Changing Your Perspective on Overwhelm

Changing Your Perspective on Overwhelm

Sometimes the hardest part of getting things done isn't the list itself—it's how the list feels. When a project, task list, or responsibility starts to feel enormous, it's easy to assume the overwhelm is coming from the work. But often, what's driving the experience is the story, image, or feeling we've attached to it. The work may be exactly the same, while our relationship to it changes completely. In this episode, Shannon shares a surprisingly powerful mental shift that helped her move from feeling buried under an endless pile of obligations to feeling capable of making progress. Along the way, she and Janine explore how imagination, perspective, and even the way we talk to ourselves can make difficult things feel more approachable. The conversation is a reminder that while we can't always change what needs to be done, we often have more influence than we realize over how it feels to do it. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT * 01:18 — Shannon's experience of feeling overwhelmed and unable to get started * 02:01 — The "infinite gravel pile" metaphor for an endless-looking task list * 03:10 — Stepping back and noticing the edges * 04:28 — Reframing progress: gravity isn't creating more work, it's making the next tasks easier to reach * 05:41 — A visualization exercise: shrinking an overwhelming problem until it fits in your hand * 06:35 — Using changes in imagery, sound, and perspective to reduce the power of negative thoughts * 10:08 — Why changing how something feels can make action easier * 11:41 — Janine's approach to tackling a large accounting-system migration one month at a time * 14:18 — Remembering to use the tools you already know when you're in the middle of overwhelm * 16:21 — A simple journaling exercise for experimenting with reframing KEY TAKEAWAYS * When a task feels overwhelming, pay attention to how you're representing it in your mind—not just the task itself. * Changing your perspective on a problem can change your emotional response to it, even if nothing external changes. * Breaking a large project into smaller, clearly defined segments can make steady progress feel more visible. * The way you talk to yourself matters. Reinforcing "I'm learning" feels very different from reinforcing "I hate this." * Visualization can be a practical tool, not just an abstract exercise. Shrinking, moving, or changing an image can make a task feel more manageable. * If you're stuck, try getting curious about what specifically makes the situation feel difficult and experiment with changing that representation. THE BOTTOM LINE Overwhelm often feels like proof that there's too much to do. But sometimes it's a signal that we need a different perspective, not a different task list. Small shifts in how we picture, describe, or think about what's in front of us can make surprisingly large differences in how easy it feels to begin. The next time you're staring at your own gravel pile, try taking a step back and asking yourself: "What would make this feel just a little more manageable?" WANT MORE LIKE THIS Episode 49: Getting Started [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-49-getting-started] This episode explores why it can be so hard to begin, especially when perfectionism is involved. It also includes Shannon's visualization technique of shrinking an overwhelming project until it feels small enough to hold in your hand—a direct connection to this week's conversation. Episode 50: Ease Doesn't Mean Easy [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-50-ease-doesnt-mean-easy] A thoughtful discussion about introducing ease into difficult situations without pretending they're easy. If you enjoyed the idea of changing your relationship to a task rather than changing the task itself, you'll appreciate this one. Episode 81: Ambivalence [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-81-ambivalence] Sometimes what looks like procrastination or resistance is actually unresolved ambivalence. This episode explores how uncovering what's happening beneath the surface can help you move forward more intentionally. CONNECT WITH US * Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843) * Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/gettingtogoodenough], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/gettingtogoodenough/], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@GettingtoGoodEnough] * Email: gettingtogoodenough@gmail.com * Watch the conversation on YouTube! [https://youtu.be/71lNWKP2uTQ]

