Stephing Up

If you've ever bought a planner and you just can't seem to stick to it. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, constantly behind, or like everyone else somehow got the instruction manual for life except you — this episode is for you.   One of my most asked questions is ‘Steph, how do you do it all? How do you plan your week? How do you have everything running so smoothly?’ From the outside, it looks like everything does run smoothly. But to be honest, it hasn’t been easy. I've had to go through trial and error to create the systems that work, because in reality I’m a hot mess, and the way my brain works is very different.  In this episode I share:  I’m breaking down the exact planning system that keeps my life, business, kids, and chaotic brain functioning without completely falling apart. I talk brain dumps, priority blindness, Google Calendar hacks, the “top three + quick three” method, meal planning, habit tracking, and why your planner should work with your brain, not against it. I’ll also share how I use AI and automation to save hours every week (including the AI assistant I built called Dobby), why your nightly “handover document” might change your life, and the reason most planners fail people with messy minds. Because getting organised isn’t about becoming perfect. It’s about building systems that make life feel lighter. … Episode Links: Submit your Hot Mess Hotline question here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUnWTcPntVMCQrdu2wSFqFHEnQkggznr_23Ux9zDBNvlh78g/viewform?usp=publish-editor  Shop 2026 Planners: https://www.stephpaseplanners.com.au/collections/planners  Shop Planner Stickers: https://www.stephpaseplanners.com.au/collections/sticker-packs  Shop Magnet Planners: https://www.stephpaseplanners.com.au/collections/planner-magnets  Shop Highlighters: https://www.stephpaseplanners.com.au/collections/magnetic-markers/products/pastel-highlighter-pack  Steph’s Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com.au/shop/justanothermummyblog/list/17TTU785IMM53  … Follow Stephing Up I’m Steph Pase, your (somewhat) organised bestie in your ears. This podcast is about growth that’s messy, building a life that actually fits you, and what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. We’ll talk mental health, motherhood, business, ADHD and how to stop being such an asshole to yourself. New episodes drop every Monday morning.So set your reminder. Pop in your headphones. Because we’re Stephing Up together. If today's episode helped, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is honestly the best thing you can do to help us reach more women.  … Let’s Hang: Stephing Up on Instagram: @stephing.up         Steph Pase on Instagram:  @stephpase_          Steph Pase on Youtube:  @stephpase.                 Shop Planners + Organisation: Steph Pase Planners     Shop Steph’s book “Mastering my Messy Life”:    Penguin Books Australia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The reason your meal prep keeps failing isn't because you're not disciplined. It's because you're copying systems built for people who like cooking. If that's not you, those systems will never work. You know the spiral. You're on Pinterest, you find recipes that look amazing, you go and spend hundreds of dollars on groceries (including six herbs you've never heard of), and by week three you're hating life and the kitchen is a war zone. Week one you were motivated. Week two you were okay. Week three you've given up. You know what hasn't given up? The weird herbs. They're still in your pantry. They will outlive us all. In this episode I share: The 10-meal rotation: the framework that fixed my dinners forever ("we like what we like" beats Pinterest every time) Theme nights and the science of pre-set decision frames The meal plan is a guide, not a contract: how to swap meals without falling off the wagon Component prep, not full meal prep The viral lunch bag I designed at the SPP warehouse  The Woolies online list hack that saves me 30 minutes a week Decide what's for dinner at 9am, not 5pm: the rule that ended my 5pm panic forever BONUS: The Grab-and-Go Tub — pantry snacks the kids choose from … Episode Links: Shop the Luxe Lunch Bag: https://www.stephpaseplanners.com.au/collections/luxe-lunch-bags  Shop the Shopping List Notepad: https://www.stephpaseplanners.com.au/products/new-shopping-list  Shop Magnet Planners: https://www.stephpaseplanners.com.au/collections/planner-magnets  Steph’s Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com.au/shop/justanothermummyblog/list/17TTU785IMM53  … Follow Stephing Up I’m Steph Pase, your (somewhat) organised bestie in your ears. This podcast is about growth that’s messy, building a life that actually fits you, and what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. We’ll talk mental health, motherhood, business, ADHD and how to stop being such an asshole to yourself. New episodes drop every Monday morning.So set your reminder. Pop in your headphones. Because we’re Stephing Up together. If today's episode helped, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is honestly the best thing you can do to help us reach more women.  … Let’s Hang: Stephing Up on Instagram: @stephing.up         Steph Pase on Instagram:  @stephpase_          Steph Pase on Youtube:  @stephpase.                 Shop Planners + Organisation: Steph Pase Planners     Shop Steph’s book “Mastering my Messy Life”:    Penguin Books Australia   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever stood in the kitchen at 7:14am holding two odd shoes and a half-made sandwich, wondering whether it's Wednesday or Thursday? It’s no secret that I’m a hot mess. And mornings (and the 35,000 micro decisions we need to make by 9am) are always extra messy.  So if you've ever been late to the meeting that mattered because morning-you wrote the wrong start time in your head, or your screen time number scares the shit out of you, or you've already snapped at someone you love before the day has even started, this one is for you.  