Overwhelm Isn’t All the Same
Today felt like one of those days.
Work piling up, kids everywhere, someone getting sick, no one listening, evenings turning into chaos. That heavy feeling of overwhelm that sits in your chest and makes even small things feel impossible.
While feeling this way, I listened to a podcast by Mel Robbins, and it genuinely helped me understand what was happening inside my head.
She explains that there are two types of overwhelm.
The first is legitimate overwhelm — the real kind that comes from your life circumstances. Too much responsibility, too many roles, too little rest. This kind deserves compassion, not self-criticism.
The second is lifestyle overwhelm — the kind we unintentionally create through daily choices, habits, and the pressure to do everything at once.
What helped most were three simple tools:
First: a brain dump.
Put everything that’s spinning in your head onto paper. Scribble it all out. Once it’s visible, it becomes manageable. You don’t need to keep the paper — just unload your mind.
Second: choose only three things that matter today.
Not everything matters today — that’s a lie our brain tells us. Highlight the three things that truly need attention today. That’s enough.
Third: ask, “How can I make this easier?”
Procrastination isn’t laziness — it’s a freeze response. The longer you delay, the heavier the stress backpack becomes. Start small. Jump in gently. Momentum creates relief.
After doing this, I felt calmer. More grounded. More present.
If overwhelm has been weighing on you, I truly recommend trying these tools — and listening to the episode.
Sometimes clarity is just one pause away.
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