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Overwhelmed with Life? 7 Strategies to Simplify Right Now

June 17 // 6 Comments // 6 Minute Read

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Are you overwhelmed with life? These practical strategies simplify your life so you have the freedom to streamline your schedule, create more margin for rest, and tackle your to-do list with laser focus.
This post may contain affiliate links.Read my full disclosure policy here.

I remember the exact moment when I realized just how overwhelmed with life I was.

I sat at our kitchen island that Sunday evening with my laptop propped open, updating my bullet journal for the upcoming week. I went through my normal routine of checking my calendar and browsing through my long list of tasks in Todoist, neatly penning them into my weekly agenda.

Already, the stress of everything I had to do was weighing on me, especially after coming off a weekend full of social activities. (If you’re an introvert like me, you totally understand how draining socializing can be!)

An email suddenly popped up on my screen, a simple invitation. An invitation I could easily say no to … but the fact that someone was asking me to commit to yet another activity proved too much.

I just broke.

I’m not normally a crier, but the pressure had built up so much that all it took was a little email to send me over the edge. And to the edge I went. Crying. Sobbing. Acting like a 7-year-old whose sister had just touched her favorite Barbie doll. Completely overwhelmed with life.

My sweet husband let me get it all out (after 10 years, he knows not to “fix” anything—at least not right away), then helped me put the pieces back together, including a politely written “no” to the email that sparked the meltdown.

I swore to myself I would never let my schedule get that bad again. So I began searching for practical ways to add more simplicity and margin to my life, and I’ve been practicing them religiously ever since.

If you find yourself over-committed, running without room to breathe, then consider these 7 simple strategies your saving grace!

1. Braindump Everything in Your Mind

The first defense against massive overwhelm is a brain dump. If you’re not familiar with a brain dump, take a blank sheet of paper and spend just 5-10 minutes writing down every task and project that come to your mind.

Here’s why this step is so important: When you’re overwhelmed with life and too many to-do’s float through your mind, they have a tendency to become bigger headaches than they actually are. There’s something about a task being written down in black-and-white that helps you say, “Hey, I can totally tackle that.”

If you’re interested in learning more about brain dumps, sign up for my FREE Priority Planning Mini Course. I’ll guide you through a brain dump from start to finish, including how to organize all the information you write down, as well as set up every week for success going forward.

2. Don’t Say YES Unless It’s a No-Brainer

Once you’ve had a chance to clear your mind, be intentional about all the things you allow back in.

Do not say yes unless it’s a “Oh-my-word-I-absolutely-have-to-do-this YES!” Putting every decision or commitment through this test of whether you can answer this way makes saying yes a whole lot easier. No more weighing all the pros and cons.

As a full-time blogger, I’m presented with new opportunities every day. But if I don’t get overly excited about something, then I know my answer. No. That word has helped relieve many would-be responsibilities.

By the way, if you’re a people pleaser who has a hard time saying no, one book that really helped me understand my limits was The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst. I took so many notes that I had to write an entire post about the 7 critical lessons I learned while reading it!

The Best Yes - Don't be afraid to say no in your journey of learning how to simplify your life

3. Scale Down Your Commitments

If you’ve said yes too many times, no wonder you feel overwhelmed because you’ve overcommitted yourself! Whether your calendar is full of PTA meetings, various church events, or any other activities where you’ve volunteered to help out, it might be time to reconsider everything you’ve signed up for.

I totally get that it’s uncomfortable to back out of things.

I once had to explain multiple times to someone why I couldn’t help out anymore because they just didn’t get it. Even though I squirmed through the entire conversation, I felt incredible relief afterwards because I knew it was the right thing!

Remember this—YOU know yourself best, and that means you also know what you can and cannot handle right now. Trust that instinct.

When you're learning how to simplify your life, scaling down on your commitments is vital.

4. Let Some Things Go for This Season

It’s incredibly difficult to scale back and let things go, especially if they are really good things. But just because you have to let something go now doesn’t mean you’ll need to ignore it forever.

Think of it this way—your life will always migrate through various seasons, and I don’t just mean Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Instead, I define life seasons by what is happening in your life right now.

  • Some seasons allow for more activities;
  • Others require you to scale back to just the essentials.

For the longest time, I didn’t even think about decorating my house because I was in the throes of building an online business. Now, as I’ve hired out more online tasks, I’ve had more time to dedicate to how my home looks. I even took a course on how to best move forward with my vision, so I’m not stressed about all the decorating decisions.

Maybe you want to build a side business, but you have little ones at home right now who make finding a quiet hour to work almost impossible. Or maybe you have a full-time job outside the home, and you can only manage frozen pizzas (I love Digiorno!) and boxed mac-and-cheese for dinner most nights.

