If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, you’re not alone. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like when what’s happening in the world takes up more of our bandwidth than we realize—and how that can show up as low energy, stress, and doomscrolling.

We remind ourselves that even when we’re not personally in immediate danger, it still takes real energy to be in the world right now. So we explore a good-enough approach: set kind-but-firm boundaries around news and social media, calm your nervous system first, and then choose one small action you can actually sustain.

1. 00:45 - Feeling overwhelmed and “maxed out,” and naming the nervous system impact
2. 01:10 - Remembering to factor in what’s happening in the world (on top of personal stressors)
3. 02:43 - How external stress compresses our capacity and bandwidth—even if we’re not directly threatened
4. 03:51 - The push-pull of wanting to stay informed without getting pulled into constant news consumption
5. 05:34 - Creating a container for the news: skim headlines, read one article, or set a 15-minute timer
6. 06:57 - Choosing your inputs on purpose: unfollowing/unfriending and skipping online arguments that won’t lead to real dialogue
7. 10:37 - Taking action to feel less helpless: donating, writing postcards, protesting, and focusing your energy where it can matter
8. 12:53 - Not letting perfectionism hijack activism: it’s not all-or-nothing, and “doing a little” still counts
9. 14:26 - Connection over consumption: reaching out to friends and checking in instead of scrolling
10. 16:23 - “Oxygen mask first”: calming your nervous system makes it easier to take meaningful action and help others

1. External stress is real stress: Even if nothing in your personal life changed, what’s happening in the world can shrink your capacity.
2. Set boundaries so you can stay informed (without spiraling): A small “container”—headlines only, one article, or a timer—helps you avoid doomscrolling.
3. Curate your inputs like it’s self-care: Unfollowing, unfriending, and choosing what you engage with can protect your nervous system.
4. Small actions beat perfectionism: Donating, writing postcards, protesting, or helping in your community doesn’t have to be perfect to matter.
5. Calm first, then act: When you feel steadier, it’s easier to take meaningful action.

When everything feels like too much, it makes sense that your energy is lower and your brain wants to scroll, worry, or shut down. In this episode, we remind...

This week we’re getting real about that all-too-familiar feeling behind—whether it’s your to-do list, New Year’s intentions, or just life in general. We talk about what rushing actually looks like in our lives, why it rarely helps with time management, and how our culture’s obsession with busyness (and perfectionism) can make us feel like we’re never caught up. We share how we’re reframing what progress looks like, the thrill of finishing tasks, and how to choose a smoother, more self-compassionate pace (even when life feels hectic).

• 00:44: That creeping feeling behind—why it shows up so quickly
• 01:59: The power of finishing dreaded tasks (and a British-accented banker named Jaunty)
• 03:13: Carrying over tasks week to week—and the relief of clearing the decks
• 05:01: How finishing little tasks clears space for bigger goals
• 05:35: The magic of a “power hour”
• 06:19: The myth of being behind and the dangers of rushing
• 08:47: Unrealistic expectations and honoring your own pace
• 09:28: Letting our priorities (and word of the year!) guide our choices
• 13:11: Setting boundaries around work and personal time
• 15:13: Mornings, rushing, and the wisdom of “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”
• 17:10: How choosing your pace can change everything

• The feeling behind is often a myth—there’s no universal timeline we should be on.
• Clearing small tasks can free up mental space for bigger goals and better time management.
• Rushing rarely saves time and often leads to mistakes or missing out on good things.
• Boundaries (like not working weekends) help us enjoy both work and rest.
• We get to choose our pace—let our values and priorities lead the way, with a little self-compassion.

You’re not actually behind—there’s no official schedule you have to follow. Let go of the rush and find a pace that works for you, right now.

Do you tend to feel behind? What helps you bring more ease and smoothness into your days?

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Episode 41: Can It Be Too Easy? We talk about why letting things be easy sometimes feels so strange, and how giving ourselves permission to choose the easier path can actually help us move forward—especially when we’re feeling behind or overwhelmed.

Episode 60: The Problem with Labels Oh, those labels we put on ourselves—like “behind” or “not enough”—and how those stories can keep us stuck. If you’re working on being kinder to yourself, you’ll find some encouragement and maybe a laugh or two.

Episode 156: Feeling Good About Good Enough We get honest about how tough it can be to stop...

Happy New Year! If decision-making tends to turn into overthinking, you’re not alone. In this episode, we share a good-enough approach to easier decision-making—plus the maximizer vs. satisficer mindset and our “rule of three.”

Shannon shares her word of the year for 2026: choose—a reminder to make decisions on purpose instead of feeling swept along. We also dig into the difference between being a maximizer (always trying to make the best choice) and a satisficer (making a good enough choice and moving on), plus a few practical ways to stop the endless research spiral.

Along the way, Janine shares a big decision she made on her personal retreat: retiring her blog Organize Your Family History—and the surprisingly overwhelming chain of choices that followed.

1. 01:25 Looking back at 2025 and asking: what do we want 2026 to look like?
2. 02:16 Word of the year as an anchor (and why “survive” doesn’t feel great)
3. 03:06 Shannon’s word for 2026: choose (making decisions on purpose)
4. 04:33 Maximizer vs. satisficer: why decision-making can feel so hard
5. 06:43 Too many options = no decision (hello, Amazon overwhelm)
6. 09:52 Janine’s personal retreat + deciding to retire Organize Your Family History
7. 11:52 Writing it down + talking it through (pros/cons, getting support)
8. 12:40 The “rule of three”: choose up to three criteria (and/or options) and stop researching
9. 16:28 “Just in case” thinking: flexibility vs. clutter (and the hidden cost of keeping things)
10. 20:35 Making “for now” decisions with a time frame so you can stop thinking about it

1. Choosing on purpose can feel energizing. It’s a way to be more active in your life instead of always reacting.
2. Maximizers often get stuck. If you’re trying to find the “best” option, decision-making can become exhausting (and sometimes you don’t decide at all).
3. Satisficing is very “good enough.” Pick a few criteria that matter, choose something that meets them, and move on.
4. Try the rule of three. Limit yourself to three criteria and/or three options to reduce overwhelm.
5. Open loops cost energy. Not deciding can keep a decision quietly draining your attention.
6. A time-bound decision can create flexibility without constant rethinking. Decide “for now,” set a revisit date, and let your brain rest.

The next time you’re stuck in a decision spiral (especially for something low-consequence):

1. Write down up to three criteria that actually matter.
2. Look at up to three options.
3. Choose the first option that meets your criteria—and stop researching.

1. Episode 102: The Good Enough Decision We talk about why decision-making can feel extra hard for perfectionists, and how the maximizer vs. satisficer mindset shows up in real life. If you liked our conversation about choosing “for now” and saving your energy for what matters, this one is a great companion.
2. Episode 103: Dealing with Imperfectionists An exploration about what happens when a maximizer and a...