Sometimes by the end of Monday, I'm ready for it to be Friday. Even more frusterating is that it's usually entirely about me and how I've started the week (or reacted to life!) that gets me tied up in knots. In case you're having one of those weeks, I'm sharing a few simple ways that can help you turn a week around or keep it headed in the right direction.

1. Set a maximum on your daily to do list

At the start of the day, getting everything on paper is a great way to shake everything out of your beautiful mind. But the mistake that can drive you into overwhelm is assuming all of those things belong on your list for today… and then seeing the huge list of things you didn't finish at the end of every day.

To get the most out of your list, make sure you have a maximum on what can fit into a day. I like to keep my work & personal to do lists for each day to 3 items or less each, and to prioritise things that will make it easier to do things done in the future.  This is a really practical way to make sure you're not expecting yourself to be superwoman, and from feeling like you're always behind.

2. Declutter your world for 15 minutes a day

I think that feeling like your world has slipped out of control (at least a little) and you have no time to make a big difference in your home life is much more common than it feels. Especially when you're in the middle of it.

Instead of falling into overwhelm, set a timer for 15 minutes a day and work on a specific area in a specific room in your house.  Focus on the areas of your house where clutter has started to collect on open surfaces first, and then slowly expand out to take on one junk drawer, or one shelf of your books.

15 minutes a day is all you need to transform where you live into a tidy, stress free space, and for you to start seeing little victories everywhere. Don't think about it, just start!

3. Make your phone to light up with fewer notifications

Push notifications can be amazing but if your phone is constantly flashing and beeping at you, it's natural for your body to start bracing and anticipating interruption. If you use an iPhone you can easily change this by switching your application's notifications from “alerts” to “banner” style, which means you still get all your notifications – but only when you pick up and unlock your phone.

One of the things that makes our lives amazing is getting into a state of flow, which is how psychologists talk about those stretches of time when we become absorbed in something that time seems to go by in a flash. The problem is that you'll never get to that state if you let yourself be constantly pulled out of the present moment.

Re-learning to experience uninterrupted time is a skill, but it's often also what we love about vacations or road trips. Less interruptions will make you feel less hurried, and will reduce the stress hormones your brain dishes out when your phone springs to life.

4. Journal your challenges & celebrations during the week

It's often tempting to treat our well being and self care practices like it should happen on a perfect day, when we can really enjoy it… but we often need it most on the days when it's least convenient! A habit that's made a huge impact in my life is grabbing my journal a few nights during the work week, and writing out my challenges and celebrations at the moment.

The hard stuff can be tough to puzzle out, and working through it in writing can be a helpful way to work through it in small pieces. Using a celebrations & challenges prompt to kick start your writing can let you honour the parts of you that are stressed or worried without feeling guilty for focusing on the negative. (Though, lets be real. It's your life – focus on what ever you need to!)

5. Wear sequin pants & drink cava

Because reasons. (Am I right?)

Remember to keep looking for the humor and beauty around you, and that having a hard day doesn't mean you're not exactly where you should be.

What's your favourite way to keep

overwhelm from taking over your week?

image: The Glitter Guide