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?

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: gettingtogoodenough@gmail.com

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...

It’s the end of the day, you’re tired and hungry, and you’re standing in front of the refrigerator hoping it will offer a suggestion...again. In this episode, we talk about why dinner can feel so complicated (even when food is readily available) and how a little “good enough” planning can make weeknights calmer.

Meal planning isn’t just about food—it’s about reducing decision fatigue at the exact moment you have the least energy. We share simple, realistic ways to make dinner easier, including curating recipe lists, theme nights, planned takeout, freezer meals, and low-effort fallback dinners.

What We Talk About

1. 03:00 The “stare into the fridge and hope something occurs to us” problem
2. 04:20 Why being hungry is the worst time to decide what’s for dinner
3. 05:38 Shannon’s Trello-based meal planning system
4. 08:20 Theme nights (Taco Tuesday and beyond) to reduce decision fatigue
5. 09:19 Planned takeout night = guilt-free and actually enjoyable
6. 10:31 Freezer meals (hello, chili) for low-energy seasons
7. 16:59 The power of a super-easy fallback dinner
8. 19:05 Let go of “shoulds” and feed yourself (and your household) in a way that works

Key Takeaways

1. Decision fatigue is real. Dinner gets harder when you’re tired and hungry—so the goal is fewer decisions at the end of the day.
2. Curate your options. Whether it’s a Trello recipe board or a white board of go-to meals, narrowing choices makes planning easier.
3. Theme nights reduce stress. A theme gives you a lane (not a strict rule) and makes “What’s for dinner?” easier to answer.
4. Plan takeout on purpose. Planned takeout can be relaxing and guilt-free; panic takeout is usually stressful and expensive.
5. Have a fallback. Scrambled eggs, breakfast for dinner, or a snack-plate style meal can keep you fed when plans fall apart.
6. Let it be “good enough.” You don’t need perfect dinners—just food that works for you.

Try This:

Pick one small change for next week:

1. Choose one theme night (like Taco-ish, Pasta-ish, Soup-ish, or Takeout Night).
2. Pick one fallback dinner you can make when you’re low on energy.

• Trello | Capture, organize, and tackle your to-dos from anywhere
• Souper Cubes® - Silicone Food Freezer Trays & Kitchen...

We kick this episode off with a very real-life moment: Janine opened the refrigerator right before recording and realized it was past time for the dreaded clean-out… again. (You know the one—mystery containers, missing storage bowls, and the hope that nothing has started to smell.)

That prompts a conversation about procrastination—why we do it, what’s actually happening underneath it, and how we can move through it with more compassion and way less drama.

We also share one universal strategy that helps no matter what: figure out what feels bad about the task… and then counteract that.

00:54 The refrigerator clean-out avoidance (and why we wait until it smells). “You wait until the pain of opening the refrigerator is greater than the perceived pain of cleaning it out.”

02:07 To clarify: we’re not “above” procrastination—we’ve procrastinated in every possible way

03:12 Janine’s procrastination trigger: fear of something being unpleasant (phone calls, hold music, hoops)

06:39 The core strategy: identify the bad feeling and counteract it

07:50 The 4 productivity blocks that lead to procrastination: enjoyment, reward, distractibility, confidence

08:33 Why you tend to procrastinate for the same reason most of the time (but it can vary)

16:09 Shannon’s procrastination tends to be distractibility + lack of confidence. She shares her late adulthood ADHD diagnosis and how it changed things for her

17:45 Bottom line: you procrastinate to avoid feeling bad—and choose to do something that feels better instead

1. Why we wait until a task becomes unbearable (hello, refrigerator)
2. How procrastination is often our brain trying to dodge an unpleasant feeling (not laziness)
3. The four productivity blocks that lead to procrastination: Enjoyment, Reward, Distractibility, Confidence
4. Why we tend to procrastinate for the same reason most of the time (even though tasks can vary)
5. Why celebrating small wins can build momentum
6. How ADHD and distractibility can show up as trying to “set the scene perfectly” before starting

There is a formula to productivity and procrastination. In this episode we talk about the four “productivity blocks” that tend to contribute to procrastination:

1. Enjoyment: You expect the task to be unpleasant (or boring), so you avoid it.
2. Reward: There’s not enough payoff to get you started.
3. Distractibility: Your attention keeps getting pulled to other tasks, thoughts, or inputs.
4. Confidence: You’re not sure how to do the task, or you don’t feel confident you can do it well.

While there are specific strategies for each block (take the quiz at shannonwilkinson.com to learn them), there's a big universal move: identify the bad feeling you’re avoiding—and counteract it (even just enough to start).

What if the “secret to happiness” is…doing a small, slightly uncomfortable thing now—so tomorrow (and next week… and tax season) feels easier?

In this episode, we talk about what we’re calling the discomfort dividend: the idea that a little effort, inconvenience, or mild discomfort in the present can pay you back later with more ease, less stress, and better momentum.

We share real-life examples—like writing down our “Big Three” the night before, building a simple dishwasher routine, staying on top of bookkeeping and payroll, and freezing meals for future dinners—and we explore why doing things as they happen is often dramatically easier than trying to “catch up” later.

If you’re craving a calmer week, smoother mornings, or fewer “why did I wait so long?” moments, this one’s for you.