Tiny Decisions, Big Energy Drains

Some decisions really matter. Many of them… probably don’t. And yet somehow it’s often the tiny daily choices that eat up the most energy. What do you wear when it’s 57 degrees and windy? Where’s the “right” place to put that one random thing you don’t want to lose? Which version of the exact same product should you buy online? For people with perfectionist tendencies, these little decisions can quietly become much bigger than they need to be. This episode explores the exhausting search for the “best” answer — and the relief that can come from realizing there probably isn’t one. Shannon and Janine talk about maximizers vs. satisficers, decision fatigue, clothing formulas, shopping spirals, and why “just pick one” is sometimes surprisingly wise advice. Also: seed libraries, breakfast choices and a memorable story about refusing to buy “overpriced” gas. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT * 00:01 — The “apex of perfection” and why most decisions probably don’t have one perfect answer * 01:25 — Shannon’s excitement about Portland’s seed library and saving seeds from her garden * 02:53 — How perfectionism sneaks into tiny projects and stops us before we start * 03:46 — Janine’s helpful system for deciding what to wear to walk the dog * 05:14 — Why figuring things out once can reduce daily friction * 07:29 — Breakfast decisions, tiny daily choices, and how easy it is to overthink things that don’t matter much * 08:59 — Maximizers vs. satisficers and the exhausting search for the “best possible” option * 11:59 — Shopping spirals, decision overload, and the relief of deciding not to buy something * 12:47 — Shannon’s hilariously illogical quest to save on gas during a California road trip * 15:34 — Why “finding the perfect place” for something often creates clutter instead KEY TAKEAWAYS * Repetitive decisions get easier when you create simple rules or defaults ahead of time. * A “good enough” choice is often more than enough for low-stakes decisions. * Reducing the number of options can dramatically reduce overwhelm. * Tiny decisions can quietly drain a surprising amount of mental energy. * Wanting the optimal answer can keep you stuck choosing between perfectly fine options. * Sometimes the most helpful question is simply: “Does this matter enough to spend this much energy on?” THE BOTTOM LINE A lot of daily stress comes not from huge life decisions, but from hundreds of tiny moments where we feel like we should optimize, research, compare, or get it exactly right. But most of the time, there isn’t one perfect answer waiting to be discovered — just lots of workable ones. This episode is a gentle reminder that simplifying counts. Creating defaults counts. Picking something and moving on counts. If you’ve been exhausting yourself trying to make the “best” choice all day long, maybe your next tiny act of self-kindness is to choose a good enough option and let that be enough. WANT MORE LIKE THIS Episode 84: Overthinking [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-84-overthinking] Janine and Shannon talk about how easy it is to get stuck thinking instead of doing — especially for perfectionists. A great companion to this episode if you’ve ever spent way too long trying to figure out the “right” approach before taking action. Episode 102: The Good Enough Decision [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-102-the-good-enough-decision] This episode dives directly into maximizers vs. satisficers, decision-making fatigue, and why trying to make the perfect choice can actually leave us less satisfied. Very much the spiritual older sibling of this conversation. Episode 159: Relinquishing Control [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-159-relinquishing-control] A thoughtful conversation about letting go of the desire to control every variable and recognizing where “good enough” can create more ease and less frustration. Especially relevant if decision-making starts to feel emotionally loaded. CONNECT WITH US * Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843) * Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/gettingtogoodenough], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/gettingtogoodenough/], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@GettingtoGoodEnough] * Email: gettingtogoodenough@gmail.com * Watch the conversation YouTube! [https://youtu.be/tFITVtVbErQ] And if you know someone who could use this conversation, send it their way 💛

Learning New Things (Even When You’re Bad at Them)

