About this episode
In this episode of the Black Girl Burnout podcast, Kelley shares an honest check-in she calls The Getting My Life Together Toolkit . Instead of another rigid routine or “glow-up” plan, she offers the small, sustaining habits and mindset shifts that are actually helping her through life’s “life-ing.” From soft structure and nervous system routines to practical self-care rituals, Kelley invites you to build your own toolkit—one rooted in gentleness, intention, and capacity, not perfection. KEY TAKEAWAYS Structure can be soft. Create routines that support you—not drain you—by honoring your real capacity, not your ambition. Habits can soothe your nervous system. Small grounding rituals like making your bed, dressing intentionally, and setting calm boundaries bring steadiness to your days. Dress for the energy you want. Even when working from home, wearing real clothes can signal self-respect and shift your mindset. Protect your peace before bed. Limiting dysregulating content at night helps your nervous system unwind and deepens rest. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:00–03:00] A Real-Life Check-In: Kelley explains why she’s naming this season her “Getting My Life Together Toolkit” and shares what inspired it. [03:00–07:00] The Type A Recovery Plan: How she’s learning to make to-do lists that honor capacity rather than overachievement. [07:00–11:00] Nervous System Habits That Stick: From making her bed to red-light therapy, Kelley shares small routines that make her mornings calmer. [11:00–17:00] Dressing for Your Day: How shifting from hoodies to cozy two-piece sets has changed her energy and self-respect. [17:00–22:00] Protecting Peace at Night: Why she no longer watches intense or “dysregulating” shows after 7 p.m., and how it’s improving her sleep and calm. [22:00–28:00] Building Your Own Toolkit: Kelley invites listeners to reflect on what’s actually helping them through and share their own soft lock-in routines. YOUR TURN Take a few minutes today to build your own Getting My Life Together Toolkit. Write down 3 small things—habits, tools, or mindset shifts—that help you feel more grounded or capable right now. Then, share one of them with us on social media using #BlackGirlBurnout . Your toolkit doesn’t have to be perfect—just supportive. That’s the real goal. SUPPORT THE SHOW Are you stepping into a “Summer of No”? Whether you’re canceling plans for rest, setting fresh boundaries, or saying no to what drains you, you don’t owe anyone guilt. Take a moment this week to capture what freedom looks like for you. Snap a pic or video of your joy and tag us: 📱 @blackgirlburnout 📧 Subscribe to our newsletter: blackgirlburnout.com 📺 Watch the episode on YouTube 💌 Show some love—don’t let Kelley’s mama be the only one dropping hearts! STAY IN TOUCH Want more ways to connect with the Black Girl Burnout community? Join our Substack family for weekly reflections, tools, and behind-the-scenes notes from Kelley. Become a paid Substack subscriber ($8/month—the cost of a latte!) for exclusive resources and tools to support your burnout-free life. OUR SPONSORS Check out Green Chef: https://greenchef.com/50BGB Check out Homeaglow: https://homeaglow.com/BGB Savvy Ladies: https://www.savvyladies.org/ Advertising Inquiries: RedCircle Privacy & Opt-Out: RedCircle Our Sponsors: * Check out PharmaNutra and use my code BGB for a great deal: https://pharmanutra-us.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy