The Habit Lab

In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of our own summer reset—what didn’t work last year, what we’re changing, and the small, realistic shifts helping our home feel calmer and more connected. We talk about: Why we stopped over-planning weekly playdates so we can adjust to the actual load of the week Cutting Back my work hours & seeing God meet our $ needs Inviting our kids into weekly...

I dare you to Risk A Little Weirdness... To Speak Life. If you’ve ever replayed a kind thought in your head and then talked yourself out of saying it, this conversation is for you.  I’m sharing one of my oldest, most practical habits, born in a high school journaling moment and refined over decades of real life:  ... if you think something nice, say it! Not later. Not once it feels “smooth.”  Now,...

Your mouth can build safety or burn it down, and the shift happens fast.  One second you’re trying to talk things through, the next you feel flooded and you want to “just tell the truth” in a way you already know it's going to leave some scars. I walk through a simple, practice-ready habit for managing your mouth when your nervous system is lit up and the pressure to speak feels urgent.  We u...

If you want to change your family culture, talking about values isn’t enough—your systems have to reinforce them.  In this episode, I share how we used simple habit principles to shift our home from criticism to consideration—and how you can do the same. (Shout out to my Oklahomies for inspiring this habit!) Click here for the $24 Group Coaching Package  2 calls : June 2 & July 7 @ 9am pst Cli...

There’s a way of building habits that feels heavy… and there’s a way that feels like partnership. In this episode, I’m sharing what it looks like to build habits with the Holy Spirit—where you don’t have to strive, guess, or overhaul your entire life overnight. Instead, you can:  Ask for wisdom   Start small   Stay consistent   And trust God to multiply what you bring  Because the truth is, your e...

Your kid has friends. They might even go to youth group. But there’s still this quiet question: Who is actually helping shape their character? Because middle school gets loud. And while church and youth group matter… they can’t carry the full weight of discipleship, life skills, and identity. And if you’re honest— trying to do all of that by yourself as a parent feels… like a lot. 👉  CLICK here f...

In this episode, we’re talking about one of the most common sources of pain in friendship: disappointment & misunderstandings. Not blatant betrayal. Not obvious sin. But the everyday moments where expectations don’t match reality… and something in you feels hurt, unseen, or misunderstood. Most relational tension isn’t as dramatic as we make it. It’s often disappointment + misunderstanding work...

Most people picture boundaries like walls—something harsh that shuts people out. But what if boundaries are actually edits that protect generosity so love can last ? In this episode, Jenna reframes boundaries through the lens of habit coaching: just like we edit habits to make them sustainable, we sometimes need to edit our generosity and relational rhythms so they don’t collapse under resentment....

Ever notice how easy it is to curate a friend group that looks and thinks just like you? We’re flipping that script.  I share how a single question about my guest list sparked a full rethink of community, why Jesus’ meals are the model for modern friendship, and how widening the table reshaped my heart more than any book, retreat, or productivity hack ever could. We unpack the shift from distant c...

Friendship Files #4 — Different Flavors of Friendship Why do some friendships feel easy… and others feel confusing or painful—even when there’s real care? In this episode, we unpack the idea that friendship isn’t one-size-fits-all. People connect in different “flavors”—and when we turn our personal preference into the standard, difference starts to feel like rejection. We talk about common contras...

What if you could lose your rejection button? That little trigger that lights up when someone’s cold, distracted, or you don't get invited. Here’s the truth:  you don’t have to mirror their mood.   You can stay kind, grounded, and unshaken —  because who you are isn’t up for negotiation. When your identity is built on Jesus — not on people’s reactions —  you stop waiting to feel seen before s...

Overwhelm loves to sound wise. It tells us to cut back, protect our energy, and press pause on “nonessentials.” But when friendship gets labeled as optional, we lose the very support that carries us through demanding seasons. In this second installment of the Friendship Files, Jenna Zint digs into the quiet lie that says, “I have nothing to give,” and shows how that belief isolates us right when w...

What if the problem isn’t your friends—but the way you measure friendship? We dive into an honest, practical reset on how to build relationships that actually form us, not just flatter us.  We explore the subtle consumer mindset that creeps into our closest bonds—keeping score, expecting equitableness on our terms, and treating people like faucets for our needs.  Then we turn the lens: friendship...

