The silly season is upon us, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. I walked a client through this reset last week and it really helped her with finding clarity amongst her sense of overwhelm so I thought I’d share.
Overwhelm often shows up when everything feels equally urgent.
Every task carries the same weight, the same pressure, the same “must do it now.”
A simple reframe can make a big difference:
Not everything deserves equal importance.
Here’s a quick reset I often share with clients:
- Empty your head onto paper—everything that’s buzzing, worrying, or tugging at you. All the “must remember”, “must do”, “have to fit in”
- Grab three coloured pens or highlighters.
- Circle what truly matters.
- Mark the things you feel you should do.
- Highlight the tasks that can wait or simply aren’t deal breakers.
- Circle what truly matters.
3. Open your diary and protect time for the first group—the things aligned with your core values. Challenge the second group – my friends and I have a saying “Shed the shoulds”. Make a separate list of the “can waits” and put them in your diary for a later time so they are not taking up mental space.
What usually follows is a soft exhale.
Clarity around the “shoulds.”
Less pressure around the rest.
A sense of control returning.
Small steps. Big impact.
