An Unexpected Hack for Overwhelm: Add One More Thing

Do more stuff.

Do creative stuff.

What on Earth are you talking about – clearly I already have too much on my plate, and your advice is to do more?

Yes, but do it for you, and do it for the win. 🙂

What contributes to overwhelm?

Overwhelm is a funny thing. You can feel overwhelmed by too many tasks and tight deadlines, and you can also feel overwhelmed by just one or two things that feel difficult or outside your control.

Of course, everyone’s tolerance is different!

I’ve had weeks where my days are full, and I get a ton of stuff done (including working on my own creative projects!). It seems like a lot, but I feel fine. 

Then there are weeks where my to-do list is short, but I haven’t made time for my “own” stuff, and by Friday I feel like I’m floundering! That’s when the overwhelm kicks in.

For me, overwhelm has less to do with the amount of work and more to do with how much control I feel I have over it.

The scale of demand and intent

So, have you tried scaling back your to-do list, but you still feel overwhelmed? 

You could be depleted.

You might also be out of balance, and this is what we’re talking about here. 

I like to think of a scale, balancing life’s demands and your own intentions:

We want to feel balanced in meeting life’s demands (or what we “have to do”) and in approaching our daily lives with intention (and what we “get to do”). The tasks we choose to tackle fall on one side or the other. 

Some may switch sides, depending on your mindset!

If the intent side is empty, carving a little off the demand side might lighten the load, but it won’t bring balance.

To tip the scales back, you need to add something joyful, just for you, and entirely within your control.

If you needed more encouragement to pick up that hobby…

Here’s the mindset shift: Making space for a creative hobby or personal project puts you back in the driver’s seat, even if the rest of your day is packed.

Your day still has tasks and demands, but it also has something that’s yours.

(The right hobby or personal project can help you add more autonomy, accomplishment and authenticity to your week. That’s the trifecta of balance!)

So the next time overwhelm sets in, try adding instead of subtracting.

Want to dig deeper? We talk more about this topic in the post: Want to Overcome Overwhelm? Your Hobby is the Key!

Not sure what hobby or project to try? You might find an idea in this post: How to Make “Finding Your Hobby” a Grounding Personal Project.