What to Do Today When Overwhelmed
Overwhelm happens when everything feels urgent and impossible. These strategies help you step back,
prioritize, and handle things one piece at a time.
- Pick literally one thing — Not everything. Just one. Do that. Then reassess. You don't
have to tackle it all today.
- Close all your tabs and apps — Digital clutter creates mental clutter. Start fresh.
Your brain will thank you.
- Take 5 deep breaths before deciding what's next — Pause before acting. Breath creates
space between stimulus and response.
- Say out loud: 'I can only do what I can do' — Permission to be human reduces pressure.
You're not a machine.
- Ask for help or postpone something — Overwhelm is a signal. Redistribute. Delegate.
Delay. Adjust expectations.
- Write everything down, then cross off half — Everything feels urgent when it's swirling
in your head. On paper, you can see what's actually critical.
Get another idea