Too much to do
My head was spinning.
I had just completed a 2 and a half day training intensive. I was feeling inspired by what I had learned, and excited to apply the concepts to my work. So many ideas were flowing through my veins.
But also, I felt overwhelmed.
The kind of overwhelm where you know there’s a lot to do, but you don’t know where to start. Your mind won’t stop identifying more and more things that need to be done, each more important than the last. Before you’ve even fully processed one idea, another one comes up. And another. And another.
I needed to find a way to slow down and take back control.
Have you ever felt this way?
This feeling often comes up in my coaching conversations.
Sometimes, my client shares that they feel overwhelmed by customer demands, or expectations coming from their leadership, and they feel like they just can’t get ahead.
Other times, they’re trying to create something new or create a change in their life, and they keep identifying more and more tasks that will need to be completed in order to achieve their goal.
Or it’s the season of life they’re in, demands from work, raising children, caring for parents, or a health crisis that takes up any margin they thought they had. And the juggling that used to work perfectly now results in everything crashing down.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by everything on your plate, try this:
Brain dump
Start by creating a space where you can get all the things out of your head and into one place. Perhaps you take over the dining table with sticky notes, leverage a digital whiteboard, or just a blank document or spreadsheet. Now take all the things out of your head and put them into that space, as granularly as you can. Don’t action them or filter, just dump. One sticky note per idea, one row per task. Get it all out where you can see it, no judgement.
Create an intention
Now that you’re seeing the whole picture, pick a lens (or goal) that you’ll use to get unstuck. Perhaps it’s to create your to do list for this week so you can set aside everything that can wait. Maybe it’s to identify everything that can be delegated, or to identify the changes you want to make to your routine to better serve your goals. Take the time to do this well. Having clarity around what you want to achieve in the next step will pay off dividends.
Prioritize for action
Using your intention as a filter, start grouping things together. Perhaps it’s what’s in and what’s out. Or, what you want to consider now, what can wait. Once you’ve finished a basic grouping, toss aside at least half of your items. Maybe you’re even feeling bold enough to rip up the stickies or delete the rows. However you do it, take them out of consideration with your intention in mind. Then, prioritize based on what you need to take on to achieve your intention or goal. Be clear on the actions you want to take based on what you’re seeing.
You may start feeling better and less overwhelmed as you start the brain dump, and the sense of agency return as you begin filtering and prioritizing.
Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by what’s on your plate, will you try this exercise? Get it all out, decide what you want to achieve seeing what you’re now seeing, and then prioritize for action.
What else do you do to get out of overwhelm?
Will you send me a message with what works for you?
Send me a note with what you’re going to focus on. I’d love to hear from you.
March 5, 2026
About the author:
Christina Von Stroh is a leadership coach who helps her clients become wildly successful by applying iterative software development practices to achieve their dreams. Want to work with Christina to help you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
Book your free strategy session.
