Do you ever feel like your brain is going in a million directions at once? If so, read on!
All summer our moving plans were stalled. We did everything we could: staged the house nicely, said yes to every open house and showing, priced it right…we even buried a statue of St. Joseph, the patron saint of home sellers.
For what felt like forever, we waited and hoped something would happen before winter.
And then it did. During the last days of vacation, we got an offer we could accept. The buyer wanted to inspect the house the very next week and close on October 15! Yikes, we had just a month to pack up and sort everything between our rental house, the basement of the new build, and some storage containers.
I went from a stall to a sprint overnight. Each day brings a new packing challenge: Which clothes do I keep handy? Which office files and equipment will I need before we move in? Should I bring my many plants to the rental or tuck them away in the new basement?
I know, plenty of people would gladly trade their problems for mine. But here’s the real challenge: not the stuff — the unsettledness.
It’s hard to focus. I get irritable and forgetful. I misplace my phone and lose track of the day. I feel physically tired even though I’m sleeping fine.
That scattered feeling is what I want to focus on here — and how to manage it.
Recently, I listened to a Mel Robbins interview with Dr. Cal Newport, a productivity expert and Georgetown professor. They talked about how so many of us struggle to focus, feel constantly overloaded, and watch our to-do lists mushroom overnight. I could relate; maybe you can, too.
To avoid adding to your overwhelm, I’ve boiled their conversation down to three of Dr. Newport’s best ideas, plus two of my own. You can listen to the full conversation here.
1. Live From Purpose
I don’t mean a lofty life mission. I mean defining a clear purpose for this season of your life. Maybe you’re working on a big project or, like me, managing a move. A short statement you revisit often can anchor you when things feel unsettled.
Mine: To successfully manage the move to Hillside Avenue without neglecting other priorities — in a way that is orderly, calm, sensible, and practical — so we continue our house-building journey from a solid foundation.
2. Evaluate What’s Most Important Right Now
When overwhelm hits, ask: On a scale of 1–5, how important is this right now?
For instance, I know my eating and exercise aren’t ideal this month. Instead of stewing, I note it and plan to refocus once we’re settled. Naming priorities buys you permission to pause what can wait.
3. Do Fewer Things But Do Them Well
When you chase too many commitments, everything slows down and stress climbs. In the podcast, Dr. Newport suggests choosing fewer but more meaningful tasks and committing to do them with depth and integrity. Once I clarified my purpose and priorities, I could focus on the right things and do them well.
4. Stop Making “Wish Lists”
Most of us start the day with a to-do list that’s really just a wish list. It rarely all gets done. Very discouraging at the end of the day! Cal advises time blocking: give each task a real slot on your calendar so it’s not just wishful thinking. I haven’t fully adopted this yet, but I’ve started mapping committed time and it helps me see how much room I really have for extras.
5. Spend Time Alone with Your Thoughts
Our lives are saturated with content and noise. Dr. Newport argues for moments of true mental solitude, even small ones. Time alone with your own thoughts clears mental clutter, reconnects you to your values, and lowers stress.
If you made it this far, congratulations! You stayed with one thing — or came back after a distraction, which still counts.
Choose one idea, try it for a week, and notice what shifts. Share your insights! I’d love to hear how it helps.