© Marek Uliasz
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When Everything Feels Like Too Much
There are seasons in life when everything seems heavier than usual.
You may not be able to point to one specific reason. It could be an assortment of responsibilities, disappointments, unmet expectations, losses, or simply being exhausted from carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.
We may feel emotionally drained, and when we are drained, life’s pressures may feel like they are too much. Sometimes, under the pressure, we feel irritated, stressed, and are far from operating at our optimal selves. We look for relief, but sometimes that relief will cost us time or money we are not ready to give up. But we have to release something in order to make our load lighter. Sometimes we hold tightly on to the very things that are weighing us down.
We can also feel stuck. We feel trapped in jobs, marriages, relationships, and family dynamics. When you feel stuck, it is like you are in quicksand, slowly drowning with no hope of getting out of your situation. You can’t go back to the past, but you feel you can’t move forward either. This also causes you stress and unbearable burdens that weigh down the soul.
As a result, we may lose motivation. Slowly, it starts to creep into your everyday habits. Your workouts become fewer and fewer. Your daily reading dwindles to twice a week while you spend more time doomscrolling on social media. You start having unhealthy eating habits that don’t support your diet. Slowly, all of these things start adding up. And before you know it, you lack the will to do the things you know you should do. We begin to have a pessimistic outlook and wonder where our peace went. But we must find our way back to contentment. We must begin again.
The beautiful thing about life is that you don’t have to wait for a new year, a new month, or a perfect moment to begin again.
If life has been feeling heavy lately, here are some gentle ways to start over without overwhelming yourself even more.
First, Give Yourself Permission to Be Where You Are
It is o.k. to admit that we are not in the best mental headspace. We cannot heal what we do not acknowledge. So, stop pretending everything is fine. Acknowledge if you are mentally and emotionally drained, lack motivation, are suffering from loss, are disappointed with unmet expectations, or are disappointed by the people in our lives.
It is o.k. not to be o.k. When we pretend that everything is o.k., we delay our opportunity to heal and extend our suffering.
There is grace in accepting our current season. Acceptance does not mean we are accepting defeat or being complacent. It means we are acknowledging the existence of what we feel, so that we can lead ourselves back to the correct path. Back to a place we can begin again. Begin to heal. Begin to thrive. Begin to have the best life.
We can start over right where we are, not when we have it all together or in the near future. Now in our place of discontent.
7 Gentle Ways to Start Over
- Let Go of the Pressure to Fix Everything at Once
We have so many things to do, we don’t know what to do first, and it can cripple us into inaction. Sometimes when we have so many tasks in front of us, we get overwhelmed at the thought of trying to complete all that we have to do. But overwhelm comes from trying to solve everything immediately. We look at the entire staircase when we need to just take the first step. Focus on taking one step at a time. Do what’s most important and time sensitive first and then take the next step. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither were our lives. We do not need to rebuild our entire life today. Just take one step at a time. You’ll get to your destination or desired place of peace.
- Rest Before You Start
Often, we are simply exhausted. When we are exhausted, we operate from a sublevel place in our mind and our body. We may be exhausted from a hectic schedule, managing family, job, friendships, and social obligations. You know you are exhausted when you lack sleep or have poor sleep quality, you are unable to focus, you lack physical strength, you are stressed, or you are starting to practice unhealthy eating habits.
We cannot be our best selves when we are functioning from a place of exhaustion. We will be angry, fatigued, irritated, lethargic, have insomnia, increased depression, anxiety, and have low energy. Operating in these modes will not make you productive. When you are weary, you need to rest.
It is good to rest before you act on your next direction. Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is rest.
Here are some ways we can rest our bodies and our minds.
Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep recharges the body. While most studies suggest that 8 hours of sleep is optimal for adults, some of us can function with fewer hours of sleep and still have a good night’s rest. Sleep restores the body and the mind. It helps you focus and make better decisions. So, make sure you get yourself some rest, so that you are functioning from a good headspace.
Quiet Time
Setting aside time to be still with no distractions allows your mind to rest. When there are no distractions from people, media, or music, your mind has time to process your thoughts without any interruptions. You will be able to clearly make decisions that you may not have been able to make with all of the mental noise experienced every day.
Nature
Something about being out in nature allows the mind to flow freely and rest from overthinking. Whether you are out where the greenery surrounds you or on a beach where you can hear the ocean waves, nature has a way of grounding you. It allows you the ability to release racing thoughts and connect with something outside of yourself. You can gather inspiration from nature to assist you in deciding your next step.
Prayer or Meditation
One of the best ways to rest is through prayer. Knowing you can cast your cares on God and allow him to direct your path for the rest of your journey is reassuring and comforting. After praying or meditating, you feel calm and at peace. It is almost as though a weight has been lifted, and you are depending on a source higher than you to aid you in resting your mind.
After resting, you can begin again.
- Clear One Small Area of Your Life
Clearing clutter is one way you can begin again. When clutter is in our homes and offices, it is often a reflection of a cluttered, disorganized mind. Organization is a key path to clear thinking. Starting over with a fresh and clear space is a very freeing experience. If you do not know where to begin, start with one small area. Clear one drawer. Clearing one drawer will give you the motivation to do another and then another, until before you know it, you have the entire room cleaned. Starting small can do the trick.
