When Everything Feels Like Too Much

Does this sound familiar?

Your to-do list is longer than the day. Your inbox won't stop. The house is a mess. You're behind on sleep. The holidays are approaching. Work keeps piling up. And somewhere in the back of your mind, you know you're supposed to be taking better care of yourself.

You're tired. Not just tired—exhausted. The kind where sleep doesn't fix it because it's not really about sleep. It's about carrying too much for too long with no end in sight.

I get it. I've been there more times than I care to admit.

And here's the thing nobody tells you about managing stress and overwhelm: the advice people give you usually just adds to the pile. "Start a morning routine." "Try meditation." "Journal for 20 minutes." All good things. But when you're already drowning, adding one more thing to your day—even if it's supposed to help—just makes you feel like you're failing at one more thing.

So I'm not going to give you another big routine to follow.

I'm only asking for five minutes.

That's it. Five minutes when you need to. Not at some perfect time, in the perfect morning light, with a perfect cup of tea. Just five minutes, whenever you feel like your day has gone sideways or need a reset.

Here's what I do when everything feels like too much.

Minute 1: Turn Everything Off

Close your laptop. Put your phone face down. Turn off whatever's playing in the background. Just stop for 60 seconds.

Sit down if you can. Just breathe. You don't have to meditate or clear your mind or do it "right." You just have to be quiet for a minute.

I know it feels impossible. I know your brain is going to scream at you about everything you should be doing. Let it scream. Just sit there anyway.

This isn't about becoming zen. It's just about creating a small gap between the chaos and what comes next.

Minute 2: Ask Yourself What You Need to Hear

This is about understanding your needs. Not what you think you should hear or some trite motivation quote. What do you need to hear right now?

Maybe it's "You're amazing!" Maybe it's "It's okay to slow down." Maybe it's "You don't have to have it all figured out today." Maybe it's "You're allowed to ask for help."

Whatever it is, say it out loud. I'm serious. Say it out loud like you're talking to someone you love. Because you are.

Give yourself permission to believe it, even if it's just for a second.

Minute 3: Find One Thing You're Grateful For

Just one. And I don't mean lip service, in a "everything happens for a reason" way. I mean it in a "what's still true even when everything else feels hard" way.

I'm thankful for my body because it keeps showing up even when I don't take great care of it.

I'm thankful for my spouse because they show me love in the ways I need.

I'm thankful for this cup of coffee because it's warm and I can hold it and that feels good.

Name it. Say why it matters. Feel it for just a second.

Minute 4: Reach Out to Someone

Think of one person. Just one.

Send them a quick text: "I wish you _."

"I wish you a peaceful day today."

"I wish you knew how much I appreciate you."

"I wish you didn't have to carry so much right now."

"I wish you rest this weekend."

Don't overthink it. Just type it and hit send.

You're not trying to be profound. You're just reminding yourself—and someone else—that connection still matters. Even when life is hard. Especially when life is hard.

It’s amazing how thinking positively about someone else and sharing that can change our outlook.

Minute 5: Do One Small Good Thing

Not ten things. Not your whole to-do list. Not the big scary thing you've been avoiding.

One small thing. Right now.

Drink a glass of water. Text someone back. Put away three things. Take a lap around the block. Do one task that's been sitting there nagging you.

Pick one. Do it. Done.

Why This Daily Reset Works for Stress and Overwhelm

I'm not going to tell you this fixes everything. It doesn't.

But here's what I know: when you're overwhelmed, your nervous system gets stuck. Your brain stops thinking clearly. Everything feels impossible because your body thinks you're in danger.

These five minutes don't solve all your problems. But they do interrupt the spiral. They remind you what's still true. They prove to you that you can still do something—even if it's small. Even if it's just five minutes.

And sometimes that's enough to get you through the next hour. Or the next day. Or whatever comes next.

Perfection Isn’t Our Goal

Listen, I know you're tired. And I know there's a voice in your head telling you that everyone else has it together and you're the only one falling apart.

That voice is lying to you.

You don't need a perfect morning routine. You don't need to wake up at 5 a.m. You don't need a meditation app or a life coach or to fix everything before you're allowed to feel better.

You just need five minutes.

When your day falls apart. When you're sitting in your car trying not to cry. When you're lying in bed at night and your brain won't shut up. When you feel like you can't do this anymore.

Five minutes. Five steps.

Turn everything off. Ask what you need. Name what you're grateful for. Reach out to someone. Do one small good thing.

You can do this.

Life doesn't get less complicated. But you can get better at finding your way back to solid ground when things get hard.

Five minutes at a time.