What if the words you speak are quietly rewiring your brain—and sabotaging your progress?  In this episode, Jenna unpacks the surprising difference between saying “I can’t” and “I don’t.”   Neuroscience shows that these tiny shifts in language light up different parts of the brain: “I can’t” creates resistance and triggers rebellion, while “I don’t” builds identity and self-control. You’ll even he...

Are you stuck in cycles of shame and people-pleasing—either defensively arguing or over-apologizing when you disappoint someone? In this episode, Jenna shares a personal breakthrough sparked by a friend’s spiritual dream about the fear of punishment. Through a real-life story of running late, she unpacks how punishment fuels shame and self-focus, while natural consequences can teach and free us to...

You're probably already using a calendar—you log everything in your phone app, set reminders, maybe even color-code.  And yet… you still feel behind.  You’re often late, overwhelmed, or bracing yourself for the big thing you might be forgetting. You’re not alone—and you’re not broken or lazy. But you might be missing a few key shifts in how you approach time management. Because it’s not just...

Breaking the habit of mind reading could transform your relationships forever. We've all done it—someone speaks with a certain tone or gives us a look, and suddenly we're convinced we know exactly what they're thinking. But what if our assumptions are completely wrong? When we respond to what we think people mean rather than what they actually say, we create an invisible dance of di...

What happens when someone says “I miss you” and you instantly feel defensive?  Or when a simple “sure” makes you think you’re being pushy?  Those reactions aren’t random—they’re filters distorting what you hear. In this episode, I share how the stories we tell ourselves hijack conversations and trigger us into REACTING instead of thoughtfully responding.  Through personal examples and practical st...

It's easy to get caught in the "escape cycle"—work hard, feel suffocated, escape on vacation, crash, and then repeat. Vacations give us a quick boost, but they also disrupt our habits, the happiness fades fast, and what we’re really craving—connection, rest, joy, adventure—often goes unmet. In this episode, I unpack why vacations only sort of work and help you ask the deeper questio...

Bitterness isn’t just emotional noise—it’s a message. In this episode, we’re unpacking the idea that offense is trying to tell you something . That lingering frustration or replayed conversation? It’s not just about what they did—it’s often about a boundary you haven’t named yet. When you learn to dig for the data, offense becomes a clue—not a character flaw. Ask yourself: What emotion am I actual...

What if simply naming your emotions isn't enough to create genuine emotional health? Common misconception that emotional awareness automatically translates to emotional intelligence. Drawing from research and personal experience, Jenna unpacks the five essential components of emotional intelligence:  self-awareness,  self-regulation,  motivation,  empathy,  and social skills.  The episode exa...

Are your Sunday habits secretly saving your week? In this episode, Jenna Zint shares what happened when she got “flexible” with her Sunday routine—and everything fell apart. From wasted food to calendar chaos, she realized those few habits were doing way more than she thought. Tune in to learn why some small habits have high ROI, how to identify your own sacred time slots, and how protecting them...

Do you ever feel low-key panicked because you haven’t responded yet ? Or guilty for leaving someone on read—even though you were literally just trying to exist as a human? In this episode, we’re talking about the invisible weight of the digital leash —the pressure to be constantly reachable, respond instantly, and meet unspoken expectations… all while keeping your sanity intact. We’ll walk through...

Always running late—no matter how hard you try? You’re not alone. As a Type B habit coach with ADHD tendencies, I’ve lived the breathless, apologetic life of chronic lateness—and I finally figured out why. In this episode, I unpack:  • The hidden role of time blindness  • The shame cycle & myths about lateness  • Practical fixes (like the 10-minute rule & the perfect “running late” text)  ...

Planning for summer? I’m sharing what actually worked for our family last year—and what I’m definitely doing differently this time around. Here’s what I cover:  • Why rushing ruined connection  • The surprising way 30-minute blocks solved boredom  • What went wrong with back-to-back camps  • How smaller playdates saved our sanity  • A summer reading system that actually works  • What I’m doing for...