The secret? Stop trying to fix your morning. Fix your night. In this episode I share the six night-before rituals I follow, because morning me cannot be trusted. The handover document, the launchpad, and the toast I refuse to make. In this episode: - The day I was an hour late to the Steph Pase Planners Zoom that broke me — and the rules I made because of it - 35,000 micro decisions by 9am: the science behind why your brain is exhausted before you've even started the day - Ritual 1: Outfit prep with the labelled hangers (and the 6pm weather check) - Ritual 2: Lunches 80% prepped (the alternative is the KFC drive-through, ask me how I know) - Ritual 3: The launchpad + the life pouch (which was originally an SPP tech pouch I made) - Ritual 4: Same brekkie every single day (overnight protein Whip-Bix because I hate toast) - Ritual 5: The brain dump → handover document for your future self - Ritual 6: The 15-minute increment alarm hack (and why "shaping" in psychology beats willpower) - The two-step rule (pulled from S2E7): if it takes more than 2 steps, redesign it … Episode Links: Shop the Life & Tech Organiser Pouch: https://www.stephpaseplanners.com.au/collections/tech-organiser-pouches  Steph’s Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com.au/shop/justanothermummyblog/list/17TTU785IMM53  … Follow Stephing Up I’m Steph Pase, your (somewhat) organised bestie in your ears. This podcast is about growth that’s messy, building a life that actually fits you, and what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. We’ll talk mental health, motherhood, business, ADHD and how to stop being such an asshole to yourself. New episodes drop every Monday morning.So set your reminder. Pop in your headphones. Because we’re Stephing Up together. If today's episode helped, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is honestly the best thing you can do to help us reach more women.  … Let’s Hang: Stephing Up on Instagram: @stephing.up         Steph Pase on Instagram:  @stephpase_          Steph Pase on Youtube:  @stephpase.                 Shop Planners + Organisation: Steph Pase Planners     Shop Steph’s book “Mastering my Messy Life”:    Penguin Books Australia   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Mummy, can you put your phone down?" I’m taking you back to the day my 6-year-old shamed me with one sentence... and these phone and tech rules I made because of it.  I know we can all relate to the struggle of succumbing to our devices. Hey, I love a good scroll, but when a kid says that to you, it hits you hard.  Honestly, I have no control when it comes to technology. It felt like my phone was ruining my life, my attention span, and my mental health. Until this wake-up call.   In this episode, I share the science behind why your phone is winning, and the 6 rules I created to help manage my own phone use. And the best bit: none of these rules require willpower..it comes down to our brain and the science behind it.  This episode is for you if: You picked up your phone to do ONE thing and 4 hours later you're deep in your brand new hyperfocus of a 15-step haircare routine on TikTok (not speaking from experience or anything) Someone you love — your kid, your partner, your mum, your bestie — has asked you to put your phone down and you felt the gut-punch Your daily screen time number is genuinely offensive and you're sick of feeling like a piece of shit about it You have ADHD (or just a brain) and you've tried "more discipline" and shockingly it didn't work You want to stop scrolling at 1am but just one more... Follow Stephing Up I’m Steph Pase, your (somewhat) organised bestie in your ears. This podcast is about growth that’s messy, building a life that actually fits you, and what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. We’ll talk mental health, motherhood, business, ADHD and how to stop being such an asshole to yourself. New episodes drop every Monday morning.So set your reminder. Pop in your headphones. Because we’re Stephing Up together. If today's episode helped, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify is honestly the best thing you can do to help us reach more women.  … Let’s Hang: Stephing Up on Instagram: @stephing.up         Steph Pase on Instagram:  @stephpase_          Steph Pase on Youtube:  @stephpase.                 Shop Planners + Organisation: Steph Pase Planners     Shop Steph’s book “Mastering my Messy Life”:    Penguin Books Australia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s the truth:Your brain isn’t broken… it’s just overwhelmed. Whether you have ADHD or not, we’re all living in a world that’s busy, noisy, overstimulating—and expecting us to remember everything. So instead of trying to “be better” or “get more disciplined”…what if you just made life easier? In this episode, I’m walking you through the 8 weird (but wildly effective) systems I use daily to reduce overwhelm, stop forgetting everything, and actually function like a normal human. From the “sock theory” to the “life pouch”… these are the small tweaks that remove friction and make your life work with your brain—not against it. What you’ll learn: Why your brain struggles to keep up (and why it’s not your fault) How to reduce decision fatigue in your everyday life Why “simple systems” are more powerful than motivation How to work with your brain instead of constantly fighting it Here’s what I break down in this episode: Weekly Brain Dump Get everything out of your head and onto paper (aka cognitive offloading) The One-Type-of-Sock Rule Eliminate unnecessary decisions (yes, socks matter more than you think) Planner Always Open + Visible Out of sight = out of mind (so don’t let it disappear) Alarms for Starting (Not Just Leaving) Stop being late by planning for getting ready, not just the event The Launch Pad A designated space for everything you need the next day The “Life Pouch” One small bag with all your essentials—no more losing everything The 2-Step Rule If it takes more than two steps… redesign it Closing Shift Routine Reset your home each night so future you isn’t overwhelmed … Follow Stephing Up I’m Steph Pase, your (somewhat) organised bestie in your ears. This podcast is about growth that’s messy, building a life that actually fits you, and what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. We’ll talk mental health, motherhood, business, ADHD and how to stop being such an asshole to yourself. New episodes drop every Monday morning.So set your reminder. Pop in your headphones. Because we’re Stephing Up together. … Let’s Hang: Stephing Up on Instagram: @stephing.up         Steph Pase on Instagram:  @stephpase_          Steph Pase on Youtube:  @stephpase.                 Shop Planners + Organisation: Steph Pase Planners     Shop Steph’s book “Mastering my Messy Life”:    Penguin Books Australia   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.