Unlocking Life: Recent Episodes
Amanda Outlaw
Welcome to Unlocking Life, hosted by Amanda Outlaw, a retired teacher who is now dedicated and passionate about teaching mamas like you how to live healthy and fulfilling lives starting from the inside, out!
Unlocking Life is meant to reignite joy and passion in the busy mom’s life whether you are a working mom, a stay-at-home mom or even the mamas who are working from home.
Each Monday we will gain insight into what it means to find joy and happiness in the mundane and everyday chaotic life. From each conversation, you will discover you are not alone, and you will walk away with the motivation and tools needed to put passion back into your life as a wife, mother and Christian woman.
Unlocking Life will cover topics you didn’t know you needed, such as finding joy in morning routines, dealing with grief, trauma, learning how to fill your cup, health/nutrition tips, and overall wellness.
Don't miss an episode and be sure to follow now on your preferred podcast platform. Leave me a review and tell me how this episode resonated with you and share what season of life you are going through while listening! Feel free to follow me on Instagram or send a message if you want a particular topic covered.
Congratulations on your new arrival! As a mother, you are probably feeling so many different emotions – joy, love, and happiness, to name a few. But sometimes, those emotions can be overshadowed by feelings of sadness, worry, and emptiness.
If that's how you're feeling after giving birth, you might be experiencing postpartum depression. Even if we prepare for it, postpartum depression can take us by surprise. It can be debilitating and make us feel like we cannot take care of our newborn or ourselves.
If you are experiencing postpartum depression, know that you are not alone and that there is help available. In today's episode, I will be sharing my experience with baby blues and postpartum depression and how one doctor helped me conquer my overshadowing sadness.
"The postpartum depression doesn't pick and choose who it comes after. It doesn't matter if you have the world's best village or have nobody at all, it does not matter." - Amanda Outlaw.
Experiences I am sharing with you in this episode:
- Prefacing with a prayer (0:50)
- The statistics show you are not alone (1:47)
- Sharing my story (3:24)
- The postpartum depression sets in (9:41)
- Finding the courage to reach out for help (12:28)
- The action steps given to me to move forward (13:33)
Please remember, you are not alone. Postpartum depression is very common, and it doesn't mean that you're a bad mother. I hope my experience has helped you realize you are not alone and maybe even encouraged you to reach out to a mama who might need you during her time with a new baby. If you ever need someone to talk to or just want to open up and share your experience, feel free to reach out to me in my DMs!
Connect with Amanda:
I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you're looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again in two weeks. Be sure to find me on Instagram and tell me what season of life you are in!
Are you enjoying the show? Be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a rate and review of the show! I'd love to hear from you.
Becoming a mom is one of the most amazing and challenging experiences you will ever have. It's a time when you are constantly learning about yourself and your child. So it's no surprise that many moms feel like they need all the advice they can get! Luckily, I'm surrounded by such amazing mothers willing to share their best motherhood advice with me on a poll I shared on my Instagram and Facebook. In today's episode, I will be sharing some of my favorite pieces of advice with you, and I hope they inspire you the way they have inspired me.
"There's no rulebook to parenting, there's no rulebook to being the best mom you can be, which is a blessing..." -Amanda Outlaw.
Advice I'm passing on to you in this episode:
- You can not do it all (3:44)
- There is no right way (6:24)
- Before you spout, hug it out (7:50)
- Go take a bath or go outside (9:15)
- Feeding your feelings to your kids (10:31)
- Your children's home (12:26)
- Pick and choose your battles (14:30)
- Talk to your children (15:15)
Did any of the advice in today's episode encourage or inspire you? I hope you have found at least one piece of advice in this episode to be inspiring and helpful as you continue your parenting journey. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to raising children, but plenty of tips and tricks can help make the process a little bit easier. What is the best parenting advice you have received? Please share it with me on Instagram!
Connect with Amanda:
I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you're looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again in two weeks. Be sure to find me on Instagram and tell me what season of life you are in!
Are you enjoying the show? Be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a rate and review of the show! I'd love to hear from you.
Hey, ya'll! Do you have a nutrition plan you follow? Or do you wish you had your nutrition more streamlined to keep up with your busy lifestyle?
It's such a struggle trying to keep up with a diet and trying to feel good, but it's also a struggle craving foods that aren't good for us and ultimately feeling bad in the end. In today's episode, I share some of my favorite tips to make your nutrition plan easier to follow to ensure you feel good and keep up with your busy life.
