How to Manage Stress and Feel Less Overwhelmed When Life Gets Too Busy
Do you ever feel like you don’t know if you’re coming or going?
Last week, I really felt like I didn’t know if I was coming or going. I felt like I was going from one thing to the next without any time for myself. The only time I stopped was when I was asleep, and even then, I knew my brain was still trying to figure things out.
I know many of you can relate to how I was feeling.
You have things to do, people who need you and responsibilities that don’t seem to end. You keep going because that’s what you do. Then, before you know it, you feel overwhelmed and wonder where you’ll find the time to do everything.
And yes, I’m a coach, so you might think I should have it all sorted.
The truth is, I’m human. Sometimes life gets on top of me, too. Most of the time, I can recognise what’s happening and manage my thoughts. Other times, I’m so caught up by the busyness that I give in and roll with it.
Why Does Everything Feel So Overwhelming?
When you have too much to do, it’s easy to focus on everything you haven’t done, instead of acknowledging all that you have achieved. You tell yourself there’s not enough time, you’re falling behind and you should be doing more.
Before long, you’re putting pressure on yourself to get through an endless list of tasks, and even when you stop, your mind keeps going.
So I ask you, how much of your stress comes from what you need to do, and how much comes from what you’re telling yourself about it?
You’ve heard me say it before, that our thoughts influence how we feel and behave. When you keep telling yourself there’s not enough time, you can end up feeling anxious which makes you rush through your day trying to get everything done.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and you want to regain control, here are three things you can do.
Stop Beating Yourself Up for What You Haven’t Done
When was the last time you looked at your to-do list and acknowledged what you’d achieved, rather than focusing on what was left?
It’s easy to tell yourself you should have done more or you should be able to manage everything without feeling overwhelmed.
Instead, show yourself compassion which means recognising that you’re doing your best with the time and energy available. This is about treating yourself with the same understanding you’d offer someone you care about.
The next time you feel overwhelmed, stop for a moment and acknowledge what you’ve already done. Remind yourself that you don’t have to get everything done today.
Just imagine how different your day could feel if you stopped criticising yourself and started recognising your efforts. You’d have less pressure on your shoulders and more space to focus on what matters.
Focus on Your Three Most Important Priorities
You might have 20 things on your to-do list, but how many genuinely need your attention today?
When everything feels important, it’s difficult to know where to start. You jump between tasks and end the day exhausted, wondering what you’ve actually achieved.
Here’s what I want you to try.
Choose the three most important things you need to accomplish today. Identify the tasks that will make the biggest difference to your work, personal life or progress towards a goal.
Then focus on those.
Look at everything else and decide whether it can wait, be delegated or even not done at all.
This helps you make decisions rather than reacting to everything that demands your attention. You can finish the day knowing you’ve taken care of what matters most, rather than feeling you’ve failed because you haven’t completed an unrealistic list.
Change the Way You Think About Time
How often do you hear yourself saying, “I haven’t got enough time”?
We can become so used to thinking this way that we accept it as a fact without questioning it.
I’m not suggesting you can magically create more hours in the day. However, the belief that you never have enough time can influence your decisions and how you approach your day.
Instead, start asking yourself, “How can I make time for what’s important to me?”
By telling yourself you haven’t got enough time, you are focusing on what you lack and narrowing what you can see. By changing your focus to finding time, this encourages you to look for other options because it expands your focus.
And over time, you can also change this belief by repeating regularly: “I make time for what matters most.”
It’s about catching yourself saying you don’t have time, so you can pause and ask yourself what’s a better way of thinking.
Over time, you’ll become more intentional about how you use your time, rather than feeling as though your day is controlling you.
You Don’t Have to Do Everything to Feel in Control
When I work with clients, I don’t just look at what’s happening in their lives. I help them explore how they’re thinking about their situation, the beliefs influencing their decisions and the habits that might be keeping them in the same patterns.
Sometimes, what seems to be a time management issue is actually about the pressure someone puts on themselves or their belief that they should be able to do everything.
Once you understand what’s driving those patterns, you can start making different choices.
So, if life feels too busy right now, take a breath.
Be kind to yourself, focus on what matters and question the thoughts that are adding unnecessary pressure.
You don’t need to have everything sorted. You just need to start with what you can do differently today.
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