What to do when life gets overwhelming

A few years ago, I broke down in the middle of a summer music program and cried for an hour straight (this is coming from a non-crier) due to internal pressure from doing too many things in my life.

Even back then, I realized that I was doing too much for my body and mind to handle.

Life turned from being “oo, look at how many cool things I can do to expand me and my capabilities and have fun at the same time” to being miserable from juggling too many things and putting pressure on myself internally to be good at all of them.

Doing too many things does not make us feel depleted and burnt out. No. Thinking that having large quantities of ideas/thoughts/ interests is what drains us is like us cutting a leaf off of a plant when the actual problem is in the roots.

Here’s the good news: The problem is not in doing too many things - it's in not conserving our precious energy and letting it leak out and be wasted on frivolous and energy-depleting tasks.

That’s why the solution to burnout isn't always to do less overall - it’s to do more purposeful and energy-giving tasks (and cut back on energy-depleting tasks). It’s to learn strategies to control your energy, time, and attention.

So here’s your permission to continue doing a lot in life. If that’s your default state and it aids you in understanding the world and growing as a person, then more power to you.

Just become more self-aware of yourself and where you spend your time and energy. Learn to create boundaries where needed - between the things that drain you and expand you.

That’s the key to turning your life from chaotic and overwhelming to fun and light while still keeping your passions and interests in your life.