NO shame.

Remember, this is just a season. You will get through it! 

5. Break Bigger Projects into Smaller Steps

Now that you’ve scaled back to the essentials, your to-do list should be a little less overwhelming. But even if you still feel anxious about how to get everything done, this easy trick makes all the difference in the world.

  1. Take just one of your to-do’s
  2. Break it down into smaller steps
  3. Focus on finishing that one task. That’s right, just that one!

Instead of a million little things to do, you have one. 

Knowing that a long list stresses me out helps me be much more careful now about how many tasks I put on my daily to-do list. I used to keep lists that were 10-15 tasks long, and I would only get more and more discouraged when, by the end of the day, I had only crossed off three.

But now I purposefully fill my bullet journal daily pages with lists that are at max 7-8 tasks long. I’m much more focused, and I actually finish bigger projects now that I’ve taught myself to break them down into achievable steps and organize them in my schedule.

6. Time Block Your Schedule

After all, we often feel overwhelmed with life not because we have too much to do, but because we’re not sure where to fit everything. Keeping a schedule that is fairly the same from day-to-day will help you learn what tasks you can manage in the 24 hours you have—and where you need to build margin into your life.

For myself, I have an Ideal Daily Schedule split up into six different time-blocks:

  • Morning Block (includes breakfast)
  • Tiger Time (my most productive work period of the day)
  • Lunch Block
  • Afternoon Block
  • Home + Family Block (includes dinner)
  • Evening Block

Within each block, I define the type of tasks that I could do so when I’m scheduling out my day. So I know where to plug various tasks. This is the difference between being intentional about your day and simply reacting to everything that comes your way.

Of course, not every day will go according to plan. In fact, few will! But at least you’ll have an idea of what you’re shooting for. Then when your schedule gets off track, you have a template to return to tomorrow!

Curious to read more about time blocking? I have a whole post dedicated to this productivity hack.

7. Get Enough Sleep

There’s only so much you can do to streamline your schedule, but if you’re still tired? More often than not, lack of sleep is to blame. I’m the type of person who needs at least 8 hours every night to function. Believe me, I wish I could get away on only 5 or 6 hours, but my energy bank only lasts for two days before things get ugly!

Want to get more sleep? An evening routine can help you to wind down for the night. I went so far as to implement a Power-Down Hour, which is a technique I learned from the book The Power of When. Basically, you turn off all screens and phones an hour before bed, so you don’t get distracted by one more show or one more link.

You then replace your binge-watching or scrolling habits with ones that get you in a sleep-induced mindset.

Try these:

  • a hot shower
  • setting up your to-do list for the next day
  • reading for 20 minutes
  • diffusing a relaxing blend of essential oils.

By the time you’re finished with your evening routine, sleep should come easier and faster. But even if it doesn’t, don’t give up just yet. Work your way through this list of 11 easy ways to sleep better tonight, and give it another shot.

I’m certainly not perfect at following all of these 7 tips, but when I make an effort, I see the difference.

I feel like I can tackle each day with excitement rather than dread, and I take the time to enjoy what’s going on around me, rather than rushing right through to the next task or to-do.

I hope this list gave you some new ideas to help you commit to what you can, tackle it all without being overwhelmed with life, and create more margin for rest. Even more so, I hope you’ll avoid repeating my tragic breakdown! 🙂

How do you manage being overwhelmed with life?

Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Comments

  1. Mary | Coffee and Moxie says

    September 4 at 9:21 pm

    I LOVE your tip about having a power down hour! Too many times I find myself getting to bed later than I’d like because I get caught up in my favorite TV show! We have a wind down hour for our kids but I never thought to have one for myself. I’m definitely going to try it out!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      September 6 at 3:51 pm

      Powering down is key!

      Reply
  2. Leslie says

    September 4 at 11:27 pm

    These are great reminders! I’ve been wanting to do a brain dump for awhile but i just simply forget with all that’s going on. Im saving this post!

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      September 6 at 3:49 pm

      Brain dumps and my bullet journal. I really don’t know how I ever survived without them.

