Busy? Overwhelmed? Here's What You Can Do

Written by: Sierra Powell

Life gets busy. Days seem to fly by. Work piles up. The house gets messy. Meals are rushed. Emails go unanswered. Self-care disappears from our minds when the world around us becomes chaotic. A persistent sensation of lagging continues to haunt me. The accumulation of responsibilities creates an overwhelming sensation that easily reaches its limit.

Modern life is fast. Expectations are high. People manage their work responsibilities alongside family commitments, financial responsibilities, and social commitments. The widespread nature of burnout reflects its common occurrence. 

Start With What You Can Control

Life does not provide instant solutions for every problem. Small daily decisions create pockets of tranquility in our lives. Start with what feels manageable. A basic daily task like bedmaking represents a simple way to start. A short work break can be scheduled through a timer to help maintain focus during the day. These small wins matter. These small actions generate breathing room, which allows you to reset.

The brain, operating at high speed, transforms basic activities into insurmountable obstacles. The process of breaking things down provides helpful benefits. Focus on cleaning one area at a time instead of attempting to clean the entire house. Just wash the dishes. Don’t write the full report. Just outline the first paragraph. The process of breaking down tasks into smaller steps reduces the overwhelming nature of large objectives.

Let Go of Perfection

Trying to do everything perfectly only adds more stress. Sometimes, it’s okay if the laundry sits for another day. Or if dinner is takeout again. Life doesn’t need to look like a magazine cover. What matters is that it works for you.

Perfection is exhausting. It’s okay to lower the bar sometimes. You don’t have to attend every event. You don’t have to have the cleanest house on the block. What’s important is your health, your rest, your peace.

Say No Without Guilt

Boundaries are essential. It’s easy to feel guilty when saying no. But without limits, it’s impossible to keep up. Protecting time and energy isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

If there’s too much on the calendar, something has to go. Say no to that extra meeting. Skip the event that drains you. Choose rest when it's needed. True friends and coworkers will understand. If they don’t, that’s a sign of where your energy should not be going.

Ask for Help

No one is meant to do it all alone. Support can come in many forms. Sometimes, it’s a friend who checks in. Other times, it’s help around the house. If you reside nearby and could use the support, maid services in Chicago can be a tremendous relief. There's no shame in delegating—sometimes, accepting help is the smartest choice.

There is strength in knowing when to ask. Whether it's a partner, a neighbor, or a professional service, leaning on others isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a smart way to manage a busy life.

Create a Quiet Routine

Overwhelming often comes from chaos. Having even a small daily routine can ground the mind. It doesn’t have to be strict or rigid. Just a few quiet moments can help center the day. A morning coffee without the phone. A short walk after work. A few deep breaths before sleep.

Routines bring comfort. They create a rhythm. They let the brain rest from decision fatigue. When everything feels scattered, a small ritual brings calm.

Unplug When You Can

Screens are always calling. Emails, texts, notifications. It never ends. But sometimes, the best thing is to turn it all off. Silence the phone. Close the laptop. Step outside. Let the world slow down for a bit.

Digital breaks are necessary. Constant stimulation keeps the brain in overdrive. But quiet time gives clarity. It brings the focus back. It creates space to think, to feel, or simply to rest.

Revisit What Matters

When life feels overwhelming, it helps to pause and ask: What matters right now? Not what others expect. Not what society says should matter. But what truly counts—for you.

Maybe it’s spending more time with loved ones. Maybe it’s health. Maybe it’s finally getting that sleep that’s been missing for weeks. When priorities are clear, the noise fades. The unimportant things lose power.

Conclusion:

Being busy and overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It just means you're human, living in a demanding world. But there are ways to manage it, such as through small choices, daily boundaries, quiet routines, and a bit of help.