White-Knuckling Life? Drop the Act and Take a Damn Breath
Because Running on Caffeine and Chaos Isn’t a Personality Trait
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Are You Always White-Knuckling It? Here’s How to Survive (and Actually Enjoy) Life Without Losing Your Mind!
Let’s be real: Are you constantly running around like a chicken with its head cut off or speeding through life like a bat out of hell? Yeah, me too. But guess what? You don’t need to keep up the frantic pace just to feel alive—you can get all that stuff done and stay sane. I’m here to break down the madness with some truth bombs and maybe a few giggles along the way.
Remember the good ol' days when you’d push yourself to the brink, burning the candle at both ends? Yeah, me too. It wasn’t pretty. We’d all crash like a ton of bricks—eating garbage, sleeping like a zombie, and crying over the smallest things because, let’s face it, we were done. Now? No thank you. Sometimes, the laundry will wait, and you’ll end up watching Netflix on the couch with your fam. Sometimes, you’ll order takeout instead of cooking that five-star dinner. And guess what? IT'S OKAY. I’m giving you permission to let it go. As long as everyone’s clothed, fed, and has a roof over their head, that’s a win in my book.
First off, the whole “find balance” advice? Nope. That’s some Pinterest junk that’ll leave you feeling like a failure. Balance is a myth, people. It’s impossible to balance everything, all the time—unless you’ve figured out a way to juggle flaming swords while riding a unicycle (please share if so). You can’t be everything to everyone, all at once. So stop beating yourself up. Instead, focus on what season of life you’re in and do what needs doing—without comparing yourself to some perfectly curated Instagram feed.
Let’s talk about that Instagram life for a second. The one that’s constantly showing up with 4 a.m. workouts, perfectly quiet mornings, and pre-school prep that looks like a very unrealistic rom-com montage. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to survive your kids’ tantrums, unpaid overtime, and the fact that you haven’t seen your laundry pile ever since it took over your bedroom. Newsflash: They’re faking it. (I will never stop screaming this) No one has it together like that. That “perfect” life is a myth. People are just like you—fighting battles behind closed doors and attempting to juggle without dropping all the balls. (Though honestly, I’ve dropped more than my fair share.)
Here’s the deal—seasons change, priorities shift, and that’s okay. Case in point: It’s summer here now, and we are all about soaking up as much sunshine and warm days as we can. Boat rides, fishing, beach days, and backyard BBQs are where it's at. With all that fun comes less time at home cooking and cleaning, and honestly, we’ve just got to roll with it for now. The time spent together under the sun is way more important than the basket of mismatched socks that no one will be wearing for months.
Saying "no" is an underrated skill. Nope, I’m not going out tonight. Nope, not gonna meet for coffee. Nope, not doing a dinner party. Your time? It's yours, not the world’s. Maybe you’ve been busting your butt launching your dream business, working a 9-5 that’s slowly eating your soul, or driving your kids to every extracurricular known to mankind. Guess what? You don't owe anyone your time. Saying “no” is not selfish—it’s survival. You need sleep, food, water, and to keep that mental health from completely evaporating.
Here’s a pro tip: Life doesn’t always have to be a grand spectacle. I know some of you like to jump in headfirst, thinking you're invincible, but here's the thing—you’ll eventually get burned. (Just like me, who once jumped into something only to find myself in a fire, regretting every second.) Now, I’m a planner, but not a control freak—there’s a happy medium. You don’t have to know everything. It’s fine to take chances and dive into new things like promotions, businesses, or volunteer roles. You don’t have to be perfect. But you should have the wisdom to ask for help when you need it.
Speaking of help... if you have the means to hire help, GO FOR IT. I’m all about utilizing resources. You can outsource cleaning, babysitting, lawn care, or even the mountain of laundry that’s creeping its way into your life. Not there financially? That’s okay! You work with what you’ve got—whether that’s asking your mother-in-law to run the kids to the doctor, or having your kiddo drive errands for you (bless her heart). You can also grab your groceries and pet supplies curbside—because, let’s face it, no one wants to spend their weekend in a grocery store parking lot.
But whatever you do—don’t fall for the illusion that everyone else has their life together. Social media is not real life. People post the best parts, the highlight reels. But real life? It’s messy. It’s unpredictable. And that’s what makes it fun and memorable. No one wants to look back and say, “Wow, I really wish I had stressed out more about laundry.” No thanks.
So here’s your challenge for the week: Take a long, hard look at your plate and figure out where to focus your energy. Maybe laundry is a 3 out of 10 in priority, and time with your family or getting that business off the ground should be an 11. And that’s totally okay, Queen.
Life is chaotic—but it doesn’t have to be chaotic all the time. You’ve got this. Keep hustling—but don’t forget to breathe.
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