Learning something new can be humbling, especially when something that used to take 15 seconds suddenly takes 45 minutes. This week, Shannon and Janine talk about what it’s like to be a beginner again — the frustration, the challenge, and sometimes even the fun of figuring things out from scratch. The conversation explores why some difficult things feel worth pushing through while others make us want to walk away immediately, and how habits, structure, and personal motivation can shape that experience. They also talk about the difference between “this is hard” and “this isn’t for me,” along with a reframe that feels especially meaningful: maybe the issue isn’t that we quit when things are difficult. Maybe we’re just more willing to stay with the things we genuinely care about. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT * 00:55 — Janine explains why she spent the weekend buried in bookkeeping and switching from QuickBooks to Xero * 02:55 — The “one tiny goal” approach: entering a single transaction and seeing what happens next * 03:22 — Why Janine isn’t discouraged by a steep learning curve * 04:12 — The satisfaction of going from struggle to fluency when learning something new * 05:09 — How learning difficult things helps Janine better understand her YNAB coaching clients * 05:47 — Shannon shares how NLP trainer training included learning bongo drumming * 08:44 — Why some difficult tasks get easier when they become part of a daily habit * 11:18 — Shannon explores the difference between things that feel challenging versus things that feel impossible * 13:09 — The role of motivation, structure, and measurable progress in sticking with hard things * 18:02 — A powerful reframe: maybe it’s not “I quit when things are hard,” but “I stick with things I actually care about” KEY TAKEAWAYS * Making the goal extremely small (“enter one transaction”) can reduce resistance and help you get started when learning something new. * Daily repetition changes difficult tasks from confusing to familiar much faster than occasional effort. * There’s a meaningful difference between something feeling challenging and something feeling impossible. * Structure helps: measurable progress, clear rules, and low-pressure goals make hard things easier to stick with. * You don’t have to force yourself to pursue every difficult idea that pops into your head. * Sometimes quitting isn’t failure — it’s clarity about what actually matters to you. THE BOTTOM LINE Learning new things can feel painfully slow at first, especially when you were already competent with the old system. But this episode is really about paying attention to which hard things feel meaningful enough to keep going. Janine and Shannon explore the idea that perseverance isn’t necessarily about discipline or grit — sometimes it’s about caring enough to stay engaged through the difficult beginning stage. And maybe that’s useful information, not a character flaw. This week, try noticing one thing you’ve been avoiding because it feels hard. Instead of asking whether you’re “good at it,” ask whether you actually care about it. That answer might tell you a lot. WANT MORE LIKE THIS Episode 49: Getting Started [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-49-getting-started] A really strong companion episode to this conversation about resistance, overwhelm, and making difficult things feel doable. Shannon and Janine talk about tiny steps, timers, perfectionism, and why getting started is often the hardest part. Episode 75: Letting Go of Fear [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-75-letting-go-of-fear] This episode explores the fears that often sit underneath avoidance and perfectionism, along with practical ways to move through them instead of getting stuck there. A great pairing with this week’s conversation about difficult beginnings. Episode 135: Keeping Challenges Easy [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-135-keeping-challenges-easy] A thoughtful conversation about habit challenges, keeping stakes low, choosing goals you actually want, and making progress in ways that are sustainable and kind. CONNECT WITH US * Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843) * Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/gettingtogoodenough], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/gettingtogoodenough/], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@GettingtoGoodEnough] * Email: gettingtogoodenough@gmail.com * Watch the conversation on YouTube! [https://youtu.be/33B5KAQdsSg]

Two-Minute Resets for Overwhelm, Procrastination, and Getting Back on Track

Ever find yourself scrolling social media even while a part of your brain is begging you to stop? Or staring at your to-do list so long that suddenly reorganizing pens feels like a reasonable life choice? In this episode, Shannon and Janine talk about the surprisingly powerful little resets that can help when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, distracted, paralyzed, or just mentally done. And the best part? Most of them take about two minutes. They share the tiny things that help them shift gears: writing in a bullet journal, clearing off a desk, walking away for a minute, petting a pet, drinking water, climbing stairs, stretching, and even bouncing a ball against the wall for physical therapy. It’s all about getting unstuck without turning it into another perfectionistic self-improvement project. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT * 01:46 — Why even tiny interruptions can help you refocus * 02:29 — Shannon’s trick for escaping a social-media rabbit hole without fighting herself * 03:29 — The “what do I do next?” feeling and decision paralysis at work * 05:24 — Using a bullet journal and longhand writing to sort out uncertainty fast * 08:17 — How desk clutter affects focus and mental space * 10:06 — Why lack of planning can create overwhelm * 11:42 — The power of physically stepping away from your workspace * 12:20 — Einstein played violin when he got stuck — why changing mental gears helps * 13:23 — Hydration, stretching, and tiny physical interruptions that reset your brain * 18:10 — The therapeutic benefits of finding and petting a very soft cat KEY TAKEAWAYS * When you’re stuck in a doomscrolling loop or overwhelm spiral, you often don’t need a huge intervention — just enough of a shift to interrupt the pattern. * Writing things out by hand can quickly uncover what you already know but are second-guessing. * Clearing even a tiny amount of physical clutter can create more mental breathing room. * Movement helps. That can mean stairs, stretching, walking outside, physical therapy exercises, or chasing your dog around the dining room table. * Planning ahead helps reduce overwhelm, but when you’ve fallen off track, revisiting your existing lists can help you reorient quickly. * A “reset” doesn’t have to be productive to work. Sometimes drinking water, reading a page of a book, or petting a cat is exactly what your brain needs. THE BOTTOM LINE When you’re overwhelmed, distracted, or frozen, it’s easy to think you need a perfect system, a huge burst of motivation, or a completely free day to get back on track. But often, what actually helps is much smaller and gentler than that. A two-minute reset won’t solve everything. But it can break the spell. It can shift your attention just enough to help you remember what matters, reconnect with yourself, or take the next tiny step. So the next time you feel stuck, try one small thing: clear a corner of your desk, write a few sentences by hand, walk up the stairs, drink a glass of water, or go find a very soft cat. WANT MORE LIKE THIS Episode 84: Overthinking [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-84-overthinking] A great companion to this episode if your brain loves turning simple decisions into full-scale mental marathons. Shannon and Janine talk about how perfectionism fuels overthinking — and how to stop getting trapped in it. Episode 173: Keeping Commitments to Yourself [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-173-keeping-commitments-to-yourself] This episode pairs beautifully with the “tiny resets” theme. Shannon and Janine discuss rebuilding self-trust, making things easier to restart, and focusing on the smallest doable action instead of waiting to feel perfectly motivated. Episode 243: Are We Having Fun Yet? [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-243-are-we-having-fun-yet] A lighter, laughter-filled conversation about making everyday life more enjoyable — including finding fun ways to do things you’d otherwise avoid. Also features another appearance by Shannon’s cat Cleo. CONNECT WITH US If this episode resonated, we’d love to hear from you. How does this show up in your life? What helps—even just a little? * Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843) * Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/gettingtogoodenough], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/gettingtogoodenough/], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@GettingtoGoodEnough] * Email: gettingtogoodenough@gmail.com * Watch the conversation on YouTube! [https://youtu.be/uKHfWgxADg8]