In your office, you can start with just your desk. Sometimes, while rushing through the day, a lot of papers can accumulate on our desks. Organizing your desk can give you the incentive you need to clear the entire room. You can also do something as simple as setting aside time to clear your inbox daily. Doing this daily will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed when you see the mountains of email in your inbox.
Last but certainly not least is your schedule. Sometimes our schedules need finetuning. If possible, clear your schedule of anything that does not support the lifestyle you are trying to create. Whether that be obligations from family, work, or friendships. Having an overloaded schedule will not give you the fresh start you need. Clear one area of your schedule. Start with social obligations. Do you really need to go to that party?
Whatever you do, start small. Small wins build momentum.
- Release What No Longer Serves You
We hold on to things that we need to release. Holding on to what impedes you will only make your life difficult. You cannot begin again when you have not let go of resentments that can make you feel bitter towards others and yourself. Resentment has a way of eating you up from the inside, and it comes out as anger, fatigue, irritation, anxiety, and depression. Let it go so you can have the life you deserve.
Guilt from mistakes we have made is another thing that we need to release. You cannot change the past, but you can learn from those errors and make better decisions for the future. Ruminating over past mistakes will not move you forward. Let the guilt of the past go.
Sometimes the expectations we had for ourselves at 25 are not the ones we have at 35. It is perfectly fine to release the expectations that no longer serve us and create new ones that better serve where we are now. Holding on to goals that no longer make sense for the people we are now will only cause us distress. Let go of the old expectations and embrace the new.
I always say comparison is the thief of joy. Release comparing yourself to others. It will get you absolutely nowhere. Being the best you, you can possibly be is the goal you should have. When you are at your best, you will achieve your goals.
You cannot carry everything into your next chapter. Let it go!
- Return to Simple Daily Habits
In the hustle and bustle of life, sometimes we stray away from the daily habits that serve us best. Having a routine that you follow daily helps you stay focused and on track to achieve your goals. Whenever I allow distractions to distract me from healthy habits, I lose track of my goals. Some simple habits that we should incorporate into our day are drinking enough water, exercising, journaling, getting enough sleep, and practicing gratitude. Practicing simple habits that help sustain the life we are trying to live will guide us in being better humans. Stability comes from small routines.
Do not underestimate the power of simple habits. The little things we do consistently often have the greatest impact on our peace, our well-being, and our ability to move forward. When life feels overwhelming, returning to what you know serves you best and let those small routines guide you back to yourself.
- Spend Time with What Brings You Peace
Peace is the ultimate goal. We should do everything in our power to attain it. We must spend time doing things that nourish our souls. Devote time to things that we find fun or relaxing. Some of the things we can do are spend time in nature, reading, listening to music, allocating time for family, and spending time practicing our faith. Healing often begins when you reconnect with what nourishes you. So, whatever brings you to a place of peace and contentment, do that.
In a world that constantly pulls our attention in a hundred different directions, these moments of nourishment are not luxuries; they are necessities. They refill our cup, restore our spirit, and remind us that life is about more than simply getting through the day.
- Give Yourself Permission to Begin Imperfectly
You do not need to wait until you feel ready to begin. You don’t have to wait for the perfect time or a new year. Start today. Start now. Someday may never be the right time. Many times, we are perfectionists and want the perfect conditions to begin again. But the right time is when you begin your new journey instead of staying stuck in old patterns that no longer serve you.
The truth is that most meaningful beginnings are imperfect. They are messy, uncertain, and filled with small steps rather than giant leaps. If you wait until everything is perfectly aligned, you may spend years waiting instead of living.
A small beginning is still a beginning.
We do not have to have everything figured out before we begin. We only need the courage to take the next step. Let today be the day we stop waiting for perfect and start embracing possible.
Beginning Again Is an Act of Hope
Starting over doesn’t mean our previous efforts were wasted. It means we are choosing ourselves again.
Sometimes we view starting over as a sign of failure, when in reality it is often a sign of courage. It takes bravery to acknowledge that something is no longer working and even more courage to choose a different path. There is hope in every fresh start because it reminds us that we are not stuck. We are allowed to change. We are allowed to grow. We are allowed to begin again.
Every sunrise is proof that new beginnings are always available. You do not need to have all the answers. You do not need a perfect plan. You only need the willingness to take the next step.
Be gentle with yourself as you begin this new chapter. Move forward at your own pace. Trust that even the smallest step in the right direction can lead to a life filled with greater peace, purpose, and contentment.
Today is a new opportunity. Take it. Embrace it. And believe that beautiful things can still be ahead of you.
This week, I invite you to start over. Let it be a quiet declaration that you can begin again. You deserve a life that feels calm, grounded, and whole.
If you’re ready to begin cultivating it more intentionally:
• Download the 30-Day Gratitude Journal and start tending your heart daily.
• Join our email community for encouragement, tools, and gentle reminders to live intentionally.
• Share this post with someone who may need peace in their life right now.
We are building something beautiful here; a space where peace is practiced, gratitude is honored, and contentment is possible.
And I’m so grateful you’re on this journey with me.
Reflect. Give Thanks. Rejoice.
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