A practical analog tool for stay-at-home moms who want more than getting through the day. Creates a solution for monotony, mindless distraction, and mental drift.
As a new mom, I created something I called “My Nursing Basket”. I knew that feeding my baby would take 20-30 minutes of sitting in a chair with not much else to do. I got bored quickly. To have what I needed on hand, I gathered things for my future self. (Even back then I was trying to think ahead.)
This was before I had a smartphone, and I had a strict rule about keeping the TV off during the daytime hours. Talking on the phone or making a lot of noise often distracted my baby so the activity needed to be quiet, calm, and something I could do one-handed.
My goal was to have a few self-care comfort items and then a few things to enjoy.
Things I kept in my Nursing Basket:
- simple self-care: chapstick, lotion, nursing pads, wipes & burp cloth
- a recent magazine issue or two
- a cookbook I was interested in (specifically one with pictures for browsing)
- a book I was currently reading
- a cheap spiral notebook for lists, ideas, random tasks, and journaling
- a small zippered pencil case with pens, pencils & sticky tabs for notating books or recipes
- a water bottle that I would fill up before I sat down (because I was often dehydrated)
Feeding my new baby every 2-3 hours became something I looked forward to because I was also attending to my own needs.
I was slowing down. Instead of feeling frustrated by being limited to a chair in the living room, those nursing sessions became regular check-ins with myself. I picked up something fun or slightly productive and enjoyed it.
Surprisingly, I read stacks of books in those short snatches of time.
I learned the art of list making and practiced journaling more frequently. I paid closer attention to my baby and felt the desire to take charge of my home environment.
I was reminded of this simple practice recently while babysitting my cousin’s 6-month-old. As I sat down to rock him and feed him his bottle, I immediately (almost in muscle memory) looked around for my nursing basket. 😃
And then I thought of all my readers who have babies and little ones.
Caring for them is difficult and exhausting work. It zaps your energy and yet leaves many brain cells unused and in danger of atrophy.
I encourage you to do a small amount of planning ahead for yourself.
Use these prompts to think about what you would put in an analog activity basket specific to you.
Reflection Questions:
Self-Awareness
- When do you feel mentally restless but physically stuck?
- If you had 15-20 minutes, what would you enjoy spending time on?
- What used to delight you before life felt so full?
- When are the times in your day that you reach for your phone to fill gaps of activity?
- What could you do instead?
Energy & Mood
- When you feel dull or foggy, what would gently wake up your mind?
- When you feel lonely, what would help you feel connected?
Identity & Growth
- What kind of person do you want to become in this season?
- What small practice would support that version of you?
- If someone observed your small daily habits, what would they say you value?
If you’d like more guidance as you build this kind of intentional rhythm into your life, my Personal Curriculum class was created for exactly that. The lessons are simple, practical videos you can watch on your own time, along with printables that help you think clearly and plan realistically.
When I was creating the course, I kept picturing a stay-at-home mom with a new baby in her arms and a long stretch of unfamiliar days ahead of her. She loves her little one deeply, but she’s also trying to remember who she is beyond feedings, laundry cycles, and keeping tiny hands busy.
There are small, quiet windows when the baby naps, and she longs to use them well, yet decision fatigue leaves her reaching for the easiest distraction instead of the most life-giving choice. The days start to blur together.
I built this class for her so those ordinary afternoons could hold meaning again and she would have gentle defaults ready.
I want moments in her day to feel hopeful, purposeful, and truly her own.
If this feels relatable to you, check it out.
I walk you step-by-step through how to choose what to focus on and how to make it work in a full, busy life. It’s gentle structure for anyone who wants to grow without adding pressure.
I know it’s a big ask to buy a class,
but everything on my Substack is free
and will stay that way.😉
I am confident that you can do this!
Those twenty-minute pockets, used just a few times a week, quietly grow into something meaningful over a month.
When your in-between moments become intentional instead of accidental, books get finished, skills deepen, and a steadier version of you begins to emerge.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals.
You fall to the level of your systems.”
— Atomic Habits by James Clear
Please share with us how you are choosing subtle resistance against hustle culture by creating your own analog basket or bag.
We would love to hear your ideas!
Have a beautiful day!
