Overwhelm Isn’t Just a Systems Problem

It’s an Energy Problem First.

You know the feeling. Your shoulders are tense, your breathing is shallow, your to-do list is a mile long, your calendar is back-to-back, and the train has just been delayed again.

You try to power through and prioritize, but the longer you feel this way, the more irritated and unsure of what to do next you become.

It’s not just being “busy. You’re feeling overwhelmed.

We’re often told the solution to overwhelm is to get organized: build a better system, make a plan, streamline, and delegate, to name a few.

And that’s not wrong.

However, what I’ve learned, both in my own life and alongside those I advise, is that those strategies only stick when your system is sufficiently resourced to carry them.

Because if you're trying to organize your life from a state of depletion, what you’re really doing is trying to build scaffolding on shaky ground.

Here’s what happens in that state: We open our project management app in the morning, but our brain is foggy, and it all looks like too much. Trying to regain control, we write out a to-do list, but that ends up filling us with dread instead of relief. So, we set up a 1:1 with ourselves to get everything sorted out, but end up multitasking through it. Now, it’s after lunch and we’re still feeling overwhelmed.

None of this means we’re incapable or unmotivated; it means we’re out of energy.

And when I say energy, I don’t mean something woo-woo or mystical (though I love a good crystal shelf as much as anyone). I mean your nervous system, your emotional bandwidth, your focus, and your stamina. The real, measurable stuff that fuels how you show up.

Earlier this week, I ran a session on overwhelm for female founders at Breakthrough Labs. We discussed what actually happens when your system is underwater—it’s physiological, neurological, and energetic. And once you understand that, everything changes. Because overwhelm isn’t just in your mind; it touches every part of your being:

• Physically, your body goes into stress mode. Your chest is tight, your breathing is shallow, or you have a headache or backache. You’re wired but tired.

• Emotionally, your bandwidth for connecting with others, empathy, or joy shrinks (just when you need them most). So, you're reactive or numb.

• Mentally, your focus is fragmented, your problem-solving abilities shut down, and even small decisions seem difficult to make.

• Spiritually, you feel disconnected from purpose, from hope, from the bigger picture.

No wonder a plan doesn’t help. Your system needs to be restored before you can begin getting organized.

I’ve had clients who swore by their to-do lists, spreadsheets, and other systems until they realized they were trying to function while feeling completely ungrounded.

Once they introduced even just a few short, purposeful energy breaks throughout their day to regulate their nervous system through movement, breathwork, or simply stepping outside, they suddenly found they could think again and get organized. They didn’t feel scattered anymore. Their systems started working again because their energy was back online.

When your energy is taxed—physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually—you can’t organize your way out of it. You have to restore first.

Then you’ll have the clarity to decide what to prioritize and what to delegate. You’ll have the stamina to build systems that last and to follow through.

Because organization doesn’t work if your internal operating system is crashing.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed this week, ask yourself:

“Do I need a plan—or do I need a pause?”

Overwhelm is a signal. I like to say it’s your entire being saying, “I cannot live at this pace right now. Please listen.”

So, start with the pause. Start with your breath, with silence. Or with a walk, a run, or a swim. Or with a glass of water, a snack, or a good meal. Then, create a plan or utilize the systems that help you stay on top of things.

That’s how you solve for overwhelm: not from urgency, but from energy.

The best part? You’ll feel whole and more able to get into a state of flow once you shift your energy.

---

I’d love to hear from you...

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, what helps you most?

Are you Team Systems? Do you find clarity through organizing, planning, and making lists?
Or are you Team Energy? Do you need to pause, rest, or reconnect before you can even think straight?

Or maybe… you’re learning, like so many of us are, that it’s not either/or; it’s more like an ongoing dance between the two.

If you’re looking to learn more about what it means to reclaim and restore your energy, you might enjoy these recent articles on Why High Performance Starts with Protecting Your Energy, and How Energy Helps You Lead Through Fear. And, stay tuned: I’ll soon be sharing my energy tools, straight from my forthcoming book, Live Your Opus: Reclaim Your Energy, Redefine Success, and Create a Life that Truly Matters.

Until next time, be well!

---

Five years ago, I stepped away from a global career in the learning sector after burning out and after the sudden death of my mother. Since then, I’ve dedicated my work to helping ambitious individuals—founders, leaders, and creatives—reclaim their energy, realign with what matters, and create success that feels even better on the inside than it appears on the outside.

This newsletter is my way of reaching more people who need that reset. If something here resonates, I hope you’ll share it with someone else who might also need it. Thank you!

🌿 Coming Soon: My book, Live Your Opus—a mindset and method for building meaningful, sustainable success. It’s for ambitious people who crave depth, clarity, and direction—but sometimes feel stuck or experience cycles of doubt, overwhelm, or burnout. Drawing from my personal experiences and extensive research, the book presents a framework for living with vitality, clarity, and purpose. It also includes a twelve-week journey to healthy, meaningful, and lasting success. Reserve your copy here.

👉 Join 900+ readers here and on LinkedIn, and subscribe to Live Your Opus, my weekly newsletter on building a life that matters, on your terms.