      Reply
  3. Hafsa says

    July 18 at 1:19 am

    Amazing tips…I love the fact that you shared your techniques and I can feel that it makes things easier. My brain works well with systems and routines…honestly, this is the first time in years I read a post word for word…love your writing. God bless

    Reply
    • Kalyn Brooke says

      July 22 at 3:46 pm

      Thanks so much Hafsa. You aren’t alone – there are so many of us who’s brains function so much better on systems and routines!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣
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Sadly, I find m

Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣
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Sadly, I find most people resist minimalism because they can't wrap their head around "having less." People tend to equate this movement with blank walls, white IKEA furniture, and decluttering everything in your home down to practically nothing so you can live full-time in an RV. Like me. 😉⁣
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But, while minimalism could be all that, this mindset misses the point. Minimalism is not only about “having less.” 🚫⁣
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It’s so much more than that.⁣
⁣
This week on the blog, I'm sharing the REAL definition of minimalism (that people who love their stuff can totally get behind!) as well as practical ways to incorporate minimalism into your life. 🎉⁣
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Drop a heart emoji in the comments below and I'll send the link to your DM's! 💖

I love lazy Saturday mornings…as long as I have
I love lazy Saturday mornings...as long as I have a book and a cozy blanket! 😍

I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣

I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣
⁣
“I’ve been thinking about what tech boundaries I want to instill, including boundaries related to work and productivity. I’ve become less careful about my media consumption, and it’s having a negative affect on my mental health.” 💞⁣
⁣
Have you ever felt a similar tug? ⁣
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I can’t begin to tell you how many times I pick up my phone because I’m bored or lonely or jealous or unhappy. It almost always makes me feel worse. And yet...I struggle to stop. 😝⁣
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Here are the ideas I’ve been trying this month and I’m already seeing a positive effect:⁣
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➕ No logging into social media after 8pm. I need to wind down for the night, not get lost in my phone! 📲⁣
➕ Open Instagram with a purpose—either to post or to interact. Stop endlessly scrolling.⁣
➕ My only screen time before 9am should be for Bible Study apps or News. 🗞⁣
➕ Turn my phone on Do Not Disturb during Tiger Time (when I need the most focus for work) 💪⁣
➕ Work no more than 4 hours on my business per day. If a task isn’t complete, push it to the next day. This time frame has really helped me prioritize! 💻⁣
➕ Watch one show per day (or two if they are short!) and leave movies for the weekend. 📺⁣
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What tech boundaries have you set up? Are any new as of this year? I’d love to hear your ideas! 😃

What’s one thing you budget for that other peopl
What’s one thing you budget for that other people might not? I always find those interesting. 😃⁣
⁣
You might have a mortgage. I budget for campgrounds. You might want a separate clothing budget, while I’m fine combining it under “Beauty and Style.” Recently, we also added a new line item for our motorcycle—something I NEVER thought would appear in our budget. ⁣
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See, we’re all different! ⁣
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Recently, I rearranged my budget categories and created this “cheat sheet.” Sometimes I forget where things go, like picking up new wall art for the living room. Does this item belong in the categories of Household Items or Home Maintenance? 🤔⁣
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Now I know! And I save time processing receipts each Friday. 🧾⁣
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What budgeting categories do you use? Share one of your random budget line items with me in the comments below! 😃

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
⁣
I

I call 2020 the Year of Abandoned Books. ⁣
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I’m never afraid to stop reading a book if it doesn’t live up to the hype. Why invest more time in a book I’m not all that excited about when I could be exploring new authors and storylines where I can’t wait to turn the page? 🤷⁣
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But in 2020, I let more books go than I normally do. I suppose my patience dwindled when I thought the world was ending. Not that I thought the world was actually ending…but you know what I mean. 😉⁣
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As an Enneagram 1, I hate giving up on a book. I’m prone to the all-or-nothing mentality, even in my reading habits. My eyes could glaze over boring prose and I’d still repeat to myself: “You MUST finish this book!” 😫⁣
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Why? ⁣
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No one is adding a plastic star to your Book-It pin, (Remember those?) This isn’t assigned reading from your high school English class. This is YOUR reading life. ⁣
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And YOU should choose what books deserve your attention. 📚⁣
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There are too many good ones out there anyway.  Like one of my favorite reads from 2020. 😍⁣
⁣
This week’s newest blog post rounds up everything I read last year (43 books total!) including 5-star psychological thrillers, a delightful royal series, a couple self-help books, and of course, historical fiction.⁣
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Click the link in my bio to read it! ☝⁣
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What were your favorite books in 2020? Our literary styles might be a match made in heaven! ✨

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
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T

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
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These small but mighty sidekicks will be my saving grace this year. 📚⁣
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1️⃣ Bullet Journal (Blue) - for everyday planning and goal setting⁣
2️⃣ Regular Journal (Yellow) - to track gratitude (5 things a day!) and to process ALL the feelings⁣
3️⃣ Growth Journal (Sand) - a space for me to brain dump everything I learn from books, podcasts, sermons, etc ⁣
⁣
That last one is new to me as of this year and I can't wait to flip back through all my notes come December! 📆⁣
⁣
What planners/journals are you using for 2021?


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