When Life Takes Over: How to Reset Without the Guilt Spiral

Ever had a routine you loved, a habit you were crushing, or a goal you were laser-focused on — until life happened and everything went sideways?

Yeah, me too.

This summer, between kids being home, juggling work, and managing my vision issues (binocular vision dysfunction is an asshole, but here we are), my capacity ran out. And the thing that had to take a backseat? My podcast.

But here’s what I didn’t do: I didn’t beat myself up. I didn’t shame-spiral. I didn’t decide I must be a hopeless mess.

Instead, I did what I encourage my coaching clients (and myself, and you) to do:

Recognize what’s happening
Give yourself a break
Take the next small step forward

Prefer to listen to this in podcast? Check it out here:

In today’s post, I want to talk about why it’s so normal for life to interrupt our plans — and how you can reset without letting guilt run the show.

Why Life Knocks Us Off Track

We all know the memes about “adulting being hard,” but the truth is: even when you’re trying your best, life doesn’t always cooperate. Maybe your external structure (like school schedules) disappears, your health throws you a curveball, or your emotional bandwidth dries up.

For many of us — especially ADHDers — our routines and goals can feel like a delicate house of cards. One unexpected gust of life, and poof.

Here are a few big reasons things slip:

Loss of external structure: When predictable routines vanish (like kids’ school schedules in summer, going on vacation, losing a job, etc.), our own systems can fall apart.
Limited capacity: Physical health, mental health, or big life events can drain your energy, forcing you to triage what gets done.
Time blindness: You think you’ve missed a day or two, but it’s actually been weeks. Classic time warp.
Perfectionism: If you can’t do it “right,” you might avoid doing it at all, turning a small pause into a big gap.

Sound familiar? If so, let’s normalize it right here: it’s okay. Needing to press pause doesn’t mean you’re failing.

How to Start Again Without Guilt

The real magic isn’t in never falling off track — it’s in knowing how to come back without shaming yourself into paralysis. Here’s what I’m doing:

Start where you are. Don’t try to “catch up” or make up for lost time. Just pick up from today.
Make it ridiculously easy. Lower the bar. For me, that meant recording a short, honest episode instead of overcomplicating my return.
Name what happened without judgment. “Life got busy” is a fact, not a moral failing.
Get curious, not critical. What supports can you put in place to make it easier next time?
Celebrate the comeback. Any restart — no matter how small — is a win worth recognizing.

You’re Not Alone

If you’re reading this because you’ve been stuck, frozen, or feeling guilty about letting something slide — take a deep breath. You’re in good company. Life is messy. Our brains are messy. And we can still make progress, one tiny step at a time.

I’m here with you. Cheering you on. And reminding you: it’s not about being perfect — it’s about making progress.

Looking for a Boost?

Grab my free Quick Wins Playbook — a short, ADHD-friendly guide to help you start building momentum today.