Do you come home and just crash onto the sofa?

You are not the only one!

These days, more and more people feel overwhelmed.

Life can get crazy when you’re trying to juggle everything – keeping up with home responsibilities, hitting the gym, spending quality time with your kids and spouse, catching up with friends, and maybe even tackling a few side projects.

At some point, it just feels too much.

There is just not enough time, you know?

I completely understand the craziness of it all. If you are feeling:

constantly stressed
irritated much
tired…ALL the time
anxious or on edge
can’t maintain your focus and get easily distracted
hopeless and demotivated
Like you can’t even remember the last time you truly relaxed – watched a movie, read a book, or just free-styled without a packed schedule…

You are most likely overwhelmed.

And before anything else, it’s important to take a real look at what’s going on in your life. I suggest you make a list of everything that’s stressing you out right now.

Could it be that:

You’re trying to keep your home nice and tidy at all times?
You’re pushing yourself too hard at the gym and never rest?
You’re not getting enough sleep?
Work is piling up, leaving you exhausted?
You’re following a strict diet that depletes your energy?
You’re a single parent, or even if you’re not, are you handling most of the parenting solo?
You have taken on many extra projects besides work – like studying, or hobbies that are eating up all your time?

If you constantly have endless to-do lists and you never take a moment to pause, celebrate your wins, or simply do nothing, you’ll eventually reach a point when you just can’t continue.

It’s hard to bring your A-game every single day.

And when you start falling behind, the tasks just keep piling up. After all, you only have 24 hours.

In this article, I talked about the infamous Wheel of Life – a psychological tool designed to help you build balance and well-being. Its creator, Paul J. Meyer, drew inspiration from Buddhist principles of harmony. He visualized life as a pie chart with sections like Love, Health, Career, Hobbies, etc.

Paul J. Meyer believed true happiness comes from growing in all areas of life.

However, If you’re trying to give equal attention to everything, you might be stretching yourself too thin.

Really-you CAN’T be perfect. No one can

It’s impossible to balance everything perfectly every single day. If you expect that from yourself, you’ll end up so stressed you might get sick.

Think about what’s more important-creating a routine you can stick to long-term, or chasing perfection and eventually giving up because of too much stress?

It might just be time to slow down a little.

Let’s find out what isn’t working so you can change it.

What happens when you keep pushing yourself even though you’re feeling overwhelmed?

In the Motivation section, we discussed how persistence is one of the most important traits for achieving your goals. It’s one of the main reasons why some people succeed in life while others don’t.

Motivation isn’t constant – it comes and goes.

You can’t rely on feeling motivated all the time; that just isn’t realistic. Instead, you need to build persistence and resilience. These qualities will help you stay committed to your goals, even when you have a bad day or feel lazy.

However, you should learn to recognize when you’re doing too much.

Everyone has a limit – you’re not a Marvel character. If you ignore the signs, stress and anxiety will only build until you eventually snap.

Some people break down in tears or even have panic attacks.

Others get consumed by anger and lash out in ways that don’t match the situation.

This happens when stress piles up until it feels impossible to manage – when your mind and body simply can’t take one more thing.

When you start feeling overwhelmed, don’t push through, slow down. Be kinder to yourself.

Your body is begging you to take some rest, and it’s important that you listen. Taking a break doesn’t mean you’re lazy; it just means you’re self-aware.

Are there any “projects” you could set aside for now?

First things first, let’s address the obvious.
Is there anything in your routine you can let go of?

Try setting aside the things that aren’t of ultimate importance. You can always come back to them once you feel less overwhelmed.

Maybe you’ve taken on too many hobbies or side projects? Consider taking a temporary break from one. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on fewer things and do them well, rather than juggle everything at once and never finish anything?

How to clean up your agenda, (with practical examples)

Here are some practical examples on how to step back from some projects.

If you feel exhausted from your exercise routine

If you work out every day, switch to every other day.

Walk whenever you can in the meantime. This way you’ll still be active and you won’t feel guilty.

If early-morning workouts leave you exhausted or late-night sessions make you rush home, try finding a gym near your workplace and use your lunch break instead.

No gym nearby? No problem!

If your workplace has stairs, take short breaks throughout the day and get some steps in. It’s a great way to stay active while also giving yourself a mental reset.

If your hobbies take too much of your time

Let’s say you’re taking drawing lessons. Keep showing up to class, but don’t pressure yourself to practice at home. What matters most is learning during the sessions – forcing extra practice when you’re exhausted won’t help.

If you run a blog, a YouTube channel, or any creative project, give yourself permission to take a break.

Jot down your ideas, but don’t stress about posting immediately. Missing a week or two won’t derail your progress. When you return, you’ll feel refreshed, motivated, and more inspired.

If you’re trying to eat healthy

Trying to cook every meal from scratch can quickly become exhausting.

Instead, focus on making healthier choices without aiming for perfection. Pre-made healthy meals, store-bought salads, or simple, easy-to-assemble dishes can save time and energy. The simpler, the better.

And if skipping a meal occasionally makes your life easier, that’s perfectly fine!

Intermittent fasting has benefits like stabilizing blood sugar, supporting weight loss, and even saving money.

If you struggle to keep your home clean and tidy all the time

Don’t pressure yourself into maintaining a spotless house.

A home doesn’t have to be perfect to be functional, and keeping it “good enough” is far less stressful.

Focus on what matters most: a tidy and presentable space.

Try a simple 20-minute morning routine – make your bed, open the windows for fresh air, clean up after pets, and tackle the dishes.

Skip daily dusting – it’s fine if there’s a little dust on the TV stand.

Reduce laundry loads by doing bigger batches less frequently.

Invest in tools that save time – a robot vacuum, air purifier, or dishwasher can make maintaining your home much easier without draining your energy.

Going out with friends

If your schedule is packed, you don’t have to say “yes” to every invite. Let your friends know you’re swamped but will reach out once things settle down. This way, you stay in touch without overcommitting or burning yourself out.

Most people will understand that you’re busy, and it keeps your relationships intact without adding unnecessary stress.

You can even suggest low-effort alternatives, like a quick coffee or a short walk, so you maintain connection while protecting your energy.

The key is balance – participate when it feels manageable, and don’t feel guilty when you need to decline.

If you are overwhelmed at work

If your workload feels unmanageable, check out the Work Psychology section for strategies on avoiding burnout, handling toxic workplaces, and understanding why you shouldn’t always blindly trust HR.

Where possible, delegate tasks, push back on unrealistic deadlines, or discuss your workload concerns with your manager.

If you are overwhelmed with parenting

If caring for your kids is draining all your energy, see if a friend, relative, or babysitter can step in, even for a short break. If you have a partner, divide responsibilities so both of you get time to recharge.

If your job allows flexibility, consider negotiating remote work a few days a week to ease the daily juggle.

“How long will it take me to feel like myself again?”

It really depends on how much pressure you’re under right now.

For some, it may take a few days; for others, a few weeks. The more stress you can remove, the faster you’ll recover.

If possible, set aside a day or two just for yourself. Spend time in nature without electronics, or treat yourself to a spa day with a massage and relaxation treatments. Even small breaks like this can significantly speed up your recovery.

Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Don’t rush the process – healing takes time, and forcing yourself to “bounce back” too quickly can do more harm than good.

Feeling overwhelmed? What’s your story?

Here are more related articles:

I’m doing everything right but I see no results!

Why some people succeed and others don’t

How to stop feeling powerless

How to never give up when you face challenges

Why you get depressed for NO reason

What causes chronic dissatisfaction???

How screen time is slowly ruining your life

TheThinkAbout is a website based on psychology in practice and experience.

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