Have you ever noticed that starting new habits can feel like pulling teeth? You’ve set your goal. You want it with every fiber of your being… yet you're still met with so much resistance. You have every intention of going to bed early, but suddenly it's three o'clock in the morning and you're doing a ‘Which kitchen appliance am I’ quiz? Turns out, there is a good reason for that. (And I’m a toaster, thanks for asking).

Our brains see new habits as a threat because it doesn't know what's going to happen.

Read that again. Your brain wants you to stay with what's familiar because it knows the outcome. And when it can predict the outcome, it feels safe. Your brain relies on knowing exactly what's going to happen, so it continues to pull you back to what it knows.

So even if an existing habit is bad for you, like scrolling, overeating, staying in a job you hate or avoiding hard conversations, your brain thinks, “Well, I know how this ends and we survived it last time, so let's just do that again.” And it replays over and over again. Even if those habits make you unhappy. Even if they make you unhealthy. And even if they're keeping you stuck.

In this episode, I’m sharing all the things I WISH we were taught back in school, including:

• The science behind why changing your habits is so hard.
• The truth about lazy brains… and the autopilot trap.
• The healthy habits cheatcode: Four steps you can take to ‘trick’ your brain into accepting a new habit.
• Why you should finally stop comparing yourself to others.

…

Your Messy Life Reset:

Now that you’re clear on how to work with your brain (and not against it)... go back and complete your Messy Life Reset. I’ll walk you through it step-by-step in Season 2, episodes 1 and 2.

Grab your free Messy Life Reset workbook here: https://www.stephpaseplanners.com.au/blogs/news/stephing-up-podcast-is-back

…

Follow Stephing Up

I’m Steph Pase, your (somewhat) organised bestie in your ears. This podcast is about growth that’s messy, building a life that actually fits you, and what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. We’ll talk mental health, motherhood, business, ADHD and how to stop being such an asshole to yourself.

New episodes drop every Monday morning.
So set your reminder. Pop in your headphones. Because we’re Stephing Up together.

…

Let’s Hang:

Stephing Up on Instagram: @stephing.up

Steph Pase on Instagram: @stephpase_

Steph Pase on Youtube: @stephpase.

Shop Planners + Organisation: Steph Pase Planners

Shop Steph’s book “Mastering my Messy Life”: Penguin Books Australia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three months in, and your goals failed? Good. Here's what to do instead.

This is Part 2 of the Messy Life Reset. Trust me, this is the perfect time... after the "new year motivation" has well and truly worn off.

But first... listen to Episode 1, Master Your Mess in 3 Days, for part one of your reset!

Grab your FREE Messy Life Reset Workbook: click here

This reset is for you if:

• You’ve ever felt that everyone got a manual for life, and yours is from Temu and it smells funny. (Same)
• It’s the beginning of the year but you’re already feeling behind, burnt out and like you’re barely holding it together.
• You’re trying to stick to a routine that’s not achievable or realistic (hello guilt).

In this episode:

• My guide for messy minds to reset for the year ahead
• Why your "best self" is actually perfectionism in disguise (and what to chase instead)
• The reflection exercise that made me nearly cry on mic... three mirrors, three versions of yourself
• The one-question filter that exposes which goals are actually yours
• The three non-negotiable days that I want you to schedule into your planner to help you reset and get back on track.
• What to do when a goal stops fitting... and the 5 signs it was never yours to begin with
• Plot Points: a smarter way to plan your year (mine are meal prep and guitar. That's the whole list.)

Your workbook:

Grab your FREE Messy Life Reset Workbook: click here

Giveaway

To celebrate being back, I’m giving you the chance to win one of five $100 Steph Pase Planners vouchers! Simply share a photo or video to Instagram of yourself listening to Stephing Up, and tag both @stephpase_ and @stephing.up . Winners will be announced on 31 March 2026.

Timestamps: 00:00 You're not afraid of failure... you're afraid of being watched

03:18 Life update: editing my life, guitar, colour seasons

07:47 Quick recap of the 3-Day Reset from Part 1

09:07 Why "happiest self" beats "best self" (and it's not a small difference)

10:58 My best self equals perfect. It's perfectionism.

12:30 The filter question that changes everything

13:04 The Three Mirrors Exercise: healthiest, most successful, truest self

18:58 Tall poppy syndrome and being uncomfortable with your own wins

21:34 My dad never got to retire. That rewrote my definition of success.

23:05 Stagnation is OK. Rest can be the goal.

24:18 Plot Points: how to plan your year like a story

27:00 Categories: personal, home, relationships, health, business, hobbies

33:06 Why I dropped from 10K steps to 8K (and actually stuck to it)

36:20 5 signs your goal was never really yours

40:30 Thank God spin class got cancelled. That calm? That's your answer.

Follow Stephing Up: @stephing.up

I’m Steph Pase, your (somewhat) organised best bogan friend in your ears. This podcast is about growth that’s messy, building a life that actually fits you, and what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. We’ll talk mental health, motherhood, business, ADHD and how to stop being such an asshole to yourself.

New episodes drop every Monday morning.
So set your reminder. Pop in your headphones. Because we’re Stephing Up together.

Let’s Hang:

Stephing Up on Instagram: @stephing.up

Steph Pase on Instagram: @stephpase_

Steph Pase on Youtube: @stephpase.

Shop Planners + Organisation: Steph Pase Planners

Shop Steph’s book “Mastering my Messy Life”: Penguin Books Australia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey… it’s Steph. Your (somewhat) organised best friend in your ears.
And after 18 months away, I’m finally back with a new season of Stephing Up.

I took a break. I lived some life. I learned a LOT. (Spoiler alert, I wrote a book!) And now? I’m back to share the stories and lessons I couldn’t have shared back then.

I am SO excited to be back, and I’m jumping straight in with a mini reset series. And trust me this is the perfect time to be doing this, after the new year motivation has well and truly worn off.

Grab your FREE Messy Life Reset Workbook: click here

This episode is for you if:

• You’ve ever felt that everyone got a manual for life, and yours is from Temu and it smells funny. (Me too)
• It’s the beginning of the year but you’re already feeling behind, burnt out and like you’re barely holding it together.
• You’re trying to stick to a routine that’s not achievable or realistic (hello guilt).

I’ll talk you through my guide for messy minds to reset for the year, the filter you need to apply to your goals to know if they’re really for you, and the three non-negotiable days that I want you to schedule into your planner to help you reset and get back on track.

Your workbook:

Grab your FREE Messy Life Reset Workbook: click here

Giveaway

To celebrate being back, I’m giving you the chance to win one of five $100 Steph Pase Planners voucher! Simply share a photo or video to Instagram of yourself listening to Stephing Up, and tag both @stephpase_ and @stephing.up . Winners will be announced on 31 March 2026.

…

Follow Stephing Up

I’m Steph Pase, your (somewhat) organised best bogan friend in your ears. This podcast is about growth that’s messy, building a life that actually fits you, and what happens when life doesn’t go to plan. We’ll talk mental health, motherhood, business, ADHD and how to stop being such an asshole to yourself.

New episodes drop every Monday morning.
So set your reminder. Pop in your headphones. Because we’re Stephing Up together.

…

Let’s Hang:

Stephing Up on Instagram: @stephing.up

Steph Pase on Instagram: @stephpase_

Steph Pase on Youtube: @stephpase.

Shop Planners + Organisation: Steph Pase Planners

Shop Steph’s book “Mastering my Messy Life”: Penguin Books Australia https://www.penguin.com.au/books/mastering-my-messy-life-9781761349256

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.