My Non-Negotiable Health Habits During Busy Seasons (Lambing, My Business, Life)
- Feb 16
- 6 min read
There are seasons where life doesn't just feel busy. It feels like you're operating at full capacity with zero margin for error.
Right now, we're in the thick of lambing season on the farm. My husband Shane and I are up early, checking on new babies and arrivals, managing Issues, and trying to keep 40+ head of sheep healthy and thriving (plus the new babies). Add to that a toddler who's learning to test every boundary, a 7 mont-old baby boy who's falling and getting road rash every chance he gets, and a Bravenly business that's in a major growth phase, and you get the picture.
This is life at full tilt.
And it would be so easy to let everything slide. To say "I'll take care of myself when things calm down." To put health habits on pause until the season shifts.
But here's what I've learned the hard way: if I don't protect my foundation during the chaos, I crumble.
Not in dramatic ways. But in the small ways that matter. Short-tempered with my kids. Foggy during important conversations. Running on fumes instead of fuel. Showing up, but not really present.
I can't afford that. My family can't afford that. My business can't afford that.
So even in the busiest seasons, there are certain things I refuse to compromise on. These aren't perfection standards. They're survival anchors. The bare minimum that keeps me grounded, steady, and able to show up as the version of myself my people NEED.
The Reality of Busy Seasons
Let me be honest. There are mornings when I'm checking on lambing pens before the sun comes up. Afternoons when I'm answering customer messages with a baby on my hip (or in the wrap on my chest bouncing around my kitchen), evenings when I collapse into bed knowing I didn't get to half the things on my list.
The idea that I'm going to have a perfect morning routine, a full workout, meal prep for the week, and an hour of quiet time is laughable.
But that doesn't mean I throw in the towel completely.
It means I get strategic. I focus on the habits that give me the biggest return. The ones that actually move the needle on my energy, my clarity, and my capacity to keep going.
Because the truth is, busy seasons don't last forever. But the habits I build (or break) during them do.
What I Don't Negotiate On
These are my anchors. The things that happen even If everything else isn't going as planned (when does life go as planned, am I right?).
1. Faith First, Always
Whether it's prayer in the barn while I'm checking sheep, a Bible plan I listen to while feeding Harrison, or worship music playing in the background while I work, this is where my clarity and strength come from.
I'm not always sitting down for a quiet hour. Some days my prayer is whispered in the chaos. But it's still there.
Because when I start with God, the rest of the day has a different foundation. I remember I'm not carrying it all alone. And that shift changes everything.
2. My Daily Bravenly Routine
This is where I'm going to be real with you. I cannot run this life on willpower and prayer alone.
My body needs actual support. And if I'm being honest, I didn't fully understand this until I started being consistent with it.
Every morning:
Daily foundation:
Every evening: (Â My cortisol was all over the place before this...)
As needed:
Calm – When the house is loud, patience is thin, or overwhelm creeps in. This helps me reset my nervous system instead of white-knuckling through the chaos.
These products aren't magic. But they're tools. And when I use them consistently, I show up better for my kids, my husband, my team, and my business.
3. Present Moments With my Kids
I'm not perfect. I don't play with them all day. I'm not Pinterest-mom crafting every afternoon.
But even on the busiest days, I give them eye contact. I listen when they talk. I snuggle before bed. I laugh with them instead of just managing them.
Because legacy is built in ordinary moments. And I refuse to look back and realize I was physically here but emotionally absent. (one of the reasons this business has been such a game-changer for our family)
4. Income-Producing Activity (IPA)
Even when the barn needs me. Even when the laundry is piled up. Even when I'm exhausted.
I show up for my business.
Some days that's just conversations. Follow-ups. Sharing stories. Inviting. Serving customers.
It doesn't have to be hours. But it has to happen.
Because momentum compounds. And consistency beats intensity every single time.
5. Personal Growth Input
I don't lead from empty.
This doesn't mean I'm reading a chapter a day or attending every training. But I'm consuming something that feeds me.
A podcast while I'm driving. Ten pages of a book before bed. A quick leadership lesson during nap time.
The version of me my goals require is always growing. So I protect that, even in small doses.
6. Connection and Encouragement
I'm a community builder by design. I believe people stay where they feel seen.
So even when I'm slammed, I send a voice note. I check in. I recognize someone. I pray for a teammate.
It doesn't take long. But it matters.
7. Stillness or Reset Moment
Not scrolling. Not producing. Just breathing.
Even five minutes. (and yes this is hard for me, if you know me, you know I don't sit still!)
Sometimes it's sitting outside watching the sheep. Sometimes it's a quiet moment before everyone wakes up. Sometimes it's closing my eyes and taking three deep breaths in the middle of the chaos.
My nervous system needs recovery to sustain the pace I'm living. And I'm learning to honor that instead of pushing through constantly.
The Habit I Almost Forgot
Celebration.
In busy seasons, it's so easy to just keep moving. To finish one thing and immediately start the next without pausing to acknowledge what just happened.
But I'm learning to celebrate something every day.
A customer win (one of my favorites). A new team member. A moment with my kids. A lambing success. God's goodness.
Gratitude keeps hustle from turning into burnout.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
Let me paint you a picture of what this actually looks like on a busy day during lambing season.
5:00 AM – Wake up. Quick prayer. Rush for energy. Check lambing pens.
6:30 AM – Kids wake up. Breakfast. Adapt while I'm making lunches.
8:00 AM – Balance mixed into my smoothie. Start business tasks while Harrison naps (hopefully lol).
10:00 AM – Quick walk outside. Fresh air. Reset.
12:00 PM – Hydrate while answering messages and checking on the flock again.
3:00 PM – Afternoon dip hits. Calm if I need it. Focus on presence with the kids.
5:00 PM – Dinner. Family time. Barn check.
7:00 PM – Kids bedtime. Gold before I start winding down.
9:00 PM – Drift. Lights out (sometime I cheat and stay up a little later).
It's not fancy. It's not Instagrammable. But it works.
Why This Matters
I'm not sharing this to brag or to create another impossible standard.
I'm sharing this because I know there are women reading this who are in the thick of it too.
Women juggling farm life, family life, business life, and trying not to lose themselves in the process.
And I want you to know that you don't have to choose between showing up for your life and taking care of yourself.
You just have to get strategic about what actually matters.
These non-negotiables aren't about perfection. They're about protection. Protecting my energy. My clarity. My capacity. My peace.
Because when I'm depleted, everyone suffers. But when I'm grounded, ever
yone benefits.
Your Turn
What are your non-negotiables?
What are the things that, no matter how busy life gets, you refuse to let slide?
I'd love to hear what anchors you during your busiest seasons. Drop a comment and let's encourage each other in this. If you don't have any yet, it's never too late to start, and if you need support to create a daily non-negotiables plan, reach out, I love this stuff!
Love,
Breanna
If you're looking for simple, sustainable ways to support your energy, focus, and nervous system during busy seasons, I'd love to share more about the tools that have made a difference for me. You can explore the Bravenly products I use daily here.