When Planning Becomes Procrastination (and What Actually Helps)

Ever find yourself “planning to plan”… and somehow never actually starting? In this episode, Shannon and Janine talk about how perfectionism sneaks into planning—especially when the stakes feel high. What starts as wanting to be responsible (hello, disaster prep and estate planning) can quietly turn into overthinking, avoidance, and doing nothing at all. With a real-life interruption (tornado sirens!) and a very relatable conversation, they explore what it actually looks like to move forward—without waiting for the perfect plan. * Watch the conversation on YouTube! [https://youtu.be/2RSWCg318WM] WHAT WE TALK ABOUT * 02:08 — Sy’s first marathon and the joy of choosing to do (and support!) hard things * 05:04 — Tornado sirens interrupt the recording * 06:15 — How the interruption shifts the conversation to emergency preparedness * 07:21 — Having supplies vs. having them accessible when it matters * 07:54 — Why planning for disasters feels so tense and overwhelming * 11:00 — “Planning to plan” as a form of procrastination * 11:32 — Starting small: the go-bag and one simple first step * 13:13 — Estate planning as another high-stakes thing we avoid * 15:47 — Post-it notes, jars, and choosing a doable next action * 17:48 — Perfectionism and the myth of the “right way” * 20:07 — How this shows up in vacations, closets, and everyday life KEY TAKEAWAYS * Perfectionism often shows up as planning—especially when something feels important or high-stakes. * Waiting to figure out the “right way” can keep you from doing anything at all. * Small, imperfect actions (like pulling out a backpack or writing a list) create momentum. * You don’t need a perfect sequence—just a starting point that leads to the next step. * This pattern shows up everywhere: disaster prep, estate planning, organizing, even vacations. * “Anything is better than nothing” is a surprisingly powerful strategy. THE BOTTOM LINE When something matters, it’s easy to believe you need to get it exactly right. But that pressure is often what keeps you stuck. The truth is, there’s no perfect plan—just a series of small steps that build on each other. Start with something simple: pull out the backpack, write down a few ideas, pick one and do it. You can adjust as you go. For now, let “started” be enough. WANT MORE LIKE THIS Episode 12: Procrastination [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-12-procrastination] A foundational episode on why we put things off—even when they matter—and how to get moving again without overthinking it. Episode 121: Productive Preparation [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-121-productive-preparation] A great companion to this conversation about planning without getting stuck. Helpful if you tend to over-plan instead of take action. Episode 240: Low-Hanging Fruit [https://getting-to-good-enough.captivate.fm/episode/episode-240-low-hanging-fruit] A reminder that the easiest next step still counts. Especially useful when everything feels too big to start. CONNECT WITH US * Leave us a voicemail: 413-424-GTGE (4843) * Comment on social media: @gettingtogoodenough on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/gettingtogoodenough], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/gettingtogoodenough/], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@GettingtoGoodEnough] * Email: gettingtogoodenough@gmail.com