This episode introduces a powerful language shift: the “I Don’t” technique & Lion Time™—that helps moms stop distractions, reclaim focus, and stay present during back-to-school chaos.

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Discover Lion™ Time: Protect your focus. Guard your presence.

Lion Time™ is your boundary—the sacred block where you guard what matters most. Just like a lion protects its territory, you protect your attention.

This is also where the “I Don’t” technique comes in.

When distractions sneak up—the phone buzzes, the to-do list spirals, the kids tug at your sleeve—you whisper:

“I don’t get distracted during Lion™ Time.”

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about drawing a clear line in the sand and choosing to return, again and again. Lion Time™ reminds you: this moment is worth guarding.

5 Takeaways From This Episode:

1️⃣ Language matters. Swapping “I can’t” for “I don’t” shifts you from powerless to powerful.

2️⃣ Distractions are inevitable. But you always have the choice to return to what matters.

3️⃣ Boundaries protect focus.“I don’t” creates a personal standard, not an outside restriction.

4️⃣ Lion Time™ = Guardrails. Set aside small blocks where your attention is non-negotiable.

5️⃣ Presence grows with practice. Each time you say “I don’t,” you’re strengthening your focus muscle.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Back-to-School Chaos Hits Hard: Opening hook about stress, shifting from summer ease into the loud, fast pace of a new season.

00:45 – Quick B-MAT Check-In: Inviting listeners to reflect on last week’s method and share how it’s working.

01:15 – Welcome to the Anya Garcia Show: Personal story: trading the attorney briefcase for homeschooling and why this podcast exists.

02:15 – The Truth About “Enough”: Encouragement that moms don’t need “more” to be enough—alignment and progress matter most.

03:00 – Everyday Distractions Creep In: Relatable scenes: missing pencils, jammed printers, barking dogs, blue cup meltdowns, and crashing to-do lists.

04:00 – The Magic Phrase: Introducing the “I Don’t” technique: not “I can’t,” but “I don’t”—a powerful boundary shift.

05:00 – Why It Works: Breaking down empowerment, focus, and application—how this phrase resets attention.

05:45 – Ancestral Focus Rituals: Anthropology lens: survival rituals, mental campfires, and the timeless human skill of redirecting focus.

06:30 – Make It Practical: Examples of using the phrase during read-alouds, mealtimes, or when the phone buzzes.

07:15 – Weekly Challenge: Choose a 10–15 minute block daily to practice. Presence is a muscle—each “I don’t” strengthens it.

07:45 – What’s Next: Teasing the next episode: the Pause & Power-Up QRS Technique for fast resets in chaos.

Resources & Links

🧭 Join Mamas' Compass Circle™ where you will find support, monthly content, and practical tools for moms craving calm, clarity and confidence. No pressure. Just presence.

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⚓️ Navigate with MKAPtains Kids Activities Club – Get a done-for-you Monthly Activity Plan that makes learning hands-on and fun—so you can spend less time planning and more time playing!

🎓 Let’s Do This Together - You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. With over a decade of experience helping parents worldwide, I’ve mastered how to simplify homeschooling to amplify your child’s growth—without the stress or overwhelm.

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📚 Research & Sources Mentioned

• Fogg, B. J. (2019). Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• Patrick, V. M., Hagtvedt, H., & Park, C. W. (2012). “I Don’t” versus “I Can’t”: When Empowered Refusal Motivates Goal-Directed Behavior. Journal of Consumer Research, 39(2), 371–381.
• Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. New York, NY: Avery.
• Wood, W. (2019). Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

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