What to Do When You’re Too Stressed Out to Know What to Do

Or the moments when you’re overwhelmed by the TV or the news app popping up on your phone. Or even the moments when you have so much going on it feels like you barely catch your breath from one thing before another thing comes to take your breath away.

I know we’ve all had those days where we feel too overwhelmed and stressed out by life to even know what to do.

Life can be very stressful. 2020 has been very stressful.

In a world that is constantly changing and when life is constantly demanding from you, it can be easy to feel too stressed out to even know what to do anymore.

So what can we possibly do when we reach that level of stress? 

Spend time with Jesus. 

Matthew 11:28-30 tells us: “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

When we are most stressed out, that is when we need to be with Jesus the most. He alone is the One that can give us the rest we need. If you’re stressing out and you keep running on empty, you will not be able to serve Him to the best of your ability. 

As soon as you feel that strain of stress pulling on you, clear out your schedule for a little bit and get away by yourself where you can spend undivided time talking with Jesus and learning more about Him.

Spend time off social media. 

When I’m especially stressed out, I know that spending time on social media often makes it worse. 

Yes, it feels good at first to sit down and “zone out” as I scroll through my friends’ Instagram or Facebook feeds. But the longer I sit there on my phone, I become increasingly more stressed out. I’m sure you can relate.  

Set your phone aside, turn off the ringer and the notifications, and do something else. Don’t be afraid to take as much time away from social media as you need.

Don’t procrastinate.

Procrastination is a very easy way to get even more overwhelmed and stressed out–fast!

Although I typically don’t procrastinate, that is one of my first reactions when I start feeling super stressed out. Until I stress myself out even more! Procrastination will only stress you out more in the end.

Take some time to breathe and rest, but also don’t keep putting off until the last minute.

Celebrate the little accomplishments.

Most of the time I have a long to-do list full of things that need to get done. And typically I push forward until I have everything checked off the list, without ever stopping to celebrate even when I remove some things from the list.

It is always okay to take a break and celebrate the little accomplishments of your day. Celebrate the little wins, the little moments that bring joy to your day.   

Take a deep breath.

I know life can feel overwhelming at times. But you are not alone in any of this. Take a deep breath, purposefully slow down, and take a moment to shift your perspective to the bigger picture.

You are not meant to do everything.

So next time you’re too stressed out to know what to do, focus your eyes on Jesus. He’s doing something awesome even in those moments.