EPISODE 7: MINDSET & HOME RHYTHMS

Reset Your Routine with the B-MAT Method: One Shift That Changes Everything

Sept 4, 2025

Discover how the B-MAT Method (Behavior, Motivation, Ability, Trigger) helps busy moms reset one daily routine for calmer, smoother back-to-school days.
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You don’t need a full overhaul—just one shift.

Pick one routine that’s not working (like mornings, lunch, or bedtime) and reset it with intention. I will show you exactly how!

Here’s to a smoother, more joyful start to the school year, and to finding your flow with a little help from your Compass Circle family!  Join Private 🧭 Circle™ here.

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Click play to watch & join me face-to-face on this journey.

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 LISTENER PRAISE

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"Such an easy, inspiring listen—uplifting tips, practical advice, and so relatable that you feel truly connected."

The B-MAT Method Makes Habits Stick

Behavior = Motivation + Ability + Trigger

This simple framework helps you build routines that are doable and aligned with your why.

Behavior

This is the habit or routine you want to change or improve. Identify the specific behavior you want to reset—like the morning wardrobe shuffle or any part of your day that’s causing hiccups.

Motivation

Ask yourself—why do I care about changing this? What would it feel like if this part of my day ran more smoothly? Know your why. When you're clear on the deeper reason this matters, it's easier to stay committed. For example, a peaceful morning sets the tone for the entire day.

Ability

Make the new routine as easy as possible. Prep your environment or remove obstacles that make it hard to follow through. The simpler and more accessible the routine, the more likely you are to stick with it. Can you prep something ahead of time or eliminate a step that’s slowing things down? For example, lay out clothes and have a heart-to-heart with your child the night before—so there are no surprises come morning. Or prep breakfast items and create a simple checklist for the kids.

Trigger

Set a clear reminder or cue that prompts you to engage in the new routine. This could be a phone alarm, a sticky note, or linking the habit to something already happening—like starting lunch cleanup right after storytime. You could even place a note on the fridge as a visual cue to follow the new routine each morning.

Takeaways From This Episode

Motivation gives your habit roots.

When you’re clear on why a routine matters (like wanting peaceful mornings), it’s easier to stay committed—even on chaotic days.

Ability is about making it easier, not relying on willpower.

Set the environment up for success: prep the night before, simplify steps, and check in with your child about their preferences (yes, even clothing!).

Triggers are your brain’s best friend.

Use alarms, sticky notes, or visual cues to prompt the new habit—just like our ancestors relied on sunrise or seasonal shifts to cue daily behavior.

Why Listeners Keep Tuning In

Love this! Thank you for this episode Anya! l appreciate the tips for how to encourage creativity. I love the idea of using hands-on learning and experimentation, imagination, senses, asking open-ended questions, observing, offering freedom in choices, having them practice, problem-solve, and letting them fail!

Kayla Linares

Exactly What Homeschooling
Parents Need! This podcast is a breath of fresh air! Anya's passion is contagious. If you're looking for clarity, confidence, and connection in your homeschooling journey-this is the podcast for you!

Anastasia Larsson

Wow, this is amazing! I loved hearing this — it’s so true. Creativity really does get snuffed out as we grow older unless we actively work to preserve, protect, nourish, and let it flourish.

Melanie Beers-Quinn

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Here’s how: Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Tell me what resonated most—I love hearing your biggest takeaways!

Thanks for tuning in and I will see you next week!

RESEARCH & SOURCES MENTIONED

Fogg, B. J. (2009). A behavior model for persuasive design. In Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Persuasive Technology (pp. 1–7). ACM.
→ Supports: The core idea of breaking down behaviors into small, manageable actions and linking them to existing routines. Basis for B-MAT’s Ability + Trigger.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1985). Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum.
→ Supports: Motivation as a key driver of habit formation. Forms the foundation for Self-Determination Theory used in the Motivation step of B-MAT.

Wood, W. (2019). Good Habits, Bad Habits: The science of making positive changes that stick. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
→ Supports: How environmental cues and small friction-reducing changes increase habit stickiness. Reinforces B-MAT’s Ability + Trigger.

Gaskins, S. (2000). Children’s daily lives in a Mayan village: A case study of culturally constructed roles and activities. In S. Harkness, C. Raeff, & C. Super (Eds.), Variability in the social worlds of children (pp. 25–38). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
→ Supports: The anthropological roots of rhythm, routines, and cultural triggers. Reflects how predictable daily patterns contribute to child development and family stability.

Baumeister, R. F., & Tierney, J. (2011). Willpower: Rediscovering the greatest human strength. New York: Penguin Press.
→ Supports: Why relying on motivation alone isn’t enough, and how reducing the cognitive load (B-MAT’s Ability component) preserves willpower.

Duckworth, A. L., Gendler, T. S., & Gross, J. J. (2016). Situational strategies for self-control. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11(1), 35–55.
→ Supports: Strategic use of environmental changes to support behavior change—directly aligned with Ability and Trigger steps.

Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, T. P. (2020). The Power of Showing Up: How parental presence shapes who our kids become and how their brains get wired. New York: Ballantine Books.
→ Supports: The connection between rhythm, emotional regulation, and secure attachment. Aligns with the overall “Rhythm Over Routine” theme.

Meet Anya

Winner of the 2025 Global Women Changing the World in Education Award and named the #1 Key Early Learning Influencer in North America, Anya Garcia helps you parent with purpose and live with intention.


After walking away from a high-powered legal career, she entered her true calling—shining the light on the early years, a period rich with potential, transformation, and often-overlooked power.

Blending neuroscience, evolutionary insight, and practical strategies, Anya helps children thrive and adults evolve. You will find mindset-shifting tools and science-backed insights to inspire lasting change. 

This Show is where mindset meets motherhood, education meets empowerment, and transformation begins now—one child, one parent at a time.

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