Feeling overwhelmed, but have no time to feel it?

When admitting that you’re drowning doesn't fit on your to-do list.

Greetings, my journaling friends!

Have you ever felt completely overwhelmed… but also like you don’t have time to be overwhelmed?

Like, it would be a poor use of time to pause and say, “Actually, I’m not okay,” because there’s too much to do, too many people depending on you, too many tabs open in your brain (and computer, let’s be honest)?

Same. And I talked about it a bit in Friday’s newsletter. 

One of the biggest things I’ve uncovered while researching my upcoming journal is this: We’re not just exhausted - we’re isolated in our exhaustion.

We carry our perfectionism, our too-high standards, our “I should be able to handle this” shame silently. Even when the pressure feels unbearable, we don’t tell anyone. Sometimes because we don’t have that kind of friend. Sometimes because we’re afraid of being judged. And sometimes because we’ve just never been taught how to talk about it.

And then the cycle continues! Let’s bring back the Negative Feedback Loop I shared on Friday…

are you thinking: “oh, that’s me”?

That’s where journaling comes in.

Your journal can become your best friend forever (yes, a BFF) who never laughs at your pain, never interrupts, never tries to fix you, and definitely never says, “It could be worse.”

Alexa, play “True Friend” by Miley Cyrus.

So today, I’m giving you six journaling prompts to help you say the things you might not feel safe saying out loud. These reflection questions are grounded in real science - not just feel-good fluff. They pull from two powerful areas of research: the science of disclosure and expressive writing.

The benefits?

• Lower stress levels

• Improved immune function

• Better mood

• Greater clarity and sense of control

• And most importantly: feeling less alone with your thoughts

So while it might seem “small” to sit down with your journal and admit you’re overwhelmed, what you’re actually doing is giving your nervous system a moment to breathe. You’re interrupting the spiral. You’re reconnecting with you.

Ready?