Life, as we know, can get very busy. We seem to feel we are superhuman – that we can do it all, all of the time, and never allow ourselves the breaks we need. That mindset can become overwhelming and end up making us feel like we don’t want to do anything because we’ve burned ourselves out.
You can still be accomplished, but do not give up your peace of mind in the process. When you are giving 120% to everything in your life, eventually something is going to have to give. Hopefully, some of the following tricks will help you when taking on life.
We don’t have to be perfect
Perfection is a lie, I’m sorry to say. I had to learn this the hard way. Over the years, there were times when I tried to be infallible; if I could just avoid any mistakes and anticipate the needs or wants of others, then everything would be fine.
Wrong! It made me even more stressed out. Am I going to get fired because of that little mess-up at work? Am I going to flunk out of school because I didn’t ace that test? Are my friends going to stop wanting to hang out with me because I wasn’t able to help that one time? I would get caught in a vicious cycle brought on by trying to be perfect, and I was only hurting my- self. Ms. Frizzle (remember The Magic School Bus?) taught, “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!” Life is messy, and that is “perfectly” okay.
Prioritize
Our to-do lists can seem never-ending. Take a few minutes in the morning or the evening before to determine what absolutely has to be done for that day. Everything else can be placed on the back burner for now. Don’t completely forget them, but can they wait a day or two? I use my calendar and lists to help me prioritize the important things while still keeping track of the rest.
Is there anything that can be completely removed from your list? I have taken on tasks in the past that I really didn’t need to. I was just in the habit of always saying “yes” because I felt needed, but when I said “yes” to one thing, I was really saying “no” to something else. If you feel like you don’t have enough time, take an honest look at where your time is being spent. No one can “do it all”.
Listen to your body
We are very good at just pushing through. If I can just get this “one” thing done, then I can relax. How many times have we said that, but never do? If you need a nap, take one (just try to do it before 3 pm, says the Mayo Clinic). Read or do meditation if that’s your thing. Watch a funny movie if you need to laugh, or let yourself have a good cry because you’re feeling overwhelmed. Each of us is different, and our needs vary. What works for one person may not work for their family member,
neighbor, or friend. Find out what works for you. Give yourself permission to take that break.
Cleanse from social media
Have you ever been caught in a social media “doom-scroll”? Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and all the other “social” sites can actually pull you further away from society. I tried removing social media accounts from my phone. Wow, has that made a difference! Suddenly, I have more time on my hands. I didn’t realize how much time I was spending scrolling, just to find out I had lost an hour or more. Posts on social media are often optimized productions of people’s vacations, weddings, skills,
and successes. It can be stressful to see how great everyone else seems to be doing when you aren’t feeling that great. If completely removing the app is too difficult, try experiencing just one day without social media.
Have fun!
Life shouldn’t be about just getting things done. Prioritize time for fun, whatever makes you feel happy and uplifted. When was the last time you called a friend or family member just to chat? Sat down with a jigsaw puzzle? Gone out to enjoy nature? Traveled somewhere new?
We live in a place that has a lot to offer. I recently went hiking at Bryce Canyon. Hiking has never been something on my list, but it turned out to be a great time with fantastic scenery.
Ask for help
If I ask for help, then people will see me as weak or a failure. This is definitely a big roadblock for a lot of people, and it was hard for me to do. I thought that if I couldn’t figure it out myself, then I was obviously doing something wrong. This was not true. There are some things in life that you need help with, and it is totally okay to ask for it. It can be scary, but no one is going to look down on you. Take the chance and ask.
It’s okay to start over
You don’t know how many times I have had to remind myself of these principles when life gets overwhelming. It’s easy to forget the things that truly make us happy and that help us feel less stressed. So go ahead and start over; try again. It doesn’t matter how many times you need to reset; it’s okay. As my mum tells me, “just breathe”.
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2025 issue of HEALTH Magazine.