There are times in life when everything seems to happen at once. The to-do list keeps growing, messages go unanswered, little jobs start piling up and even the simplest things can suddenly feel like far too much.
Sometimes, you can pinpoint exactly why you feel overwhelmed. Other times, there does not seem to be one particular reason. It is just a feeling that everything is getting on top of you, and you are struggling to work out where to start.
And that is okay.
We live in a world where being busy is often seen as a good thing. We celebrate being productive, getting things done and always having something to work towards. It can feel as though we should constantly be achieving something, whether that is at work, at home or in our personal lives.
But we are human beings, not machines. We cannot be switched on all the time, and we cannot always give everything our full attention and energy.
Sometimes, we simply reach our limit.
Feeling overwhelmed does not mean you are failing. It does not mean you are lazy, incapable or not trying hard enough. It can simply mean that you have too much on your plate at a time when you do not have the energy or capacity to deal with it all.
And you do not have to justify that feeling to anyone.
One of the hardest things about feeling overwhelmed can be knowing where to begin. When there are ten things that need doing, it can be difficult to choose just one. You might find yourself putting everything off because you cannot work out what to tackle first, only to feel even worse when the list is still there later.
It can become a cycle that is difficult to break, particularly when you start being hard on yourself for not getting enough done.
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is take a step back and remind yourself that everything does not have to be sorted today.
You do not have to answer every message immediately. You do not have to finish every job on your list. You do not have to have your entire life figured out by the end of the week.
Maybe today, getting through work is enough. Maybe making yourself something to eat and having an early night is enough. Maybe you need to put your phone down, take a breath and give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing for a little while.
Rest is not something you have to earn by exhausting yourself first.
It is also worth remembering that what feels manageable for one person might feel completely different for someone else. We all have different circumstances, responsibilities and things going on behind the scenes. Comparing your progress with someone else's can make it easy to forget that you are not starting from the same place.
You see other people's achievements, their exciting plans and the things they share with the world, but you do not always see the difficult days, the unfinished jobs or the moments when they are struggling, too.
You are allowed to move at your own pace.
At the SupaJam Foundation, supporting young people means recognising that wellbeing, confidence and feeling understood are all important. Young people face pressures from so many different directions, whether that is education, work, relationships, family expectations or uncertainty about the future.
Sometimes, the pressure to keep up can make it difficult to admit when things feel like too much. There can be a fear of disappointing people, falling behind or being seen as someone who cannot cope.
But asking for support is not a weakness, and struggling does not make someone any less capable of achieving their goals.
Sometimes, people need a little breathing room. Sometimes, they need someone to listen. Sometimes, they need help breaking a difficult situation into smaller, more manageable steps.
And sometimes, they simply need reassurance that they do not have to do everything at once.
That is something worth remembering, not just for young people, but for all of us. We can be so quick to offer kindness and understanding to other people while expecting ourselves to keep going regardless of how we feel.
If a friend told you they were overwhelmed, you probably would not tell them they were useless for not getting everything done. You would probably remind them that they are doing their best, that they can take things one step at a time and that it is okay to have a difficult day.
So why is it sometimes so difficult to offer ourselves that same kindness?
We are allowed to have days when we are not at our best. We are allowed to change our plans, ask for help and admit that we are struggling. We are allowed to take a break without feeling guilty about everything we have not done.
Being kind to yourself does not mean giving up. Sometimes, it is exactly what you need to be able to keep moving forward.
If everything feels overwhelming at the moment, try to take things one step at a time. Focus on what genuinely needs your attention today and allow the rest to wait if it can. Talk to someone you trust if you need to, and remember that you do not have to manage everything on your own.
You might not be able to change everything that is making life difficult right now, but you can give yourself permission to stop expecting yourself to handle it all perfectly.
Life is not a race, and there is no award for being the person who manages to do the most while feeling the worst.
Sometimes, getting through a difficult day is an achievement in itself.
So, if you are feeling overwhelmed, this is your reminder that it is okay. You are allowed to find things difficult. You are allowed to take a break. You are allowed to be a work in progress.
You do not need to have everything together all of the time, and you certainly do not need to prove your worth through how much you can get done.
Sometimes, the most important thing you can do is give yourself a little of the patience you would offer someone else.
And remember, you are a person, not a to-do list.
