Finding Balance When Life Feels Overwhelming

These past few weeks have thrown me for a loop, and I’m definitely feeling it. I love fall, but it brings a lot of changes — seasons, schedules, routines, you name it. Add in sickness, new responsibilities, and endless to-do lists, and your girl is struggling just a little bit.

I’ll start by saying most of these changes are GOOD! I want to be doing these things, and at the end of the day, I feel fulfilled, like I’m spending my time and energy wisely.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t get tired, and lately, it’s been catching up with me. Some days, I’m running on empty and feel like I’m never fully “caught up.” So today, I’m being real with you: Sometimes, I just don’t feel like being productive. I don’t have the energy for massive to-do lists, planners, or coordinating schedules. Sometimes, I only have the energy for the moment I’m in — and that’s okay. That can be enough.

Here are a few things I’ve discovered that help when I’m feeling exhausted. Hopefully, they’ll help you too.

Start small.
If you’re a fan of The Lazy Genius podcast, this will sound familiar. Starting small means taking a giant project, an overwhelming task, or what I call “big trash bag energy” and breaking it down into small, manageable steps. I apply “start small” to many areas of my life. For example, when the whole house feels messy, I’ll start by tackling one area — like emptying the dishwasher.

Automate what you can.
I don’t mean literally (though you can if you want). When I’m tired, the last thing I want to do is make unnecessary decisions. So, I automate decisions wherever I can. I have a go-to work-from-home outfit for days when I don’t want to think about clothes, Saturday is always laundry day, we keep ingredients for our favorite quick meals on hand, and I have set workouts for low-energy days. I’m constantly looking for ways to make life easier for my future self by automating these small decisions.

Rest in the way you need.
Sometimes, rest is just sleep, but other times it’s going screen-free or whipping up something delicious in the kitchen. This week, the rest I needed changed each day. On Sunday, rest meant relaxing as a family and avoiding screens. By Tuesday, I had a migraine so bad I needed to lie still in a dark room. Rest comes in different forms, but the most effective rest is the kind you need at that moment.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. — Matthew 11:28-30

Make a priority list.
A priority list is different from a to-do list. It’s shorter and focuses on what absolutely needs to get done today. Not everything is a priority, and having a clear list helps make sure you don’t miss the important stuff.

Let people in.
I can’t do it all on my own. When I’m tired, I realize the beauty of letting others help. That could mean delegating tasks or humbling myself enough to accept assistance with things I can usually handle. Letting people in is a gift — don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

Give yourself grace.
When I’m tired, I sometimes beat myself up for not “performing” at 100%. I feel stretched thin and low on energy. But we’re all human, and we’re going to have days or weeks when we’re not at our best. That doesn’t mean we’re failing. Give yourself grace — you’re doing the best you can, and any progress, no matter how small, still counts.