The Struggle Bus and How to Get Off It
- Brittany Miller
- Jul 26, 2022
- 9 min read
Updated: Sep 8
What Does Riding the Struggle Bus Really Mean?
If you’ve ever said, “Wow, I’m really on the struggle bus today,” you know it’s about more than just being tired. The “struggle bus” is that overwhelming feeling when you’re juggling too many responsibilities and nothing seems to be working out the way you planned. It’s messy, it’s stressful, and it feels like you’re just trying to survive until the next stop.
But here’s the truth: everyone boards the struggle bus at some point in life. The question is—how do you recognize it, and how do you step off before burnout hits?
If we haven't met yet, I’m Brittany, an online marketing strategist for female entrepreneurs. I teach women how to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality through smart, actionable marketing strategies that get them seen, loved, and paid. Whether you’re eager to DIY your way to success or hire professionals to help you along the way–my goal is to make sure you walk away with the clarity you need to see the results you desire and build a life you love.
Table of Contents
My Personal Experience on the Struggle Bus
I am ambitious. I will go after the life I want. I can do anything I put my mind to. I am smart. I am resourceful. I am determined.
But…I’m also struggling.
Sometimes being honest about how you’re feeling is the best way to work through those feelings. I’ve been struggling a lot lately; I know that I am all those positive things which is good, but the downside is that I’m setting targets in a lot of different areas of my life right now.
The ambitious side of me sets huge targets in multiple areas of life—motherhood, business, health, family, friendships—and then I wonder why I constantly feel like I’m failing. It’s not that I’m lazy or unmotivated. It’s that I’m stretched so thin that I’m not making progress in any one area. And honestly? That’s a bitter pill to swallow.
I like to think I’m a highly functional person, but when I looked in the mirror, I realized I was riding the struggle bus full-speed—no map, no brakes, no destination in sight.
Why We End Up Feeling Stuck in Life
So, why does this happen? Why do we end up feeling stuck in life even when we’re doing “all the right things”?
As an entrepreneur, I know that the quickest way to see success is to pick your niche, and your focus area and pour all your energy into that so you see results. But as the stubborn individual that I am, I don’t want to admit defeat, even though I spend most of my days feeling defeated. I can’t find an area that doesn’t deserve focus, I want to be:
An engaged mom
A successful entrepreneur
Fit and healthy
Happy and emotionally in tune with myself
A good daughter, sister, friend and partner
The problem? There just aren’t enough hours in the day. When you chase everything, you end up catching nothing. And instead of celebrating the wins, I was hyper-focused on the tasks I didn’t get done.
That mindset not only drains your energy but also chips away at your mental health.
Sound familiar? Check out Go Get Great episode 59 with special guest Lauren Smit who speaks to the 5 different types of Imposter Syndrome we face and how it impacts our daily life.
The Breaking Point: Recognizing Burnout Before It Hits
It happened fast. One minute, I was riding high on the excitement of new habits and new business projects. The next, I felt myself spiralling into overwhelm.
I knew the signs:
Loss of focus
Constant exhaustion
Irritability
Feeling unmotivated in things I normally love
In the past, I would’ve buried myself in TV shows and junk food—a temporary escape that only made me feel worse. But this time, I caught it early. That’s the first step to getting off the struggle bus: recognizing when you’re on it.
Small but Powerful Ways to Reset Your Mindset
Once I acknowledged where I was, I started experimenting with ways to reset. Over the past six months, with the help of life coaching session, and a lot of personal and professional development work, I’ve tested different strategies to manage my stress and keep myself from falling into the same burnout cycle. And guess what? They work.
I want to share them with you—not because I have it all figured out, but because these small shifts have helped me stay grounded.
The biggest one? Learning to recognize the signs before you hit the cycle is the first step! What makes you feel burnt out? Knowing your triggers can help find an effective way to manage these struggles.
Pick one or a few of my suggestions from the list below (or some of your own) and make it a goal to do it once a week. Start small and build a productive habit, then work on frequency, until you are doing 1-2 of these a day. Actively taking time each day to manage your emotions improves your mental health which has numerous benefits beyond just feeling less overwhelmed. When I started feeling overwhelmed last week, I knew it was time to take a step back, I'd been so busy working on my business that I stopped taking time for myself so I know these really do help!
10 Practical Tips to Get Off the Struggle Bus
For those of you out there going through the same struggles, I see you and I’m here for you. Here are a few suggestions that have done wonders for me these past few days while I recenter myself.
Delegate Without Guilt
You don’t have to do it all. Ask for help and free up some of your time! People like helping people, whether it's asking someone to watch your kids or to drop off a premade meal to save you from cooking or asking your partner to take on one additional task to lighten your load while you recenter yourself they're probably going to jump at the chance to help you.
