013 You finally did the thing that was supposed to help. The new schedule, routine, or plan. And yet you still feel stressed. So now what?

In this episode of The Busy Brain Do Over, Candace explores the quiet discouragement that shows up when something supportive does not feel better right away. Through a real life reset, she explains why clarity and structure do not always bring instant calm, especially for busy or ADHD brains.

You will learn why your nervous system lags behind your thinking brain, how evaluating change too early fuels self doubt, and how to practice The Don’t Evaluate Too Early Do Over.

If you have ever thought, “I did everything right, so why does this not feel better yet?” this episode is for you.

Want to share your do-over moment? Email [email protected] or send a quick voice memo.

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Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide mental health treatment, therapy, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please reach out to a qualified professional in your area or contact your local crisis line.

012 Ever make an evening routine that should work — and then watch it fall apart anyway?

In this episode, Candace shares a very honest (and slightly hilarious) story about why her well-intentioned nighttime routines never stuck — from late-night runs to doom scrolling in the bathroom — and why that doesn’t mean you’re lazy or inconsistent.

You’ll learn:

• Why most evening routines fail busy brains
• How timing and sequencing matter more than discipline
• Why journaling, meditation, or exercise can backfire at night
• What to ask yourself when a routine doesn’t work
• How to stop quitting on yourself and start building routines that actually fit

Plus, Candace introduces The Order Matters Do-Over — a simple mindset shift that helps you understand what your brain needs before it can shut down.

If evenings are where everything unravels, this episode is for you.

Learn more about the live workshop, How to Build an Evening Routine That Actually Lets Your Brain Shut Off, at
mybusybrain.com/routines

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👉 Learn more about the live workshop at mybusybrain.com/routines
👉 Subscribe to The Busy Brain Do-Over for weekly resets

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide mental health treatment, therapy, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please reach out to a qualified professional in your area or contact your local crisis line.

011 Ever crawl into bed completely exhausted, only to realize your brain is wide awake?

In this episode of The Busy Brain Do-Over, Candace walks you through what’s really happening when your body is tired but your mind refuses to stand down. You’ll learn why this isn’t a sleep failure or a discipline problem, and how to support your brain instead of fighting it.

This week’s Do-Over is a gentle reset for wired, frustrating nights, especially if your brain loves to replay, scan, and plan the moment your head hits the pillow.

You’ll learn:
 • Why busy brains struggle to shut down at night
 • How to name what your brain is still holding onto
 • A simple way to close the loop without problem-solving
 • How releasing pressure actually makes rest easier

You’re not bad at sleeping. Your brain just needs help transitioning out of the day.

👉 Join The Weekly Do-Over to get the episode notes sent to you!
👉 Learn more about the live workshop at mybusybrain.com/routines
👉 Subscribe to The Busy Brain Do-Over for weekly resets

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide mental health treatment, therapy, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please reach out to a qualified professional in your area or contact your local crisis line.

010 Ever end the day feeling disconnected from yourself — even when nothing “bad” happened?

In this episode, Candace shares a quiet, real-life moment that reminded her how easy it is to override our need for rest — and how powerful it can be to choose something that brings you back into your body instead.

You’ll learn:

• Why busy brains often treat rest as optional
• How conditioning (not laziness) keeps us running on fumes
• Why energy isn’t something you earn — it’s something you can renew
• A simple 3-step Energy Do-Over you can use in the middle of a full week

This episode is a gentle reminder that you don’t need a big reset or a new version of yourself — just a few intentional moments that help you feel like you again.

Subscribe to the show and join Candace’s free newsletter, The Weekly Do-Over, for more real-life resets.

👉 Join my newsletter: mybusybrain.com/join

👉 Tap Follow so your next do-over is waiting when you need it most.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide mental health treatment, therapy, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please reach out to a qualified professional in your area or contact your local crisis line.

009 Have you ever opened Instagram for “a quick break”… and ended up feeling behind, guilty, or not enough?

In this episode, Candace shares a vulnerable story from last Christmas — when life was full, the “real” tree never went up, and one late-night scroll turned into a comparison spiral. You’ll learn why comparison hits harder when you’re exhausted (especially for busy and neurodivergent brains), and how to interrupt the moment your brain starts turning someone else’s highlight reel into evidence that you’re failing.

This week’s 3-step Comparison Reset:

1. Catch the cue
2. Come back to the room
3. Correct the story

Plus: a permission slip to stop performing, simplify the season, and remember: you’re running your own race.

Want to share your do-over moment? Email [email protected] or send a quick voice memo.

👉 Join my newsletter: mybusybrain.com/join

👉 Tap Follow so your next do-over is waiting when you need it most.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide mental health treatment, therapy, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please reach out to a qualified professional in your area or contact your local crisis line.

