After an amazing—but jam-packed—family vacation, I came home feeling mentally and physically heavy. Not just from the laundry piles and travel chaos, but something deeper. I was carrying around a weight I couldn’t quite name… until I opened my diaper bag.
Even though none of my kids are in diapers anymore, I still love and carry my Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag. It’s spacious, sturdy, and goes with everything. But after our trip, it felt unusually heavy. I kept telling myself I’d deal with it later… until “later” turned into five days of lugging that bag around.
When I finally sat down and emptied it out, I had to laugh and then reflect. What I found inside turned into a powerful lesson I just had to share with you.
What Was In My Bag (Literally)?
Here’s what I discovered:
- Three bags of rocks: One from the beach (hand-selected by my daughter), and two from a “gold-panning” activity filled with sparkly “gems” my girls couldn’t live without.
- Garbage: Used tissues, sticky wrappers, and melted granola bar pieces. Gross, but very real.
- Stuff that wasn’t even mine: My son’s wallet, random gift card trash, and his dental wax and rubber bands.
In total? I was carrying around a bunch of rocks, trash, and other people’s stuff—without even realizing it. Sound familiar?
The Emotional Parallel: What Are You Carrying?
That diaper bag wasn’t just filled with literal weight. It mirrored the emotional and mental weight I had been carrying all week.
How often do we, as moms, carry around mental “rocks” that once served us but are no longer necessary? Or hang on to emotional “garbage” like guilt, shame, or self-doubt? How many burdens are we holding that don’t even belong to us?
It was such a wake-up call that I turned it into a full 3-step mindset exercise—and even created a free workbook to help you do the same. Because sometimes, before we chase our dreams, we need to clear out what’s taking up space in our minds.
The 3-Step Process to Clean Out Your Brain
This is the same simple method I used to get clear, feel lighter, and reset my mind after vacation. You can do it anytime you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or emotionally cluttered.
1. Notice That Things Are Feeling Heavy
Before you can let go, you have to recognize the weight. Take a moment to check in with yourself. Are you feeling tense? Stressed? Foggy or frustrated for no obvious reason?
Try doing a body scan—tune in from head to toe and notice if any part of your body feels tight or off. I walk you through this exact practice in the podcast episode and included it in the free workbook, too.
2. Dump It All Out
Grab a journal (or the workbook!) and do a good old-fashioned brain dump. Write down everything that’s swirling in your head—worries, tasks, thoughts, expectations, frustrations. Don’t edit or judge it. Just get it out.
There’s no right or wrong way to do this. Some people like a lined page; others prefer a blank space to map things out visually. I included both options for you in the download!
3. Sort Your Mental Clutter Into Four Categories
Once your thoughts are on paper, it’s time to sort:
- 🪨 Rocks – Things you chose to carry for a while but don’t need anymore (e.g., obsessing over your kids’ happiness).
- 🗑️ Garbage – Unhelpful or untrue thoughts that need to go (e.g., “I’m a bad mom” or “I ruined everything.”).
- 🎒 Other People’s Stuff – Worries or responsibilities that don’t belong to you (e.g., your nephew’s scraped knees or your sister-in-law’s car interior).
- 💛 Keepers – Thoughts or beliefs you do want to keep and hold onto (e.g., “I created a meaningful vacation for my family.”).
I gave real-life examples from my own brain dump in the episode. Some of those thoughts were surprisingly harsh—like blaming myself for my daughter getting car sick. But once I named them, I could release them.
Why This Matters for Moms Chasing Dreams
When your mind is full of garbage thoughts, guilt, and unnecessary mental clutter, it’s almost impossible to find the time, energy, or clarity to chase your goals.
Decluttering your brain is like clearing the path so you can finally move forward. It doesn’t mean everything is perfect—but it means you’re not weighed down by things that don’t serve you.
And guess what? The more you do this, the easier it becomes.
Pro Tip: Give Yourself Grace After Big Events
Whether it’s a vacation, a family gathering, or a busy season, give yourself a cushion to recover. You don’t need to hit the ground running the minute you get back. Give yourself two days if you can—to do laundry, refill the fridge, and breathe.
And if your trip was on your vision board or goal list? Take a minute to celebrate! You did it. You created memories. You made it happen—even if the photos are chaotic and the kids didn’t say thank you (yet).
Let’s Clean Out That Bag (and Brain) Together
This process isn’t just a one-time fix. It’s a tool you can use anytime life starts to feel heavy. And I’d love to help you walk through it.
📥 Download the free “Clean Out Your Brain” workbook here:
https://jessicaericksoncoaching.com/gift-clean
And if you want help applying it or just need someone to talk to? I offer a free 30-minute coaching call, no strings attached. Because when you’re not weighed down, you can actually move forward—and I want that for you.
You’ve got dreams, mama. Let’s make space for them. 💛
Be the first to comment