Have you ever caught yourself spiraling in thoughts that seem to go absolutely nowhere? One minute, you’re thinking about something small, like forgetting to send an email, and the next, you’ve convinced yourself that your entire week is ruined. Those thoughts pile on quickly, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and stuck.
This, my friends, is what we call “mind drama.” It’s that sneaky cycle of thoughts that makes small issues feel overwhelming and impossible to escape. It feels real because it’s happening in your brain, but it’s often just your mind spinning stories without solving anything.
With the holidays just around the corner, mind drama has a way of creeping in even more. Between work, family commitments, and holiday preparations, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and let your thoughts spiral out of control. Suddenly, a simple to-do list feels like an impossible mountain to climb.
But imagine heading into the busiest time of year feeling calm, focused, and in control of your thoughts. That’s exactly what we’re diving into today—how to untangle mind drama and take back control so you can enjoy the season instead of dreading it.
Mind drama is different from the typical drama we think of when we hear the word. Instead of gossip or unnecessary chaos, it’s the stories your brain spins that feel real but aren’t solving anything. It can turn a small inconvenience into a major emotional hurdle if you don’t recognize what’s happening.
What I want to show you today is how to recognize when you’re caught up in mind drama and how to minimize it. Once you do, you’ll stop wasting energy on things that don’t actually matter and start freeing up your brain for what really does.
During the holidays, that can mean the difference between feeling stressed and truly enjoying the season. Imagine making decisions without being paralyzed by “what ifs” or doubts. Picture yourself focusing on what’s important instead of getting stuck in endless overthinking.
If you’ve ever felt like your brain is running circles around a problem without finding a solution, stick with me. I’m going to help you break free from that cycle of mind drama and show you how to regain control.
This isn’t about changing who you are or pretending your feelings don’t exist. It’s about managing those moments when your mind wants to go into overdrive so you can reclaim your time, energy, and peace of mind—not just for the holidays, but every day.
This week, I’m going to discuss identifying and dealing with mind drama as a working mom and how to untangle mind drama and take back control.
Identifying and dealing with mind drama as a working mom
Let’s be honest—external drama is easy to spot. Whether it’s a coworker gossiping or a mom in the carpool line making a big deal over something small, it’s obvious when it’s happening.
Mind drama, though, is much sneakier. It hides in your everyday thoughts, quietly building up stress while making you think you’re just “working things out” or “thinking it through.”
I remember one time, after a client meeting, I thought everything went well. Later, my brain latched onto one comment they made about a deadline, and I spiraled into, “Do they think I’m not prepared? Do they doubt me?”
It happens so fast, doesn’t it? One small moment can turn into hours of unnecessary stress, just because your brain creates a story that isn’t even real.
You’ve probably had a similar experience. Maybe your boss made a neutral comment, and suddenly you’re thinking, “Am I not doing enough? What if I’m failing?”
The thing is, mind drama doesn’t stop at work—it shows up everywhere. Parenting, relationships, finances, even how you tackle your to-do list—it sneaks into all parts of life.
In parenting, it might sound like, “Am I doing enough for my kids? Am I even a good mom?” Those thoughts can pile on guilt and doubt, even when you’re doing just fine.
Or maybe it’s the endless worry about whether you’re balancing everything right. You think, “Am I spending too much time at work and not enough with my kids? Will they resent me for it later?”
This was a big one for me when my kids were little. I used to wish I had a crystal ball to look into the future and see how the decisions I was making then would affect them in the future.
And since there was no crystal ball, my brain created a lot of unnecessary mind drama around many of my decisions.
Then there’s the money drama. This is a big one for a lot of us. It’s when a small concern about saving can spiral into, “What if I can’t save enough? What if I mess this up?”
And let’s not forget the social comparisons that creep in. Talking to another working mom or seeing someone posting about her perfectly balanced life on social media can lead to, “Why can’t I keep up? What’s wrong with me?”
I’ve been there too. Staring at a budget spreadsheet or scrolling social media, letting my brain run wild with every possible “what if” scenario—it’s exhausting.
And of course, there’s time management. You look at your to-do list, and instead of seeing tasks, your brain says, “There’s no way I can get all this done,” leaving you overwhelmed before you even start.
For us working moms, mind drama is like a hamster wheel. You’re always thinking, always questioning, but it feels like you’re not actually getting anywhere.
The good news is, you don’t have to stay stuck in that cycle. Once you understand how mind drama sneaks into your life, you can start to untangle it and take back control.
Let’s talk about how you can do that.