008 If you’ve ever believed “this planner will change everything”… only to abandon it weeks later, this episode is for you. Candace shares a real-life “planner crime” confession and walks you through the 5 planner features that matter most for a busy, brilliant, sometimes-distracted mind.

You’ll learn how to:
• Match your planner to your brain’s need for structure
• Choose layouts that fit your life, writing style, and nervous system
• Avoid buying planners you wish you were the type to use
• Pick the right design for your season — not the fantasy version of your life
• Stop blaming yourself for inconsistency (you’re not the problem!)

Grab the free Planner Match Blueprint to find your best-fit planner with confidence:
👉 mybusybrain.com/plannermatch

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👉 Tap Follow so your next do-over is waiting when you need it most.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide mental health treatment, therapy, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please reach out to a qualified professional in your area or contact your local crisis line.

007 Ever had a day where every task feels urgent and your brain can’t decide what to do first? In this episode, Candace shares a real-life moment of juggling client sessions, shifting family logistics, pharmacy chaos, grocery pickup drama — and the moment she realized her brain had officially reached capacity.

You’ll learn:

• Why overwhelm happens even when you’re organized
• What “priority clutter” is and why it drains your bandwidth
• A simple 3-step Priority Reset for when everything feels urgent
• How to choose an Anchor Task that restores calm and momentum
• A permission slip for anyone juggling too many “first priorities”

If your to-do list feels like a bonfire, this episode is your reset.

Share this episode with a friend who’s overwhelmed... it might be the breath of relief she needs.

👉 Join my newsletter: mybusybrain.com/join

👉 Tap Follow so your next do-over is waiting when you need it most.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide mental health treatment, therapy, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please reach out to a qualified professional in your area or contact your local crisis line.

#006 Ever hit that moment where even a simple question—“What do you want to eat?”—feels overwhelming? This episode dives into why everyday decisions can feel so heavy when your brain is running nonstop.

We’re breaking down the mental load: the invisible, constant thinking that keeps home, work, and life moving. From remembering appointments to anticipating needs and managing the unseen details, it adds up—fast.

In this episode, you’ll learn a simple 3-Step Mind Map Reset to help you:

• See what you’re actually carrying
• Identify what’s truly yours to hold
• Share the mental load so you’re not doing all the thinking alone

If you’ve been feeling tapped out, irritable, or overloaded for “no reason,” this reset is for you. You’re not failing—your brain is tired.

Tune in for a practical, compassionate do-over that helps you finally set something down.

👉 Join my newsletter:mybusybrain.com/join

👉 Tap Follow so your next do-over is waiting when you need it most.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide mental health treatment, therapy, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please reach out to a qualified professional in your area or contact your local crisis line.

005. Ever feel like the holidays come with a silent pressure to make everything perfect, even when you’re already overwhelmed?

In this episode, Candace sits down with her twin sister, Carisse, to talk about rethinking Thanksgiving and choosing peace instead of perfection. You’ll hear how one simple shift helped her create a calmer, more meaningful holiday for her family. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin by expectations, this conversation will help you breathe a little easier.

What You’ll Learn
• Why holiday pressure shows up even when you love the season
• The moment Carisse knew something needed to change
• How choosing a simpler plan created more connection at home
• Encouragement for letting go of “perfect” and doing things differently

Link to Disposable China 👉 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BP85STCH

Take a breath, give yourself permission to choose what matters most, and remember you can always begin again.

👉 Get more weekly resets at mybusybrain.com/join
👉 Follow the show for new episodes every week

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide mental health treatment, therapy, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please reach out to a qualified professional in your area or contact your local crisis line.

#004 Ever finally slow down… only to feel guilty for it?

In this real-life reset, therapist and educator Candace David shares what happened on a family trip when “rest” turned into another kind of work, and how she learned to quiet the guilt that shows up when you finally stop.

You’ll learn The Rest Reset, a simple three-step framework to help your busy brain pause without panic and find calm again:
 • Pause on Purpose — Notice the urge to fill quiet space.
 • Ground in the Present — Anchor in your senses to remind your body it’s safe to rest.
 • Choose Ease, Not Empty — Replace pressure with presence instead of forcing stillness.

Because rest isn’t a reward for finishing everything, it’s how you remind your body that you’re already enough.

👉 Take the free quiz: mybusybrain.com/quiz

👉 Join my newsletter: mybusybrain.com/join

👉 Tap Follow so your next do-over is waiting when you need it most.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide mental health treatment, therapy, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship. If you are in need of mental health support, please reach out to a qualified professional in your area or contact your local crisis line.