"…I do not like that word at all because 'diet' is in your brain; you think elimination. And that's not what we should be doing for our bodies. We need to be fueling it and giving it food because that's how we live." - Amanda Outlaw.
Tips shared in today's episode:
- Nutrition overwhelm (1:34)
- A nutrition plan that works for me (2:40)
- Confusing nutrition with weightless (3:14)
- Starting each new week with a plan (4:26)
- Saving money and time with bulk shopping (5:56)
- Eliminating the diet mindset (10:15)
- Three things to be mindful of when planning (11:46)
- Starting with easy swaps (17:25)
What are easy swaps you can make to improve your nutrition? Do you have any easy meals you keep on hand to make meal planning easier? I'd love for you to share your favorite nutritional meal with me on Instagram!
Resources Mentioned:
Meal Planning for Your Busy Season episode
Free Meal Plan
Connect with Amanda:
I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you're someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram and tell me what season of life you are in!
Are you enjoying the show? Be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a rate and review of the show! I'd love to hear from you.
Hey, ya'll! Do you consider yourself productive? Or do you crave more productivity in your life? Being a mom can be so chaotic, whether you are a stay-at-home mom, working mom, or a work from home mom. Each of us encounters our form of chaos, and more times than not, we wish we had a more streamlined way to juggle it all. I am sharing some of my favorite tips to increase productivity in today's episode.
"…we all crave to be more productive throughout the day. However, we all do have the same amount of time. So how we use that time is really going to depend on our efficiency and our systems and our planning and organizing within your life and your home. And that is what I'm passionate about." - Amanda Outlaw
Tips shared in today's episode:
- The struggle of not being productive (0:39)
- Why do we crave productivity (1:50)
- Setting a schedule for yourself (3:12)
- Organizing your spaces (4:51)
- Implement new and atomic habits (7:48)
What habits have you implemented in your day-to-day routine to increase productivity? Do you have designated spaces for working or working out? These have been such essential productivity tips for me, and I know they can be a complete game-changer for you too! I'd love for you to share with me on Instagram!
Resources Mentioned:
Atomic Habits
Connect with Amanda:
I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you're someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram and tell me what season of life you are in!
Are you enjoying the show? Be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rate and review of the show! I'd love to hear from you.
Hey y'all! Being a mom can be tough. Juggling work, kids, and home can be overwhelming at times, but it's also incredibly rewarding. One of the best ways to make the most of your time with your kids is to have fun as a mom. And while I completely value taking time for myself, what I mean by having fun as a mom is to make your everyday mom responsibilities more fun for you and your family. I know what you are thinking; “Amanda, how could I possibly make washing dishes and folding laundry more fun?” but I promise I have a few helpful tips for you to try! Caution: Too much fun in the topics shared today! * Being fun through song (4:00) * Get messy, it'll be okay (5:54) * Choose a day where this particular word is not in your vocabulary (7:31) * Give your schedule a break to induce more fun (11:03) * Create a simple adventure (13:02) * Creating a lasting memory that is good for both of you (13:34) * Being the fun mom with teenagers (15:09) * Action steps for you (17:20)
Did today’s episode give you some good ideas to help liven up your routine? I hope it did, I also hope that it made you realize you ARE a fun mom and the fun traditions you have in your household are setting an example and creating a lasting memory for your family. What are some fun things you do with your children? I’d love for you to share with me on Instagram! Resources Mentioned: GoNoodle.com I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you’re someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram and tell me what season of life you are in! Are you enjoying the show? Be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rate and review of the show! I’d love to hear from you.
Hey y'all! As mothers, we are constantly inundated with messages about what our bodies should look like. We are told that unless our bodies conform to a certain standard, we are not good enough. This can be incredibly damaging to our self-esteem and lead to feelings of insecurity and self-hatred. But it doesn't have to be this way! We can choose to embrace our bodies, which have done incredible things instead. It is such a magical moment when we learn to love ourselves for who we are, flaws and all. This can be a difficult journey, but it is ultimately worth it. So stick with me today and let's start embracing who we are! Tips covered in today’s episode: * Gratitude from exposure (0:28) * Struggling to be body positive (1:02) * A quick reminder of faith (2:21) * Postpartum and our bodies (2:52) * Positively moving your body (5:19) * Body positivity starts with your mind (5:47) * The negativity of culture and social media (7:51) * Living in the now (9:16) * Planting body positivity in your children (11:46) * Authentic body positivity (14:11) * Leaving you with a challenge (16:57)
I hope today’s episode has encouraged you to take a deep breathe and exhale all the negative feelings you have felt towards your body. I know it is easier said than done, but I also know your heart and know you, like myself, truly want to love yourself. Resources Mentioned: The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you’re someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram and tell me what season of life you are in! Are you enjoying the show? Be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rate and review of the show! I’d love to hear from you.
