If You’re Having an Absolute Meltdown, Start Here
- Tori Lynn Crowther
- May 1, 2025
- 5 min read
If You’re Having an Absolute Meltdown, Start Here
If this month has tipped into overwhelm, pause.
This section is not here to fix anything, explain anything, or ask more of you. It exists for the moments when your head is loud, your body is tense, and everything feels harder than it should.
Nothing has gone wrong.
Meltdowns are not failure. They are information. They usually show up when you’ve been holding too much together for too long.
First: Do Less. Right Now.
Before reading on, soften your focus.
You do not need to:
Catch up
Make a plan
Work out what this means
Decide anything today
Take one slow breath in through your nose.
Exhale fully through your mouth.
That is enough for now.
You Are Likely Overstimulated, Not Incapable
When everything feels overwhelming, it is rarely because you lack skill, experience, or resilience.
More often, it is because:
You have been making too many decisions
You have been absorbing other people’s emotions
You have not had enough quiet recovery time
Your nervous system is overloaded
This is a physiological response, not a personal failing.
When your system is overloaded, thinking clearly becomes difficult. That does not mean you are bad at this. It means you are human.
Shrink the Timeframe
When you’re in meltdown, the future feels heavy and unmanageable.
So we reduce the window.
Do not think about:
The rest of the month
The year
Whether this is sustainable
Whether you’re “cut out for this”
Only focus on:
The next 10 minutes
The next simple, neutral task
The next pause
Stability returns through small, boring steps — not big insights.
Come Back to the Absolute Basics
Ask yourself just three questions:
Am I safe right now?
Have I eaten, had water, or rested today?
What is one thing I can stop doing for the rest of today?
Often, relief begins not with action — but with subtraction.
This Is Not the Time for Improvement Work
When you’re overwhelmed, do not:
Analyse your systems
Revisit boundaries
Re-read challenging content
Push yourself to “use the material properly”
That work comes later.
Right now, your job is regulation, not optimisation.
You are allowed to close this page and come back when your body feels steadier.
You Are Not Behind
Even if:
You haven’t touched this month’s content
You feel disconnected or flat
You’re questioning everything
You are not behind.
This membership does not move on without you. Nothing here expires. Nothing is watching your progress.
You are allowed to arrive slowly.
When You’re Ready (Not Before)
When the intensity has passed — not today, not tomorrow, but when your body feels calmer — return to:
The monthly audio
One short section of the blog
One attachment, if it feels supportive
Or simply start again next month.
That is still progress.
A Quiet Truth
Calm leadership — with dogs or people — is not built in moments of pressure.
It is rebuilt in moments of gentleness after strain.
If today is one of those days, let it be what it is.
You are not broken.
You are not failing.
You are resting your system so you can continue.
Close this page if you need to.
We’ll still be here when you’re ready.
About the Monthly
Each month, we focus on a single theme designed to help you run your business more calmly, confidently, and effectively.
The monthly content includes:
A short, grounding audio to help you step out of reaction mode and tune into intention.
A blog with examples, insights, and practical strategies to put the theme into action.
Attachments and worksheets to make the month easy to navigate and implement.
Optional deeper dives for months where you feel you need extra guidance or support.
You can use the materials at your own pace: listen, read, and apply as it suits you. The goal is steady progress, not perfection.
Think of each month as a rhythm for your business — a way to focus on what matters most, reduce friction, and build lasting calm and clarity with your clients and dogs.
About Tori Lynn C. & The Dog House
Welcome to The Dog House — my cosy corner of the TLC Canine Crusaders Business Hub. I’m Tori Lynn C., the founder of TLC Dog Walking Limited, mentor to professional dog walkers, and lifelong advocate for dogs and the people who care for them. Before building my own dog walking company, I worked as a dog trainer and held corporate roles at Pizza Hut’s Head Office in London and at PricewaterhouseCoopers, based at Embankment Place. Business, structure, and people management have been part of my life for a very long time.
With full time, hands-on experience in the dog industry since 2007, my mission is to guide you through the realities of running a successful, sustainable dog walking business — from client care and safety to wellbeing, confidence, and professional growth.
The Dog House is where I share the honest, behind-the-scenes conversations we all need: the tricky moments, the funny bits, the business lessons, and the mindset work that keeps us thriving rather than merely surviving. Whether you're just starting out or scaling up, you’ll always find support, guidance, and a friendly nudge forward here.
You’re never alone in this journey — you’re part of a community of canine crusaders.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided on this website is for general information and educational purposes only. It is intended to support pet care professionals in understanding common legal considerations when operating a dog walking or pet care business in the UK.
This content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for advice from a qualified solicitor or legal professional. Laws, regulations and local authority requirements may change over time and can vary depending on location and individual circumstances.
While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date at the time of publication, no guarantees are made regarding completeness or applicability to your specific situation.
By using this website, you acknowledge that:
✓ You are responsible for ensuring your own business complies with all relevant UK laws and local authority rules
✓ You should seek professional legal advice before drafting, using or relying on any contract or legal document
✓ The website owner accepts no liability for loss, damage or legal issues arising from the use of this information
If you are unsure about any legal obligations, contractual terms or liabilities, it is strongly recommended that you consult a solicitor experienced in small business or consumer law.
Comments