What to Do When You’re Overwhelmed and Tired of it All

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I wish I could tell you that life is all sweet and fun, but you and I know that’d be false.

This isn’t even about being wealthy or poor because even wealthy people have their overwhelming moments.

In this age where a lot of things – emails, social media notifications, phone calls, social media statuses, new gadgets, kids, family, bills to be paid, etc. are screaming for one’s attention, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed and be tired of it all.

If getting overwhelmed is inevitable, then all we have to do is learn how to manage the experience so that we don’t lose our minds.

What to Do When You’re Overwhelmed and Tired of it All

1. Identify What Is Actually Draining You

The first thing to do when you feel overwhelmed is to stop and ask yourself, “What exactly is making me feel like this?”

Because sometimes we say, “I’m tired of everything,” when in reality, we are tired of one or two things that are now affecting everything else.

Maybe you are not tired of your whole life.

Maybe you are tired of:

your job

being the person everyone runs to

your children needing you every second

unpaid bills

being in a relationship where you are emotionally starved

pretending you are okay

carrying responsibilities that should not be yours alone

not sleeping well for weeks…

So you see, sometimes the problem is not your life.

Maybe your life is overcrowded with too many demands and too little support.

That is why identifying the source matters because overwhelm becomes more frightening when it has no name.

Once you name it, it may still be difficult, but at least you know where to start.

If the problem is your job, the solution may be rest, better boundaries, delegation, a conversation with your boss, or quietly planning your exit.

If the problem is motherhood exhaustion, ask for help, lower your standards for some things, or create small pockets of rest.

If the problem is a toxic relationship, setting boundaries, counseling, or leaving if it is unsafe may help. 

If the problem is money, try budgeting, asking for help, cutting expenses, or finding a way to increase your income.

But if you keep saying “everything” without breaking it down, you will feel powerless.

So don’t just say, “I’m overwhelmed.”

Ask yourself, “By what?”

2. Take a Break Before You Break Down

Some of us don’t rest. We collapse! And I’m the leader in this group. 

Rest is when you pause before your body forces you to stop.

Collapse is when you ignore every warning sign until your body says, “Since you don’t have sense, let me help you.”

Many of us are guilty, and like I already said, I’m the most guilty. 

We keep pushing and keep telling ourselves, “Let me just finish this one thing.”

But the “one thing” never ends.

There is always another task.

And before you know it, you are exhausted and snapping at innocent people because your emotional battery has been blinking red for days.

Take a break.

Break does not always mean flying to an island or booking a hotel room with white bedsheets and an ocean view.

That would be lovely, but let’s be realistic.

Sometimes a break is putting your phone on silent for two hours, disabling an app that keeps stressing you, going offline, taking a nap, closing your laptop, and stepping outside, leaving the house for a walk before you shout at everybody….

I remember a season when I was overwhelmed because my baby was under the weather.

I wasn’t sleeping well, I had writing and editing tasks waiting for me, and people were still messaging me to do one thing or the other for them, usually without pay.

At some point, I had to take a break from social media because my brain was tired.

And honestly?

It helped.

Sometimes we underestimate how much noise we are carrying.

Even Jesus withdrew from crowds.

So who are you?

 

3. Let Yourself Cry If You Need To

Crying has suffered unnecessary bad PR.

People act like crying means you are weak, dramatic, unstable, or too emotional.

Sometimes crying is your body saying, “Madam, we need to release this thing before we break.”

And truly, some tears are medicine.

Crying doesn’t solve all your problems.

But crying can help your body release what your mouth has not been able to explain.

There are times you don’t even know what exactly is wrong.

You just feel heavy and tired.

Then you cry, and somehow, you breathe better.

That is release, not magic.

I used to be a crybaby because I was very emotional. I have toughened up a bit now, but I still cry when I need to.

And I don’t apologize for it.

Bottling everything up does not make you strong.

A lot of women are exhausted, but they keep smiling because they don’t want people to call them weak.

Sis, if you need to cry, cry.

Let the tears come. Don’t package your pain.

But after crying, don’t stay on the floor forever.

Crying is not the destination. It’s a release on the way to healing and clarity.

4. Talk to Someone Who Can Hold Space for You

One of the biggest blessings in life is having someone you can rant to without feeling stupid.

Someone who can listen without rushing you or turning your pain into gossip.

Sometimes, you don’t need solutions immediately. You just need to pour out your mind and hear yourself talk.

Not everybody is safe for your overwhelmed seasons.

Some people will judge you or minimize your pain. So please, choose your rant partner wisely.

It could be your spouse, a trusted friend, a mentor, spiritual leader, counselor, therapist, a sibling… literally someone mature and kind.

Don’t always wait until you are falling apart before you talk.

There is no award for being the strongest silent woman in the room.

If you don’t have anyone safe in your life, please consider professional help if you can access it. 

Sometimes, the reason everything feels bigger inside your head is that you are carrying it alone.

5. Move Your Body, Even If It’s Just a Little

When you are overwhelmed, the last thing you may want to do is move.

You want to lie down, scroll, stare at the ceiling, and eat something sweet while ignoring everybody.

And honestly, sometimes you may need to lie down.

But there are times your body needs movement because all that stress is sitting inside you with shoes on.

So, take a walk, stretch, dance, go outside, walk around your compound, do ten minutes on the treadmill, or take a slow run if that is your thing.

Just move!

Movement will not magically fix your life, but it can shift the emotional heaviness in your body.

When you are overwhelmed, your thoughts become trapped in one dark room.

But when you move your body, even gently, it creates a little breathing space in your mind.

That is why a simple walk feels like therapy sometimes.

You leave the house angry, confused, and exhausted.

You walk for twenty minutes and come back, and the problem is not gone, but your head is clearer, and you can think.

6. Choose What Lifts Your Spirit

When you are overwhelmed, be careful what you feed your mind.

Whatever you consume in a tired season can either help you breathe or push you deeper into heaviness.

This is why I’m careful about what I watch and listen to when I’m already emotionally low.

I love things that make me laugh.

I don’t like horror or tragedy when I’m already dealing with real-life stress.

Life itself is already doing enough sometimes; I don’t need to voluntarily add demons, blood, sorrow, and suspense to my evening.

That’s me. You may be different. But know yourself.

If watching certain content makes you anxious, sad, angry, or insecure, pause it, and replace those things with what helps you feel renewed.

It could be comedy videos, faith-based songs, worship, sermons, inspiring podcasts, calm music, gratitude journaling, or a good book.

In fact, it could be sitting quietly with God and saying, “I’m tired. Help me.”

As a Christian, worship and sermons help me a lot when I feel overwhelmed.

There was a time I searched for what to do when overwhelmed on YouTube and found a sermon by Rick Warren.

Some of the lessons stayed with me: sometimes we feel overwhelmed because we are fighting battles that belong to God, and prayer should not be our last resort after panic has finished dealing with us.

That hit me deeply.

Because sometimes, the reason we are exhausted is not just because life is hard.

It is because we are trying to be God.

We want to control, fix, know, and predict everything.

At some point, your soul will get tired because it was never designed to sit on God’s throne.

Gratitude will stop your problems from becoming the only thing you see.

This season may be heavy, but you are still here.

And as long as you are still here, there is still hope and strength for the next step.

 

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