Hey y'all! I am so excited for this first episode of 2022! If you are like most people, the beginning of the new year is usually accompanied by some desire or commitment to get some aspect of your life “together”. While I might not be able to help with all the situations, I did want to start off this year by helping you bring systems in to your home. Tips covered in today’s episode: * Establishing a command center in your home. (3:46) * Finding a place for everything. (6:22) * A bonus marriage tip that works! (7:36) * Preventing overstock with a toy rotation. (8:59) * Using our appliances like it’s their job. (10:08) * Finding peace in flexibility. (13:50)
I hope today’s episode has encouraged you to slide over to Pinterest to design the perfect command center that will work for your family. Creating more simple systems in your home will set you up for a stress free, successful day! Do you implement any of these tips in your home or have any other helpful tips? I’d love to hear from you! I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you’re someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram and tell me what season of life you are in! Are you enjoying the show? Be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rate and review of the show! I’d love to hear from you.
Hey y'all! If you are sick of fast food, but want quick and easy meals at home, you are in the right place! You’re probably thinking, “Amanda, there’s no way I have time to take on something as overwhelming as meal planning!” Rest assured, friend, meal planning for your busy season doesn't have to be hard! You just need to know what works for you and your family, and today I am sharing my favorite tips to get you started! Tips covered in today’s episode: * The difference between meal prepping and meal planning. (1:23) * Preparing to meal plan. (4:14) * Meal planning for breakfast. (4:32) * Creating your grocery list. (7:29) * Keeping the family accountable for the meal plan. (8:30) * Aligning your meal plan with your schedule. (9:12) * Plan to keep your meals simple. (10:43)
I hope today’s episode has you ready to hop in the car and head to your local grocery store to stock up on quick and easy meals! I promise, once you get a system in place for your meals, you will be nourished and ready to tackle the other tasks on your to do list! If you need help with meal planning ideas or nutrition, always feel free to reach out to me on Instagram! I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you’re someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram and tell me what season of life you are in! Are you enjoying the show? Be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rate and review of the show! I’d love to hear from you.
Hey y'all! In a world where routines are becoming the aesthetically pleasing trend, I am excited to bring you an episode to encourage you to get out of the repeat cycle!
If you feel like you are living a mother's parody of Groundhog Day, you'll want to tune into the key topics we covered in this episode!
Tips covered in today's episode:
- Stop looking forward to this one thing! (2:09)
- A new way to use a gratitude journal (4:32)
- Fall in love with your routine by setting goals (5:25)
- You were not created to be a countdown clock (7:22)
- How social media leads to complacency (8:21)
I hope today's episode helps you become more fulfilled in your daily schedule. I really want to know, what are some things you do to keep out of the lather, rinse and repeat cycle?
I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you're someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram and tell me what season of life you are in!
Are you enjoying the show? Be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rate and review of the show! I'd love to hear from you.
Hey, y’all! I am so pumped to have an episode where we can dig a little deeper into what it going on in our bodies and how we can start pouring into ourselves from the inside! My guest today is Megan Bliss, a nurse practitioner specializing in hormone help. Lack of preparation from her education and want to help women feel validated in their feelings led Megan to what she’s doing now. If you’re ready to dig deeper into your health, then this episode is for you! Check out the topics in today’s episode: * Getting to know Megan (1:16) * Reactions from Megan’s patients (4:44) * The key symptoms of a true hormone imbalance. (6:38) * Stop ignoring these things. (8:26) * How to create balance today. (12:22) * You can’t balance all the hats. (14:08) * The foundation of hormonal health. (17:24)
How are you feeling after this episode? I would love to know! Did this motivate you to take a few hats off and really tune in to how your body is feeling? If you are ready to start creating more balance today, check out Megan’s free online event for healthy, savvy women in the resources below! You can also check Megan out on Instagram. Or get back to your confident self using The Bliss Method for Hormone Balancing. Mentioned Resources End Hormonal Havoc I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you’re someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram and tell me what season of life you are in! Are you enjoying the show? Be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rate and review of the show! I’d love to hear from you.
