Balanced but Barely

Ever stare at a completely normal task and think, “Why can’t Ijust do the damn thing?” The email goes unanswered. The appointment doesn’t get scheduled. The laundry becomes part of the furniture. And suddenly you’re wondering why everyone else seems capable of adulting while you’re approximately one minor inconvenience away from losing it over the printer. In Episode 16 of Balanced but Barely , we...

Why Avoiding Your Bills Is Stressing You Out More Than Paying Them Ever avoided opening a bill because somehow not looking at it felt financially responsible? 😂 You know the routine: the email arrives, you tell yourself you’ll deal with it tomorrow, tomorrow becomes next week, and suddenly checking your bank account feels like an extreme sport. In Episode 15 of Balanced but Barely , we’re talking...

You know that moment when someone texts, "Can you call me?" and suddenly you're mentally preparing for the worst? Or when your boss sends a calendar invite with no explanation? Or when your bank account looks a little...too quiet? Welcome to the Anxiety Olympics. 😂 In Episode 14 of Balanced but Barely , we're taking a lighter—and much funnier—look at the everyday stressors that can send our nervo...

What if you stopped waiting for your life to be perfect before allowing yourself to enjoy it? In this episode of Balanced but Barely , we're talking about the Joy Delay —the habit of telling ourselves we'll relax, celebrate, have fun, or finally feel happy when everything is fixed, organized, paid off, healed, or figured out. Spoiler alert: there's always another "when." We&#...

Have you ever asked five people for advice…only to do exactly what you wanted anyway? 😂 In this episode of Balanced but Barely , we're talking about intuition, self-trust, people-pleasing, and the exhausting habit of looking outside ourselves for validation. We'll explore why even confident, capable people second-guess themselves, how to tell the difference between intuition and anxiety, and how...

Have you ever noticed that you're a different version of yourself depending on who's in the room? Maybe you're confident at work, quiet around your family, carefree with your closest friends, and the one who "has it all together" for everyone else. If you've ever wondered which version of you is the real you, this episode is for you. In this episode of Balanced but Barely...

What if being everyone's emergency contact has become your identity? In this episode of Balanced but Barely , Carla Jean explores the exhausting reality of being "the strong one"—the person everyone depends on, the one who always says yes, fixes the problem, remembers all the details, and carries the emotional weight of everyone around them. While these qualities are rooted in compas...

Ever wonder why you can't seem to move forward—even when you know exactly what you need to do? Spoiler alert: you're probably not lazy. Your brain may simply be trying to keep you safe. In this episode of Balanced but Barely , CarlaJean dives into the psychology and neuroscience behind feeling stuck, overthinking, procrastination, perfectionism, anxiety, burnout, and chronic stress. If you've been...

What if the person you're hardest on... is yourself? In this episode of Balanced but Barely , Carla Jean explores one of yoga's most powerful—and often misunderstood—teachings: Ahimsa , the practice of non-violence and non-harm. While many people think Ahimsa is simply about being kind to others, this conversation turns the focus inward to examine the subtle ways we create suffering in our...

What if happiness isn't something you find? What if it's something you practice? In this episode of Balanced but Barely , Carla Jeanchallenges one of the most common beliefs about happiness—that it's waiting for us somewhere in the future. Whether it's tied to a promotion, a relationship, more money, a smaller pants size, or simply getting through the next stressful season, many of...

In this deeply personal and compassionate episode of Balanced but Barely, Carla Jean Lundgren explores one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions: depression. She explains why depression is not laziness, weakness, or a lack of gratitude, but a complex experience that can affect energy, motivation, concentration, sleep, and a person's sense of hope. Carla Jean shares her own lifelon...

What would you do if you stopped waiting for permission? In this episode of Balanced but Barely , Carla Jeanexplores the concept of audacity—not as arrogance or entitlement, but as the willingness to trust yourself enough to take up space, speak your truth, set boundaries, and pursue the life you want before you feel completely ready. For many of us, the biggest obstacle isn't a lack of capabi...

What if the thing standing between you and peace isn't your circumstances—but your relationship with patience? In this episode of Balanced but Barely , Carla Jean explores why patience feels so difficult in a world that celebrates hustle, instant gratification, and overnight success. Through honest storytelling, relatable humor, mindfulness practices, and nervous system education, she unpacks the...

If saying “no” makes you feel like you just committed a federal crime… this episode is for you. 😅 In this episode of Balanced but Barely , Carla Jean dives into boundaries, people pleasing, emotional burnout, nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and what it actually means to create a safe space for yourself without feeling selfish about it. We’re talking: anxiety and overwhelm healthy boundari...

Friendship heartbreak is a different kind of pain—quiet, confusing, and often overlooked. In this episode of Balanced but Barely , Carla Jean dives into the deep love and trust friendships are built on, the grief we feel when a friendship changes or ends, and the boundaries needed for healthy, supportive relationships. We talk about: feeling abandoned or outgrown by a friend people pleasing and ov...

In this episode of Balanced but Barely , we’re talking about the powerful connection between self-talk, anxiety, overwhelm, nervous system regulation, communication, and personal growth . If you struggle with negative self-talk, burnout, stress, high-functioning anxiety, depression, PTSD, emotional overwhelm, people pleasing, or feeling disconnected from yourself, this episode will help you unders...

What if healing didn’t look perfect? What if growth was messy, emotional, nonlinear… and sometimes looked like crying in your car before walking into Target like nothing happened? Welcome to Balanced but Barely , a podcast for the ones doing the inner work while still feeling like they’re barely holding it together. Hosted by Carla Jean Lundgren, this show is a safe space for real conversations ab...