Feeling overwhelmed as a working mom? Constantly stressed but not sure why you can't decrease it? This is your starting point.

I'm Sam, a clarity coach who helps high-achieving women stop bringing work stress home. During my divorce, running my business, and being a single mom, I felt overwhelmed every single day.

This strategic journaling framework is what pulled me through, and I've since used it with hundreds of women.

In this episode, we're starting with awareness—the foundation for any real change. Not the "let's fix this immediately" kind of awareness. The "let's finally see what's actually happening" kind.

What you'll learn in this 5-minute guided journaling session:

• How to break down your overwhelm (what's happening, who's involved, what you're actually feeling)
• Where to locate stress and tension in your body
• How to get radically honest with yourself without judgment (your journal is your safe space to be as petty as you want)

Today's journaling prompt: We're not trying to solve anything. We're simply becoming aware of what's happening beneath the "I'm fine" and why you're feeling overwhelmed.

Permission to journal imperfectly: Misspell words. Messy handwriting. Bullet points. Doodles. Whatever your page looks like is perfect.

New here or need another copy? Download your free Calm Mind Blueprint:

👉 https://www.samanthapenkoff.com/calm-mind-pod

This 5-day journaling framework works for every difficult emotion — overwhelm, anxiety, jealousy, sadness — but we're focusing on overwhelm for these episodes.

Next: Episode 2 where we take this awareness and question the meaning you're attaching to it.

Journaling along? Tag me on Instagram @samantha.s.says!