51 days.

That’s how long the too-small sweater sat in my trunk before I finally made the return.

In this episode, I’m talking about the mundane tasks we avoid — the returns, the laundry, the mail, the subscriptions we never cancel — and why they take up way more space in our bodies and nervous systems than we realize.

For years, I told myself these tasks were beneath me. That I had more important things to focus on. That I would do them tomorrow. But what I’ve come to understand in this phase of life is that it was never about time or discipline — it was about capacity.

Unfinished tasks aren’t just clutter or procrastination. They’re unfinished business. They hum in the background. They quietly drain our energy. And over time, they contribute to anxiety, overwhelm, and that constant feeling that we’re behind in our own lives.

In this episode, I explore:

• Why “easy” tasks can feel harder than big goals
• How unfinished business affects your energy and nervous system
• The difference between forcing productivity and building real capacity
• Why completing small, mundane tasks can actually free up space for the life you want

This isn’t about fixing yourself or turning into someone you’re not (like June Cleaver). It’s about listening to what your system actually needs — and discovering that the answers might be smaller, quieter, and closer than you think.

✨ I’m also writing more about this idea over on Substack — including an essay about how much I hate making returns.
You can read it here: I Hate Making Returns

If this episode resonated — if you felt it in your bones — I’d be so grateful if you left a review. I read every single one, and they truly mean more than you know.

Thanks for being here. I’ll see you in the next phase.

January has a way of turning us into projects.

Fix your habits.
Fix your body.
Fix your mindset.
Fix your life.

In this episode, Stacey reflects on the familiar New Year self-help spiral—and why, after decades of goal-setting, optimizing, and trying to become “better,” she’s choosing something different.

Through a deeply personal New Year ritual, a surprising realization, and one tiny experiment that changed how she experiences time, Stacey explores what it actually means to create more space in your life—without forcing change, quitting your phone, or becoming someone new.

This is a conversation about presence, nervous system safety, and learning how to enjoy the life you’ve already worked so hard to build.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why January can feel so aggressive for self-help-prone women
• The difference between fixing yourself and listening to yourself
• How constant phone consumption quietly steals our sense of time and space
• A simple, ordinary practice that brought Stacey back to herself
• Why small, embodied rituals can be more powerful than big New Year resolutions

✨ Mentioned in this episode:

• Stacey’s Substack, where she shares a deeper reflection on the tooth-brushing practice and explores creating more space and joy through everyday rituals
• Episode #3: Why You Should Listen to Fewer Podcasts—Including This One
• Want to drop a note to Stacey? Email her at stacey@stacey-hutson.com

If you’re tired of feeling like a before-version of yourself—and ready to experience your life instead of constantly trying to improve it—this episode is for you.

Have you ever been set off by something that looks small to everyone else — but suddenly your chest is tight, your throat feels blocked, and you can’t fully exhale?

Your body feels like it’s under attack… even though nothing “that bad” just happened.

That’s spiraling — and if you’re a millennial mom in perimenopause, it may be happening more often than ever.

In today’s episode of The Next Phase Podcast, I’m teaching you one of the most powerful nervous system regulation tools I know — one you can use anytime, anywhere, completely on your own.

We’re talking about EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) — also known as tapping.

I’ll walk you through:

• What spiraling actually is (and why it’s not a personal failure)
• Why anxiety feels more intense during perimenopause
• What EFT is and why it works (yes, there’s real science behind it)
• How tapping helps calm your nervous system without numbing you
• A simple EFT formula you can use anytime you feel overwhelmed
• And finally, a guided EFT session you can come back to whenever you need it

This episode is especially for you if:

• Your anxiety feels physical (tight chest, racing thoughts, shallow breath)
• You’re tired of trying to “positive think” your way out of stress
• You want to calm your body without gummies, wine, or scrolling
• You need a tool that works in the moment — not later

✨ Guided EFT Session

EFT tapping begins at: 25:32
(Bookmark this section so you can return to it anytime you’re spiraling.)

🖐 EFT Meridian Points Used in This Episode

Use this list to follow along during the tapping session:

1. Karate Chop Point – Side of the hand, below the pinky
2. Eyebrow – Inner edge of the eyebrow
3. Side of the Eye – Outer corner of the eye
4. Under the Eye – On the cheekbone, directly below the eye
5. Under the Nose – Between the nose and upper lip
6. Chin – Crease between the lower lip and chin
7. Collarbone – About 1 inch from the center of the collarbone
8. Under the Arm – About 3–4 fingers below the armpit, along the side of the body
9. Top of the Head – The crown of the head

(No need to memorize these — perfection is not the goal. Presence is.)

💛 Want More Support?

If EFT resonated with you and you want help using it to finally tackle the things you’ve been avoiding, I’d love to invite you to my January Reset Body Doubling Session.

We’ll start with a guided EFT to calm your nervous system — then actually do the thing together, from a grounded, supported place.

You don’t need more willpower in January.
You need nervous system support — and community.

👉 Sign up here:
stacey-hutson.com/body-doubling

If this episode helped you, feel free to come back to the tapping anytime. There’s no rush, nothing to fix, and nothing you need to figure out right now.

Just one breath at a time.

Peace 🤍