1. 01:07 We report back: writing down the “Big Three” the night before is paying dividends
2. 02:13 “Less than five minutes” at night can save an hour of morning dithering
3. 03:10 The “accountabilibuddy” moment (and how it helps us remember)
4. 05:01 The “night before” effort: why setting up tomorrow-us matters
5. 08:03 Anchors and routines: coffee as a cue (and why not everyone has a morning beverage anchor)
6. 10:15 Bookkeeping as a discomfort dividend: weekly QuickBooks + daily YNAB makes tax time easier
7. 11:19 Doing it in the moment vs. figuring it out later (hello, mysterious Amazon purchases)
8. 13:02 Freezer meals as future-us support: batch cooking and portioning for easy, healthy dinners
9. 16:06 “Thank your past self”: noticing the payoff when the future arrives
10. 17:05 Putting things away: the ease of being able to find what we need, when we need it

1. Small effort now can create big ease later. The payoff is often time, energy, and reduced stress.
2. Doing things “as they happen” is usually easier than catching up. In the moment, we still have context—later we’re stuck reconstructing.
3. Cornerstone habits create momentum. Once one routine is solid (like the dishwasher), other habits become easier to build.
4. Make it automatic. Repetition turns “extra effort” into something we don’t even have to think about.
5. Design your environment for success. A place for everything (and putting it away) reduces daily friction.

A little discomfort today can buy you a lot of ease tomorrow. The trick is spotting the small actions that feel mildly annoying now—but consistently make life smoother later.

Have you ever finished a big task and felt that rush of relief—like, ahhh, I’m finally caught up—and then… immediately noticed ten more things waiting for you? Same.

In this episode, we’re unpacking the productivity myth of “catching up,” why it can feel so urgent (and so exhausting), and how it connects to perfectionism and productivity.

Starting in the middle of an “atmospheric river” (aka endless rain), we talk about a surprisingly satisfying homeowner win: Shannon and Mike installed a French drain that finally solved a long-standing sidewalk flooding problem. It felt amazing to cross it off the list… until the list refilled (as it always does).

We explore where the pressure to catch up comes from and what it might look like to let go of the whole concept. We also talk about doing things for enjoyment (without deadlines or milestones), and Janine shares a simple practice that helps her feel less behind: writing down her “Big Three” tasks the night before.

What we talk about

• Why the endless to-do list can make us feel perpetually behind
• How “catching up” can be perfectionism in disguise
• Letting go of tasks (or at least letting go of the pressure around them)
• Doing things for enjoyment vs. doing them to hit milestones
• A practical tool for focus: the “Big Three”

Timestamped highlights

01:25 — Rain garden overflow + the French drain fix

03:16 — That brief “we’re caught up!” feeling after a big win

04:02 — Do we ever actually feel caught up?

05:04 — Letting go of the whole concept of catching up

06:11 — Retirement as a glimpse of a different pace

09:42 — SMART goals vs. a “word of the year”

11:10 — Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies (and motivation)

12:26 — Unfinished knitting projects and “good enough” outcomes

15:06 — Janine’s “Big Three” practice (and why it helps)

19:16 — Shannon’s experiment: trying the Big Three (plus accountability)

Key takeaways

• “Caught up” is a moving target. The list refills fast, so chasing that finish line can keep you stressed.
• The idea of getting caught-up is a productivity myth. It promises relief, but is virtually unattainable creating extra pressure and self-criticism.
• Perfectionism and striving for high productivity are closely linked. Wanting to “finally be caught up” can be perfectionism in a different outfit.
• Small constraints can create calm. Choosing a short list (like three priorities) can reduce overwhelm and increase follow-through.

Bottom line

We don’t have to earn peace by finishing everything. If “caught up” doesn’t really exist, we can stop chasing it—and start noticing what we have done instead (and celebrating it!).

Try this for the next few days:

1. Write down your Big Three tasks for tomorrow.
2. Ask yourself: If I only do these three things, would that be good enough?
3. Notice what shifts—your focus, stress level, maybe even that feeling of being “behind”.

And we’d love to hear from you: What’s one thing you do (or could do) that helps you feel less behind—without trying to do everything?

Connect with us

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email:...

Ever catch yourself waiting for the “perfect” moment before you start something new? In this episode, Shannon and Janine break down how embracing imperfection, self-compassion, and progress over perfection can help you finally take that first step—no matter how messy it feels.

• 01:45: The myth of readiness—how perfectionism and waiting for the “right time” keep us stuck
• 03:49: Real-life stories about starting new habits and projects; using a “practice” mindset to overcome perfectionism paralysis
• 09:55: Letting go of backlog overwhelm; strategies for progress over perfection in planning
• 11:18: The power of feelings—how self-compassion and embodying confidence help you take action
• 17:50: The four Cs: Calm, Competent, Capable, and Confident—tools for building new habits and self-trust

• Waiting until everything is perfect can keep you stuck—tiny, imperfect steps are the key to building momentum and beating perfectionism.
• Treat new habits and projects as experiments, not final exams. There’s no single “right way” to begin.
• Letting go of the need to catch up or finish everything first frees you to start now.
• Feeling good and confident before you act makes it easier to move forward.
• It’s okay to start again, and again—every action is a fresh beginning and a chance for self-compassion.

Bottom Line

You don’t need all the answers to get started. Progress comes from action, not from waiting for perfection. Start where you are, be kind to yourself, and let the rest unfold as you go.

What’s something you’ve been waiting to start? Try taking just one small, imperfect step this week—even if it’s messy. Share your story with us! We’d love to hear how you’re embracing progress over perfection and building new habits.

Connect With Us

• Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843)
• Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
• Email: gettingtogoodenough@gmail.com

Want More?

• Feeling Good About Good Enough - We talk about how getting comfortable with stopping at “good enough” (instead of chasing perfection) is a journey, but one that’s so worth it. You’ll hear how we each learned to embrace progress, question perfectionist thoughts, and truly feel good about what’s reasonable.
• Start Simple - We explore the beauty and challenge of taking a simple approach to starting something new. We share stories about how starting simple can help you actually get going—even when you’re a perfectionist.