7 Things to Remember When You Feel Overwhelmed

May 6, 2025/Julie Stobbe/

Reading time – 5 minutes

Feelings of overwhelm can threaten your happiness and your relationships. I have blogged about habits of happy people and listening skills to use so partners can get organized. Living amongst clutter, having no routines and an unmanageable schedule can cause feelings of stress and overwhelm. Often, it results in you being short-tempered with other people. Eventually, you may develop other mental health issues, anxiety, if you keep living in the same environment.

7 Things to Keep in Mind When You Feel Overwhelmed

At times, everyone gets overwhelmed, here are seven things to remember when you start feeling overwhelmed:

Your emotions are natural: Feelings of overwhelm are often a sign from your body that it is time to slow down and scale back. You can also control your feelings, so addressing this feeling and replacing it with better ones is possible.
It isn’t the end of the world: This is part of life. The good news is that you can stop the feelings of overwhelm by recognizing it for what it is and taking proactive steps to prevent the cycle from happening.
Now is a good time for a brain dump: Overwhelm leaves our minds cluttered. By writing down all of the things you need to do or feel, you are alleviating some of the mental energy you have had to expend keeping it all in.
Take action instead of wallowing in your thoughts: Action breeds more movement and will propel you out of your feelings of overwhelm. Look at your space and decide what you can do to make it work better for your lifestyle and personality. Don’t be afraid of change. Additionally, new opportunities will crop up, and you should embrace them.
Avoiding digital stimulation is the better choice: Getting lost in social media will only leave you feeling worse when you realize you lost time to work. Notifications can leave you in a constant state of panic. Remember that it is okay to turn off notifications for periods of time and focus on what you need to get done. Having a schedule will help you to stay on track and accomplish your tasks.
Stepping outside is a good thing: You do not have to be tied to your desk and laser-focused on what needs doing. Give your body the break it deserves to help you reset and recharge.
You have been here before: More than likely, you have felt this way before. It won’t last, and you can shorten the timeframe by being proactive.

Feelings of overwhelm don’t have to stop you from being productive. Remember that this happens to us all, and you can take action to overcome it.

Many clients have mentioned how relaxed they feel once things in their lives are organized. A weight has been lifted. It is a circular argument; if I handle my feelings of overwhelm, then I can get organized or if I organize my space, I will feel less overwhelmed.

Which comes first for you? Let me know in the comments.

Julie Stobbe is the 2024-2025 winner of the Harold Taylor Award for outstanding contributions to the organizing industry and Professional Organizers in Canada. As a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach, she brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides, mentors and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.