Go for a walk
Fresh air is magic. Getting fresh air always helps me clear my head, even stepping outside for a few minutes to take some deep breaths can help calm you down and bring things into focus.
Phone a friend
Call your BFF, that you know is always in your corner and let her tell you all the way that you’re killing it! That's a sure-fire way to get your motivation and enthusiasm back!
Meditate and Breathe
Give yourself a few minutes of quiet time to rest your mind and reset. Meditation doesn’t have to be complicated. Use an app or simply close your eyes, breathe deeply, and reset. If you need a recommendation let me know.
New to meditation and breathwork? Check out this episode of the Go Get Great podcast where guest expert Ashlee Livingstone does a live breathwork session with us! ↓
Start a gratitude journal
This is a great way to bring positivity back into your life since it encourages you to focus on all the little things that make each day great. Each night I write down 3 things I'm grateful for, which helps remind me that admits all the chaos I am still working towards my goals and making the most of each day. It shifts your perspective from lack to abundance.
Check out these blog posts for additional journal prompts for gratitude, clarity and business growth:
Take a break from social media
This might sound strange coming from an Online Marketing Strategist & Business Coach but unplugging from the comparison game is a literal game changer and can very quickly improve your mental wellbeing. It also reduces eye strain and can improve your sleep habits. And you know what, it will still be there tomorrow, you're not missing out on anything!
Learn to say no
This is a tough one, but it’s life-changing. Say no to others—and sometimes to yourself. Really be honest with yourself about what you can fit into a day and don’t over plan! Which brings me to…
Set Priorities That Work for You
Once you set priorities, stick to them! Focus on your most important tasks or your biggest task first, it will help you feel accomplished and increase your motivation. Even if you pick one project each day, staying focused on that one project keeps you moving forward! This is a big one for me and I struggle with it a lot but I really try to focus on picking no more than 4 projects per day for my to do list, 1 big project and 3 small ones. I also dedicate specific days to specific project themes.
For example, Monday's are my business CEO days, I don't do client work on Mondays and instead focus on whatever big project I'm working on in my own business. Fridays are Freedom Fridays and are often the day I do personal appointments, run errands and prepare for the weekend with my kids.
Find Your Motivation Again
Use a picture of your kids or your favourite quote as your computer or phone screen so it reminds you what you’re working towards. Reading personalized affirmations or listening to a manifesting audio file also work. Talking out loud in the morning when my kids are sleeping is a no go so I use the audio file and listen to it in the morning while I'm getting ready. It helps me get into a positive mindset first thing in the morning. I have an excellent resource for this if you'd like more information.
Make time for yourself
The cliché is true: you can’t pour from an empty cup. Carve out time to do something just for you. It might seem impossible but it’s so important. Give yourself permission to take time for yourself so you can be refreshed and focused for each new project you tackle.
The Importance of Building Habits Before You Need Them
Here’s the thing: it’s easier to create these healthy habits when life is calm than when you’re already overwhelmed. Think of them as your safety net.
If you’re not on the struggle bus right now, start small. Whether it's doing one of my suggestions here or journaling, reading a book, having sex (I'm not going to judge), crafting, or building something, you need to find something that fills your happiness meter and you need to make a habit of doing it regularly! Coming from someone who learned this the hard way, start before you need to.
And just so you know, for those of you that are struggling, I’m always up for helping with the third one! I love being able to uplift a friend so never be afraid to message me!
Final Thoughts on the Struggle Bus Journey
If you’re riding the struggle bus, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there, and we’ll probably be there again. The key is learning how to recognize it and taking steps to get off before burnout takes over.
I hope these strategies help you as much as they’ve helped me. And remember—you don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to keep moving forward, one small step at a time.
Lastly, let’s spread some positivity, shout out a friend in the comments who is doing an amazing job!
FAQs
What does “struggle bus” mean?
It’s a phrase used to describe feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or stuck in life.
How do I know if I’m feeling stuck in life or just tired?
If you consistently feel unmotivated, scattered, or like you’re not making progress despite effort, you may be “stuck”, these activities are great but sometimes we need support from a professional to help us. I've personally particiapted in life coaching, busines coaching, indiviual and couples therapy and it has made a huge difference on helping me identify what's wrong or keeping me stuck so I can work through it. Send me a message if you'd like a recommendation to any of the professionals I've worked with.
What’s the fastest way to get off the struggle bus?
Start small. Pick one thing and try to do it once a day for a few weeks, even 5 mins a day of your activity can make a huge difference! Take a walk, journal, or delegate one task. Quick wins build momentum.
Can moms really balance it all?
Not perfectly—and definitly not along, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t perfect balance all the time, it’s alignment with what matters most in the season you're in right now.
What if I don’t have support?
Start with self-care practices you can do solo—like journaling or meditation—while you slowly build a support network of new friends.
This is your reminder to LOVE yourself and fill your own cup!
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