How to untangle mind drama and take back control
Now that we’ve talked about all the different ways mind drama sneaks into your life—whether it’s at work, with your kids, or when you’re thinking about money—let’s dive into how to untangle it. Because here’s the good news: once you know how to spot it, you can actually stop it in its tracks.
It takes a little practice, but I promise, it’s worth it.
Step 1: Separate the Facts from the Story
Step 1 is separating facts from the story. Let’s use the example from before where your boss gave you neutral feedback, but your brain turns it into, ‘They don’t like my work.’ The fact is simple: your boss gave feedback. The story is just unnecessary drama.
All the drama—wondering if they’re disappointed, thinking you’re failing, etc.—is just your mind trying to fill in the blanks with unnecessary stress. Instead of getting lost in that story, pause and ask yourself, “What are the actual facts here?” Focusing on the facts keeps your brain from running wild with what-ifs.
Step 2: Challenge Your Thoughts
Once you’ve separated the facts, the next step is to challenge the thoughts that are creating the drama. For example, let’s say you’re worrying about whether you’re a good enough mom. You might start thinking, “I didn’t spend enough time with my kids today. They probably feel neglected.” But is that really true, or is it just mind drama?
Challenge that thought. Ask yourself, “What proof do I have that my kids feel neglected?” Most of the time, you’ll realize that there’s no actual evidence—just feelings of guilt or fear. When you challenge those thoughts, you start to see that they’re just stories you’re telling yourself, not reality.
Step 3: Focus on What You Can Control
One of the biggest triggers for mind drama is feeling like things are out of your control. Whether it’s a packed schedule, money worries, or trying to balance everything, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But instead of getting stuck in that feeling, shift your focus to what you can control.
Let’s take the to-do list example. If your mind drama is telling you, “I’ll never get everything done,” take a step back and break it down. What can you realistically accomplish today? What tasks are most important? When you shift your focus to what’s actually within your control, you stop feeling like a victim of your circumstances and start feeling empowered to make progress.
Step 4: Practice Letting Go
Sometimes, mind drama comes from wanting to control everything—every outcome, every situation, every reaction. But here’s the thing: you can’t control everything, and that’s okay. A huge part of untangling mind drama is learning to let go of the things you can’t control.
Take the money example. You’ve set a savings goal, but your brain is spinning with worries like, “What if I can’t save enough? What if something unexpected happens?” Instead of getting wrapped up in that anxiety, acknowledge that you can’t control everything that might come your way. What you can control is sticking to your savings plan and adjusting as needed. Let go of the need to have everything perfectly mapped out, and trust that you can handle whatever comes.
Step 5: Be Kind to Yourself
Finally, the most important step in untangling mind drama is to be kind to yourself. We all deal with mind drama—it doesn’t make you weak or incapable. The key is recognizing when it’s happening and giving yourself grace. When you catch yourself spiraling, don’t beat yourself up for it. Instead, gently remind yourself that it’s just mind drama, and you have the tools to bring yourself back to reality.
Whether it’s work stress, parenting worries, financial fears, or simply feeling like you’re not doing enough, mind drama thrives on self-criticism. By treating yourself with kindness and compassion, you give yourself the space to breathe, refocus, and move forward without the weight of unnecessary drama.
The bottom line is that untangling mind drama is all about breaking the cycle of stress and doubt that our thoughts can create. It’s about stepping back, seeing the facts for what they are, and reminding yourself that you’re capable of handling whatever comes your way.
I promise that when you can do that, you’ll find that life feels a lot lighter, clearer, and a whole lot less dramatic.
Questions to consider:
Question: “In what areas of my life do I experience the most mind drama?” Mind drama can show up in different areas of life—work, relationships, parenting, finances, etc. This question helps you pinpoint where your mind tends to spiral the most. By identifying those areas, you can be more aware when mind drama starts creeping in, making it easier to catch yourself and apply the tools to manage it.
Question: “How often do I focus on thoughts or worries that aren’t based on facts?” Mind drama often happens when we dwell on worries or “what ifs” that aren’t grounded in reality. This question encourages you to reflect on how frequently you get caught up in non-factual thoughts, helping you recognize patterns. When you realize how often this happens, you can work on redirecting your focus back to the facts.
Question: “What triggers my mind drama the most, and how can I prepare for it?” Certain triggers—like stressful situations, tight deadlines, or conflicts—can spark mind drama. By identifying your personal triggers, you can better prepare for those moments and apply what you’ve learned before the drama takes over. This question promotes mindfulness and helps you develop strategies for managing these triggers in the future.