If you’re coming into 2026 already feeling behind, this episode is for you.

In this episode, Taniel invites you to pause before diving into another year of goals, resolutions, and self-improvement pressure. Instead of trying harder or fixing yourself, this conversation explores why real change starts with capacity, not discipline - especially for working moms carrying invisible emotional and mental loads.

You’ll hear why pressure and self-attack keep us stuck, how your nervous system responds to criticism, and what it actually takes to create movement that feels sustainable instead of exhausting.

This episode sets the foundation for the next two conversations on procrastination and guilt - two patterns that are often misunderstood but deeply meaningful.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why January doesn’t always feel hopeful
• The hidden cost of starting the year from self-attack
• Why your nervous system shuts down under pressure
• What “doing it differently” actually looks like in 2026
• Three simple rules to support sustainable change

Free Resource:

Download the free 5-Minute Calming Hypnosis Audio - a gentle nervous system reset for overwhelmed moms: https://tanielstrydom.com/5-min-calming-reset-audio

➡️ Episode page: https://tanielstrydom.com/start-2026-differently

➡️ Website: https://tanielstrydom.com

➡️ Follow me: https://instagram.com/tanielstrydom

If you’ve ever started Monday with colour-coded to-do lists and ended the week hiding from your inbox, this episode is going to sting a little… in a helpful way.

In this episode, Taniel talks about why “I just need more willpower” is one of the biggest lies women tell themselves – especially working moms who are already running on fumes. We’re breaking down why you can’t “discipline” your way out of survival mode, and what your nervous system and subconscious are actually trying to do when you procrastinate, self-sabotage, or “fall off the wagon.”

You’ll hear why your patterns are often protection, not failure, why your brain will always prioritise safety over goals, and what to focus on instead: safety, capacity, and self-trust.

This is not another productivity pep talk. It’s a reality check on why willpower keeps letting you down – and a practical guide to what genuinely helps you follow through in a life that’s already full.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why “I just need more discipline” is a trap
• How your nervous system quietly overrides your willpower
• The difference between laziness and protection
• Subtle signs you’re in survival mode (not flaky or inconsistent)
• What actually works: safety, nervous system regulation, and small honest moves

This episode is for you if:

• You start strong… then crash and burn on every plan
• You think you’re “bad at consistency”
• You keep calling it procrastination, but deep down it feels heavier
• You’re tired of feeling like a grown woman who still needs someone to “keep her accountable”

Free Resource:

Download your free 5-Minute Calming Hypnosis Audio – a gentle nervous system reset for overwhelmed moms.

👉 https://tanielstrydom.com/5-min-calming-reset-audio

➡️ Episode page: https://tanielstrydom.com/why-willpower-doesnt-work

➡️ Website: https://tanielstrydom.com

➡️ Follow me: https://instagram.com/tanielstrydom

The invisible load isn’t the dishes, the errands, or the lunchboxes - it’s the mental and emotional weight of carrying everything for everyone, all the time.

In this episode, Taniel breaks down what the invisible load really looks like, why working moms are more overwhelmed than ever, and how this constant mental labor quietly drains our energy, identity, and nervous system.

Dr Gabor Maté recently said this is “the hardest time to be a mother since World War II,” and honestly… the evidence is everywhere. Mothers are expected to work like they don’t have children and parent like they don’t have jobs. And that pressure shows up in our minds, our bodies, and our emotional capacity.

You’ll learn how to name the load you’re carrying, why your body feels constantly braced, and how to start putting down the parts that were never meant to be yours alone.

What You’ll Hear:

• What the invisible load actually is
• Why today’s motherhood culture is heavier than ever
• How the mental load impacts your nervous system
• The emotional residue no one talks about
• Simple shifts to lighten the weight and get your capacity back

This episode is for you if:

• You feel responsible for everything
• You’re tired even after sleeping
• Your mind never switches off
• You want to feel lighter, calmer, and connected to yourself again

Free Resource:

Download your free 5-Minute Calming Hypnosis Audio - a gentle nervous system reset for overwhelmed moms.

👉 tanielstrydom.com/5-min-calming-reset-audio

➡️ Episode page: https://tanielstrydom.com/the-invisible-load-of-working-moms

➡️ Website: https://tanielstrydom.com

➡️ Follow me: https://instagram.com/tanielstrydom