing my diet, and overhauling my routines, but none of it was enough. I needed something far more transformative. I needed to rewire my brain—and doing so changed everything.

But first, I need to tell you something: I thought I was a lost cause. And even if I wasn’t, I assumed it would take years of work to get better. But in the Lord’s infinite mercy, I felt drastically different in less than a week—and even my husband noticed a difference.

If you’re struggling with feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or reactive in your home, and you want to learn how to regulate your nervous system, rewire your brain, and show up as the calm, joyful homemaker you long to be, I invite you to join my free workshop. In it, I share the 5-step framework I used to get out of survival mode and find true joy and peace in my homemaking.

Habit #1: Creating More Margin and Doing Less

Slowing down feels impossible when you’re drowning in responsibilities. But what if the constant rush is actually what’s keeping you trapped?

I used to live in a state of constant rushing—hurrying from one task to the next, convinced that if I could just get everything done, I’d finally feel peace. But peace never came. No matter how much I accomplished, the weight on my shoulders never lifted.

So, I started planning less—on purpose. Yes, that meant I accomplished less, too, but it also meant my nervous system could finally breathe. I began to move more slowly, intentionally telling my brain: There’s no rush. There’s no need to panic. Even if everything doesn’t get done today, it’s going to be okay.

But doing less wasn’t enough. I also had to take control of my thought life—because the frantic pace of my body was just a reflection of the chaos in my mind.

Habit #2: Renewing My Mind

You’ve probably heard that renewing your mind is important. But are you actually doing it?

I thought I was. I read my Bible, prayed, and listened to Christian podcasts. But my thoughts were still spiraling out of control, filled with stress, fear, and frustration.

Renewing my mind required real work. I prioritized Bible and prayer time, but I also started actively replacing negative thoughts with biblical truth. Instead of letting my thoughts run wild, I’d disrupt them and ask: What does God think about this? Then, I’d replace the thought with truth.

For example:

• Instead of thinking, “My kids are being so annoying; they’re not letting me get anything done,” I’d disrupt that thought and replace it with, “Actually, my kids are giving me an opportunity to disciple them, and that’s my top priority.”

The key? You can’t just remove negative thoughts. You have to replace them with the truth found in God’s Word.

Habit #3: Weaving Pockets of Regulation into My Day

You know that feeling of zooming around the house, trying to get everything done while neglecting your own basic needs? I used to believe rest was something I had to earn. But the more I ignored my body’s need for rest, the more my nervous system screamed at me through anxiety, chronic fatigue, and debilitating overstimulation.

I started weaving small moments of regulation throughout my day—stepping outside for fresh air, sitting in stillness, enjoying God’s presence. Prioritizing self-care wasn’t a luxury; it was a necessity to calm my nervous system and remind my brain: You are safe. You can rest.

Habit #4: Shifting My Focus Away from Pain

Dwelling on struggles might feel like processing, but what if it’s actually training your brain to stay stuck in them—making everything feel harder and heavier?

When I was at my worst, I obsessed over my symptoms. The more I focused on how bad I felt, the worse it seemed to get, and the angrier and more reactive I became.

I had to train my brain to stop dwelling on the problem and start looking for solutions. Instead of spiraling with thoughts like, “How long is this going to last?” I shifted my focus to the progress I was making, no matter how small. And in doing so, I gave my brain space to heal.

The Transformation I Experienced Within One Month

As I made these changes, my entire life transformed:

• My body relaxed in ways I didn’t even realize were possible.
• I became less aggressive and more approachable.
• My movements slowed down, reflecting my newfound peace.
• I found true joy in my children again.
• My energy levels skyrocketed—I no longer needed to nap during my kids’ nap time.
• My natural tendency shifted from negativity to positivity.
• My days stopped feeling like drudgery, and my overall outlook changed.
• My husband noticed the difference and became even more supportive.
• My body healed—I could tolerate coffee again, my hair started growing back, and my immune system improved.

Most importantly, I was finally free from the cycle of overstimulation and anger that had defined my days for so long.

You Don’t Have to Live in Survival Mode

If you resonate with anything I shared, I want you to know that you don’t have to live in survival mode anymore. The Lord is more than able to renew your mind, heal your nervous system, and restore your joy—just like He did for me.

And if this post resonated with you, don’t forget to share it with another homemaker who needs to hear this today.

If you want to learn exactly how I made this transformation and how you can find joy in your own homemaking, join my free workshop. The link is below!

It was a joy to have you here, and if you’re interested in how I created my dopamine menu to focus on resting without scrolling, check out my next post!