Those Runaway Days - Where Everything Had A Mind Of Its Own

Have you ever felt the day slipping away before you even had breakfast? That sense that life’s already running wild, and you’re trying to keep up? This episode tackles exactly that feeling, where small annoyances join forces to push us to our limit.

We explore how a simple walk can turn into a mini meltdown, especially when technology decides to play tricks on us. We also delve into ways to keep calm when everything seems set on testing your patience. By the end, you’ll realise that these runaway days aren’t permanent, and there are ways to turn them around.

When Life Feels Like a Runaway Train

I started my morning walk feeling optimistic. The air was fresh, and the world seemed wide open. Then out of nowhere, I felt the day run off without me. My earphones glitched every few steps, which made me want to toss them into a lake. Sound familiar?

“Fruaahhhhhh I shouted as I came back down the hill from my walk… my earphones glitching on every third step… this day was feeling like a runaway day already…”

In this episode, I chat openly about how a single frustrating moment can spark a chain reaction. If you’ve got ADHD or dyslexia, that chain reaction can spiral faster. It's that pit-of-the-stomach jolt telling you that even minor things can flare up into a bigger state of stress.

The Spiral Effect

Small triggers often stack up. One earphone glitch is easy to brush off, but if it happens five times in a row, it can become that final straw. Combine that with the everyday pressures of modern life, and you’ve got a recipe for overwhelm.

We talk in this episode about how our brains process these tiny jolts. For many of us, it’s not just a momentary jolt—it’s an avalanche of massive emotions. It can affect your entire day if you’re not careful.

The good news is you can interrupt this spiral before it all goes downhill. It takes a bit of self-awareness, some breathing space, and a willingness to let go of the little stuff.

Practical Tips to Regain Control

Feel like you’re on that runaway train? Here’s what I suggest:

• Pause: Step away from whatever is glitching, breaking, or crashing.
• Breathe: It sounds obvious, but a few slow breaths do wonders for your headspace.
• Refocus: Shift your attention to a different task for a few minutes. Sometimes a little distraction calms the storm.
• Practice Self-Compassion: Allow yourself a moment of patience. Remind yourself you’re not failing; you’re just having a rough moment.

These tips might sound simple, but they form a survival kit for those frantic times. Experiment with each to see which one resonates.

Mindset Shifts for Challenging Days

In the chat, I share stories of how our mentality can make or break a rough day. We often believe we must power through every single thing, so it’s easy to push ourselves too hard. Reflecting on where we put our energy can help prevent total burnout.

Sometimes the best approach is to say, “I’ll come back to that later.” It’s not avoidance—it’s self-preservation. If you push through when your patience is at zero, you’ll probably end up making things worse. Let your brain chill for a bit.

Also, consider reframing your frustrations. Instead of seeing earphone glitches or awkward moments as cosmic conspiracies, see them as gentle prompts to take a break. When something repeatedly throws you off, it might be life nudging you to slow down.

Turning Frustration into Opportunity

The weirdest thing about “runaway days” is that they can open the door to fresh ideas. When you’re forced to pause, you might notice something else that sparks creativity. You might find a new podcast episode (pun intended), or you might stumble upon a better route for your walk.

These off moments can be golden opportunities. Step back and ask yourself: “What’s this glitch teaching me?” It might be patience, it might be perseverance, or it might be a sign you need a holiday—no judgement here. The point is, frustrations can sometimes lead to the best revelations.

It’s why I’ll often embrace those eccentric hiccups. I’m not claiming it’s easy, but leaning in can transform a meltdown into a moment of clarity. You don’t have to love the inconvenience, but you can see something in it that’s worth noticing.

Key Takeaways

• Small annoyances have a way of piling up. Acknowledge them before they overwhelm you.
• Simple techniques like pausing, breathing, and refocusing can break the spiral.
• Give yourself permission to step back when you sense rising tension.
• Your mindset matters—turn a glitch into a nudge for creativity.
• Even runaway days can be salvaged with the right perspective.

We’re not aiming for perfection here. None of us are. These are suggestions that can help you cope when it all feels too much.

If this breakdown resonated with you, you’ll want to check out the full episode. We dive deeper into handling those “off” moments, and there’s a fair bit of humour in there too. There’s nothing like a shared laugh to make the chaos feel more manageable. Listen to the full episode and discover more tips to keep your runaway days in check.