The Calm before the Shitshow
If the holidays already feel a little too quiet like the universe is just waiting to drop a glitter-covered meltdown in your lap — same. This is your friendly reminder that the calm before the chaos is not a trap. It’s your chance to breathe, reset, and mentally prepare before the holiday shitshow officially kicks off. No perfection. No pressure. Just you, your peace, and one deep, dramatic sigh before the madness begins.
Do you ever get that feeling things seem a little too calm, like they could fall apart at any moment?
Yeah… me too. And it’s happening now.
The holiday family chats have already begun. The to-do lists, shopping lists, and pressure to make everything f#cking magical are piling up. It’s mid-November, but Christmas decor has been out since Halloween. That one neighbor already has their damn tree up, and your family is arguing about who’s hosting, what date works best, and every other detail.
It’s already starting to feel like a full-time job.
Before it all officially begins, pause.
Take a deep breath and remind yourself:
You don’t have to do it all.
It doesn’t have to be perfect.
You are allowed to rest.
The truth is, the holidays aren’t always a great time for everyone. You might be on a budget, grieving, feeling alone, or just not feeling it this year. You need to know that it’s okay. That’s why this calm is sacred, it’s your moment to set expectations before the chaos kicks in.
Take this time to slow down before the world speeds up. Make a list of what actually matters to you this season, not what looks good on Instagram, and not what makes Tia Karen happy. What truly and genuinely fills your cup?
Maybe that means skipping an event, saying no to overcommitting, or giving yourself permission to rest without guilt. Maybe it means skipping the family dinner to laugh and cry with your favorite cousin. Maybe it’s finally asking Tia Karen why she’s been mean to you all these years.
Whatever you need, this is your permission to take care of yourself and protect your peace.
Whether you wan to be that neighbor with decorations before Thanksgiving or you want to be the one with no decorations, this is your decision.
Peace isn’t found in a perfect holiday—it’s found in you showing up grounded, present, and genuinely yourself.
So light the candle, sit with your thoughts, and breathe. Breathe in joy, breathe out the extra bullshit.
This is the calm before the shitshow… and you deserve to enjoy it right now.
Welcome to the Overachieving ShitshoW
I’m Dr. Kate Rodriguez a therapist, speaker, mom, business owner, and the first Overachieving Shitshow to proudly own it.
This all started when I was running late for a burnout workshop, dropped my papers, broke my glasses, and heard my husband say, “For being such an overachiever, you’re a total shitshow.” He didn’t mean it kindly — but I felt seen.
Now, I’ve built a space for women like us: the high-achievers, the go-getters, the ones who hold it all together while quietly burning out. Here, we talk about burnout recovery, imposter syndrome, and reclaiming your spark — with equal parts science, soul, and sass.
Hi, I’m Dr. Kate Rodriguez - therapist, speaker, mom, business owner, and the first Overachieving Shitshow to proudly own the title.
I’ve spent years helping women, business owners, lawyers, and other professionals combat burnout. But the real inspiration for this movement started on one chaotic morning.
I was running late for a workshop on burnout for the Women Entrepreneur Society. I couldn’t find my keys, dropped all my worksheets, broke my glasses and was the epitome of a total disaster. My husband looked at me and calmly said, “For being such an overachiever, you’re a total shitshow.”
He didn’t mean it as a compliment… but I owned it. Because in that moment, I felt seen.
Later that day, I shared the story with the group and they loved it. Women came up afterward saying, “That’s me too!” and asking for merch. That’s when I realized: there’s a whole sisterhood of Overachieving Shitshows out there.
If you’ve ever looked like you have it all together but feel one minor inconvenience away from a meltdown, you might be one of us.
If you’ve got hundreds of tabs open in your brain but somehow still get most of it done, yep, you’re probably one too.
If you’ve ever felt like a failure yet have people ask you how you do it all, that’s a sign too.
We are a special group of women. We work hard for what we believe in, chase big goals, handle enough stress to break most people, and still show up. We might be late, we might make mistakes, but we get it done.
So here I am, creating a space for women like us.
The professionals. The high-achievers. The go-getters who keep saying “I’m fine” or “F*#k it, I don’t care” while quietly burning out behind the scenes.
After years of working with lawyers, business owners, therapists, and fellow Latina powerhouses, I’ve seen it over and over: we’re brilliant at achieving, but terrible at resting. We were raised to believe that success means hustling harder, smiling wider, and pretending we’re not exhausted.
The truth? That mindset is burning out some of the most capable women I know.
So, I decided to flip the script.
The Overachieving Shitshow isn’t an insult — it’s a badge of honor. It means you’ve been juggling too much for too long, and you’re ready to reclaim your spark, your sanity, and your sense of self — without sacrificing your dreams.
Here, we talk about:
✨ Burnout recovery (without the guilt)
✨ Imposter syndrome (and how to silence that inner critic)
✨ Mental wellness for women who “don’t have time for burnout”
✨ Reconnecting with your passion and purpose without losing yourself in the process
You’ll find honesty, humor, and practical tools rooted in psychology, neuroscience, and a little bit of get-shit-together sass.
This isn’t about perfection, it’s about thriving through the chaos.
Welcome to the movement. 💫
– Dr. Kate Rodriguez, PhD, LPC Supervisor
Founder of The Overachieving Shitshow™
HElping teams reclaim that spark
It all begins with an idea.
Workplace burnout doesn’t just affect performance—it impacts morale, retention, and overall well-being. I offer custom workshops, keynote speeches, and consulting services designed to help professionals and organizations create sustainable success without sacrificing mental health.
From burnout prevention and imposter syndrome to leadership wellness and team communication, I bring real-world experience and evidence-based strategies that help staff feel seen, supported, and re-energized.
If your team has been running on empty, let’s create a plan to help them prevent burnout and rediscover their spark.