I received a question recently in my community and it touched on something I know many of us wrestle with. So I thought I would explore it in a post for you. The heart of it was this: What do you do when life demands more than you feel ready for? When you're doing the slow, gentle work of nervous system regulation but then life doesn't wait. A family crisis happens. A career opportunity arises. Something urgent and unavoidable lands in your lap. How do you navigate choosing things you know will overwhelm your system? How do you handle the fear of "what if something big comes up before I'm ready?" How do you manage the pressure to speed up your healing so you can be "fixed" before the next hard thing arrives? This tension between going slowly and life not waiting is something I live in constantly. Especially as a single mum to a neurodivergent child where unexpected demands are part of the landscape. So here's what I've learned: The shift isn't about becoming unshakeable before life happens. It's about having tools you can reach for when life does happen. Think of it less like "I need to be fixed before I can handle hard things" and more like "I'm building a toolkit I can use during hard things." What I Do When Life Demands More Than I Feel Ready For: 1. I accept that overwhelm will happen, and plan for recovery If I know something will tax my system (travel, family crisis, big work deadline), I don't try to prevent the overwhelm. Instead, I: - Clear my calendar for the 2-3 days after when possible - Lower the bar everywhere else (frozen meals, minimal commitments, saying no to anything non-essential) - Tell people close to me: "I'm going into a high-demand period and will need space to recover after" This removes the surprise of overwhelm and the shame when it happens. I've planned for it. It's expected. That alone reduces some of the nervous system load. 2. I use the "Minimum Viable Day" framework During high-stress periods, I don't try to maintain my full routine. I identify my absolute non-negotiables, the 2-3 things that keep me most regulated, and do only those.

This is our official INSTAGRAM Support Thread - a space to drop your handles, find other amazing ALIGNED AF CAMP MEMBERS to follow, and give a little algorithm love ❤️ Here’s how it works: ✨ Drop ONE comment on this thread. - Start with a short sentence about who you are and what you post about. - Then, share your INSTAGRAM link Example format: “Hi! I’m a certified sleep consultant helping tired moms get their nights back. I post tips, encouragement, and behind-the-scenes of my biz!”. Here's my Instagram: @handle ✨ By dropping your Instagram, you’re committing to follow at least 8 other AI-summit members in this thread, and encouraged to also: - Like their content. - Leave a kind comment. NOTE - This is a great way to get to Level 6!! ✨ This is our ongoing Instagram thread - but I may post a fresh one from time to time, since we get new amazing members joining every day. 🚫 Important: No spammy vibes, no cold DMs, and no pitching. Be kind and be AI-Driven Business Owner with an open heart to connect and support authentically!

You know those days when you’re not fully sick, but you’re drained, flat and just not yourself?You can function… but it feels heavy. You can work… but the effort feels twice as big. You’re not in burnout, but you’re definitely not in a good place either. That’s the phase I’ve been in this week, and I wanted to talk about it while it’s real. Hi, I’m Mercedes. I work with the nervous system, somatic practices and gentle lifestyle rhythms that support my energy. I’ve been through burnout, overstimulation and long periods of chronic overwhelm, so I know how easy it is to push when your body is asking you to slow down. And this in-between state is the one I used to misunderstand the most. It’s not burnout. It’s not illness. It’s a recuperation phase, where your body is saying “I need a bit more care” but life still needs things from you. Maybe you’ve got work. Maybe you’re running a business. Maybe you’ve got kids who still need you. Maybe your list is full of things you genuinely can’t drop. On days like that, a full rest day just isn’t realistic. But pushing through isn’t the answer either. This is where micro pauses become essential. On a normal day, I can get away with 1–2 minute resets here and there. But when I’m depleted, I stretch those pauses. I’ll do 5–10 minutes of something that actually nourishes my system, slow breathing, gentle stretching, a short walk, or even sitting quietly with a cup of tea. It’s not about doing less. It’s about not letting yourself crash. These small resets keep your energy topped up so you’re not working from empty. They stop the spiral into exhaustion and help you keep going without abandoning yourself in the process. This week has reminded me how necessary this rhythm is. The last couple of weeks have been full-on. Amazing, but intense. My body is clearly trying to recover and I can feel myself dipping, tired, a little run down, low capacity. And instead of forcing myself to “push through,” I’ve been pausing more often and letting those resets hold me.

Hi, I'm Christine and I have my own business built around crafts in the UK. It is something I have come to later in life as a business. I was a Mechanical Engineer and then a Maths teacher. My health forced a reset and now I work for myself at my own pace. I love walking to keep me on track physically and mentally. Also I now embrace breathwork as a miracle for coping with stress and anxiety. I can't wait to meet others here and get ready for all 2026 has to offer (and throw at me!).

Hi all👋 I’m Esther - a mom, strategist, and someone who’s been building her business in the margins of a full life. My work centers on creating life-friendly online businesses through simple, high-leverage systems, structure, and accountability. I joined because I’m always curious how other women create alignment while juggling a lot. I love spaces where the conversation goes deeper than tactics. I’m curious…which part of your business are you trying to bring back into alignment right now? Your model, visibility, or your overall daily workflow?