In this episode, Tara tackles the challenge of how to keep it together when life feels like it’s falling apart. She shares a personal story about managing chaos during a flea infestation with her five dogs (surprise twist, there’s a lot of dog pee involved!) and uses it to discuss how to handle stress and overwhelm when everything seems to go wrong.
Tara breaks down practical steps for navigating burnout and stress, including how to prioritize what really matters, tips for staying grounded during chaotic moments, and why it’s essential to give yourself grace when life doesn’t go as planned.
She reminds listeners that while the chaos may feel overwhelming, burnout recovery is possible, and you’re more capable of handling life’s curveballs than you think.
Ever had one of those days where you think you’ve got everything under control, and then life decides to throw all the chaos your way? Yeah, me too. And let me tell you, chaos took on a whole new meaning the day we had to treat our house for fleas… with five dogs.
Now, you might think that’s a recipe for a cute dog story, but let me set the scene. We had to move all five of our dogs out of the house while the treatment was happening. We’re talking a lab, a German short-haired pointer, a labradoodle, and two little shih-tzus.
Wrangling that bunch is a full-time job. Thankfully, my husband Jae got home early that day to take the three bigger dogs to the park, so I could watch the two little ones outside. Sounds like a decent plan, right?
Fast-forward a few hours. We get the all-clear, bring everyone back home, and head off to dinner. When we return, we’re greeted by a lake of dog pee filling up their crate.
No joke—the big dogs are standing in it, wagging their tails like nothing’s wrong, and here we are, trying to keep them from tracking it all over the house.
Just as we finish cleaning up and breathe a sigh of relief, one of them lets loose again. It was one of those moments where all you can do is laugh and wonder, “What next?”
When Life Is Throwing Punches – Tips for Staying Grounded
We’ve all had those moments. Maybe your inbox is blowing up with urgent emails, your kid’s suddenly sick, and the WiFi goes down just as you’re about to start a meeting.
Or maybe you’re deep into a work project that’s falling apart while your personal life feels like it’s barely hanging on.
It’s like the universe decided to see just how much you can handle.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t need some perfectly organized plan for tackling every curveball life throws your way. But you do need a way to keep going.
So, let’s break down a few ways to keep it together, even when things feel like they’re spiraling.
Let Go of the Need to Fix Everything Right Now
The voice in your head might be screaming, “If I don’t handle it all, who will?” Trust me, I get it.
But putting pressure on yourself to handle everything perfectly is exactly where a lot of our stress comes from.
We think we have to make everything look good, feel good, and go exactly according to plan.
But guess what? It won’t. And that’s okay.
Multitasking is a straight-up lie, by the way. Studies show that every time you jump between tasks, your brain has to “reset,” which actually slows you down.
Instead of trying to handle five things at once, focus on just one. When things feel like too much, stop, take a breath, and ask yourself: What’s the one thing I can handle today? Focus on that, and give yourself a break on the rest.
Lower Your Expectations
Sometimes, we set standards for ourselves that even a superhero couldn’t meet. Do you really need to send that perfectly worded email at 10 p.m. when your brain feels like mashed potatoes? Probably not.
But there’s that voice in our heads, pushing us to “do more,” as if that’ll make everything magically easier.
Here’s what I’ve learned as a recovering perfectionist: Perfection is paralyzing. It stops you because you’re so afraid of getting it wrong that you end up doing nothing.
Excellence, on the other hand, is all about doing your best with what you’ve got today. It means showing up, even if things get messy. And let me tell you, there are no gold stars for running yourself into the ground.
Sometimes, a win is just getting everyone dressed and fed, and other days, it’s crushing that work project. Both are wins. Celebrate them.
Give Yourself Some Grace
This one is the hardest but also the most important. We hold ourselves to these impossible standards, and when we inevitably fall short, we beat ourselves up.
But life is messy. Things will go wrong. It’s okay to have days where it feels like everything’s falling apart. The trick is not to let that make you feel like you’re falling apart too.
There’s a study out there that found people who practice self-compassion are more resilient. So if you’re giving yourself a hard time when things don’t go perfectly, you’re actually making it harder on yourself.
Try giving yourself the same kindness you’d give to a friend. You’re not failing because things got messy—you’re human, and that’s more than enough.
And Remember: This Too Shall Pass
When everything’s a mess, it can feel like you’ll be stuck in the chaos forever. But here’s the truth: life moves. This crazy, stressful season you’re in? It’s temporary. The chaos, the overwhelm, the “hot mess express” you’re riding right now? It will pass.
I know it feels like the world is caving in. But think back to another time you thought, “There’s no way I’m getting through this.” You made it, didn’t you?
You’re here, reading this, getting through the day one step at a time.
You don’t have to have all the answers or tackle every problem today. Just keep moving forward, and eventually, you’ll look back and see how far you’ve come.
Letting Go of Perfect
I’m not saying you won’t have another meltdown or that the chaos won’t find its way back to your door—trust me, it will. But you can learn to handle those moments without letting them break you.
You’re stronger than you think, even on the days when it feels like you’re one stubbed toe away from losing it.
Got thoughts or questions from this week’s episode? Drop them in the comments. I’d love to hear from you! 🫶
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00:00 Introduction: A Day in the Life
00:13 The Flea Infestation Fiasco
01:44 The Pee-pocalypse
03:08 Finding Humor in Chaos
03:27 Strategies to Keep It Together
05:48 The Myth of Multitasking
06:36 Prioritizing and Taking It One Step at a Time
08:21 Lowering Expectations and Avoiding Burnout
11:19 Embracing Excellence Over Perfection
11:45 Giving Yourself Grace
12:11 Handling Life’s Messiness
13:06 Building Resilience Through Self-Compassion
15:26 The Temporary Nature of Tough Times
20:21 Navigating Chaos Without Losing Your Mind
I’m Tara Kermiet, a leadership coach specializing in burnout prevention and work-life integration. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re holding it all together with duct tape and coffee. But success doesn’t have to mean running yourself ragged. I help high achievers find work-life balance and shine as badass leaders.
Take my quick quiz to find out where you stand on the burnout spectrum, plus get tailored tips to help you turn things around before it’s too late. Visit: https://tarakermiet.com/free-resources/
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Stay balanced, stay badass, and make good choices!
