Feeling overwhelmed can be confusing – especially when, on paper, you’re doing everything “right”.

You’re organised. Responsible. Showing up.
You’re not failing or falling behind – yet the sense of overwhelm is still there.

If you’ve been wondering why everything feels overwhelming even when you’re coping, this might help explain what’s really going on.

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Overwhelm Isn’t Always About Doing Too Much

One of the biggest misunderstandings about overwhelm is that it’s caused by busyness alone.

Often, overwhelm isn’t about the volume of tasks – it’s about the quiet, repeated ways we put ourselves second without meaning to.

This might look like:

• Saying yes when you’re already tired

• Letting things slide because it feels easier

• Carrying on even when something feels slightly off

• Noticing resentment build, then feeling guilty for it

These moments don’t feel dramatic. They’re easy to dismiss.

But over time, they slowly drain your energy and reduce your capacity – which is where overwhelm begins to take hold.

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The Difference Between Stress and Overload

Understanding the difference between stress and overwhelm can be a relief in itself.

Stress usually comes from pressure: deadlines, busy periods, external demands. It tends to rise and fall.

Overload is different.

Overload happens when your capacity has been exceeded for too long, often without you realising it at the time.

When you’re overloaded:

• Small requests feel unmanageable

• Decision-making becomes exhausting

• You feel irritable, tearful, or flat without a clear reason

• Rest doesn’t fully touch the tiredness

This isn’t a motivation issue.
It’s a capacity issue.

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When You Haven’t Lost Motivation – You’ve Lost Capacity

Many people assume that feeling overwhelmed means they need to “get their motivation back”.

But if you’re experiencing ongoing overwhelm, motivation isn’t usually the problem.

Capacity is.

Capacity is affected by:

• Emotional labour and mental load

• Unspoken commitments and people-pleasing

• How safe your nervous system feels

• How often your own needs come last

When capacity is low, everything feels harder – even things you care about or once enjoyed.

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How Overwhelm Is Linked to Boundaries

This is where boundaries become important – not as a big emotional overhaul, but as something practical and kind.

Boundaries aren’t only about saying no to others.
They’re also about noticing where your energy is leaking.

Overwhelm is often linked to:

• Tolerating situations that quietly drain you

• Ignoring small signals of resentment or fatigue

• Repeatedly overriding your own limits

Many women feel overwhelmed not because they’re doing too much, but because too much of what they do slowly drains their energy.

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Gentle Ways to Reset When You’re Already Exhausted

If you’re already tired, the idea of “fixing” overwhelm can feel like too much.

A gentler approach starts with awareness, not action.

You might ask yourself:

• Where am I regularly putting myself second?

• What feels slightly resentful right now?

• What am I doing because it’s easier – but costs me later?

• Where do I feel stretched, even if I can’t fully explain why?

No deep journaling.
No big decisions.
Just noticing.

Sometimes that awareness alone is enough to reduce overwhelm and create a sense of relief.

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A Gentle Permission Slip

If everything feels overwhelming right now, let this be your permission slip.

Permission to stop assuming something is wrong with you.
Permission to recognise that your capacity matters.
Permission to notice where your energy might be leaking – without changing everything at once.

You don’t need to do more.
You may simply need to do less of what drains you.

And that’s not selfish.
It’s a necessary part of caring for yourself

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A Gentle Next Step (Optional)

If reading this has helped you recognise where overwhelm might be creeping in, you might find this supportive.

I’ve created a very gentle boundaries check-in – a one-page PDF, alongside a short video from me – designed to help you notice where your energy might be leaking right now.

It’s not about fixing or changing anything.
There’s no deep journaling and no digging into the past.
Just a few simple questions to bring clarity and ease.

You can find it here.

Let it be a small, kind step – only if it feels right.