Hey, y’all! It’s been almost two weeks since our family went through a world-shattering experience, but these were the moments and experiences I have planned from the beginning to share with you. While I had planned for there to be an episode to cover grief, what I didn’t know was my family would be going through their own grieving experience after losing my father-in-law, Jennings, just less than two weeks ago. While this episode is heavy, there are truths and lessons I learned that I would like to share with you: * Dedicating this episode to my father-in-law. (1:01) * Favorite memories with Jennings. (2:50) * Let’s talk about grief. (8:15) * How God prepared us for this grief. (11:45) * My outlet when grieving. (12:58) * Communicating with our children about death. (15:36) * The three reasons God puts grief in our life. (17:07) * My hopes for you and your heart. (24:28)
I, more than ever, hope this episode helps heal any trauma or grief you may be facing in your life. Community means so much to me during this time, so I encourage you to reach out to me with any wisdom or experiences you would like to share. Mentioned Resources High Five Habit by Mel Robbins I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you’re someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram @amandaqoutlaw and let me know what season of life you are in!
Morning routines are so important to me, and even though we hear it a lot, I’d still like to share with you what my routine does for me each day and what I did to make this routine easier on me. Here are a few stories and topics shared in this week’s episode: * When should your morning routine begin? (2:16) * How long should your morning routine last? (3:00) * Hacks to waking up earlier (4:15) * My morning routine (5:54) * What should your morning routine include? (8:38) * Preparing the night before (10:25) * Pivoting, consistency and grace (13:09) * Mindset matters (15:42)
I look forward to hearing how these tips help you set up a morning routine that fills your cup before the sun comes up. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and I'm rooting for you! Mentioned Resources Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod Daily Grace Co The High Five Habit by Mel Robbins I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you’re someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram @amandaqoutlaw and let me know what season of life you are in!
Hey, y’all! Are you ready to unwind and prepare for this week together? Me too! One of my very best friends, Liz, is joining me this week to talk about juggling mom life, being a wife and ALL the things! Here are some of the struggles and topics we want to talk through with you this week: * Meet Liz! I know you will love her as much as I do! (1:29) * Internal struggles as a working mom (3:13) * So many ways to fill our cups as a mom - without the mom guilt! (6:10) * The importance of a support group or circle of moms around (11:47) * Sometimes friends have the best reminders! (16:35) * How many times have you heard this age-old saying? (20:39)
I am so grateful you were able to sit in this morning as I chatted with Liz! I hope you gained a little insight into why she is one of my favorites! How are you feeling? What did you take away from this episode? I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you’re someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram @amandaqoutlaw and let me know what season of life you are in!
Hey, y’all! I can’t wait to jump in and take on this week with you! This episode is full of backstories, but they are so important for me to share with you where I’ve been and where I am going. I can't wait for you to join me! Here are a few stories and topics shared in this week’s episode: * Introduction and a personal announcement you get to hear first! (2:00) * Farm life and renovating our family's old homestead (5:35) * Where I'm from and how I went from being a teacher to where I am now! (7:10) * Why I decided to resign from teaching in May (11:18)
Thank you for listening along as I introduce myself and this show, I encourage you to head over to my Instagram and introduce yourself as well! I can’t wait to meet y'all! I hope you walk away today with the keys you need to find joy in your daily chaos. If you’re someone who is looking to be a little less overwhelmed, a little more inspired, hit the follow button and get ready to meet here again next week. Be sure to find me on Instagram @amandaqoutlaw and let me know what season of life you are in!
Welcome to Unlocking Life, hosted by Amanda Outlaw, a retired teacher who is now dedicated and passionate about teaching mamas like you how to live healthy and fulfilling lives starting from the inside, out!
Unlocking Life is meant to reignite joy and passion in the busy mom’s life whether you are a working mom, a stay-at-home mom or even the mamas who are working from home.
Each Monday we will gain insight into what it means to find joy and happiness in the mundane and everyday chaotic life. From each conversation, you will discover you are not alone, and you will walk away with the motivation and tools needed to put passion back into your life as a wife, mother and Christian woman.
Unlocking Life will cover topics you didn’t know you needed, such as finding joy in morning routines, dealing with grief, trauma, learning how to fill your cup, health/nutrition tips, and overall wellness.
Don't miss an episode and be sure to follow now on your preferred podcast platform. Leave me a review and tell me how this episode resonated with you and share what season of life you are going through while listening! Feel free to follow me on Instagram or send a message if you want a particular topic covered.