Do you ever wonder whether what you’re feeling is stress, overwhelm, or even anxiety? Knowing the difference matters because, stress, overwhelm and anxiety each require a slightly different response.
Most of the women I talk to think they’re just stressed, but then they’re drowning with anxiety, or they think they’re anxious, but they’re actually overwhelmed with all their responsibilities.
Let’s break it down together so you can recognize what’s happening in your body and mind, and take small steps to find the calm in your life again.
🌿 Stress (Pressure Response)
Here’s something that might surprise you. Stress isn’t your enemy. At least, not always. In fact, sometimes it’s the thing that pushes us to meet deadlines and rise to challenges. But too much, for too long, wears us down.
When stress is working for you, here’s what it feels like:
Feeling: Tension in your body, on edge.
Body response: Adrenaline, faster heartbeat, fight-or-flight energy.
Mindset: Still focused and able to act, though rushed.
Example: A looming work deadline, preparing for a wedding, or racing to finish a project.
Just keep in mind that stress is short-term, challenge-driven, and usually goes away once the pressure lifts.
But what if it’s not just one deadline, but everything all at once? That’s where overwhelm comes in.
🌿 Overwhelm:
Overwhelm is when you have too many tabs open in your brain. It’s not about one specific task; it’s the realisation of everything that needs to get done at once.
Unlike stress, overwhelm looks and feels completely different. This is what it actually feels like:
Feeling: Drowning, overloaded, paralyzed.
Body response: Shutdown, indecision, fatigue.
Mindset: You know what needs to be done, but you don’t have the time or energy.
Example: Juggling a messy house, family needs, and work deadlines all at once, and not knowing where to start or when it will end.
Overwhelm is the yellow light telling you to pause, reset, and simplify.
🌿 Anxiety:
Unlike stress and overwhelm, anxiety focuses on the “what ifs” of the future.
If this sounds familiar, here’s what’s happening:
Feeling: Restless, jittery, a sense of dread.
Body response: Nausea, trouble sleeping, racing thoughts.
Mindset: Constant worry, often not tied to a single situation.
Example: It is mostly fear-based for hypothetical scenarios in the future, like a work deadline that you are unable to reach.
Anxiety is future-oriented fear, the flashing light signalling something feels wrong, even if you can’t pinpoint it.
So now that you know the difference, what do you do with this information?
I created a free “Self-Check Guide” (download it here) for you to check in with yourself and pinpoint what you’re feeling. This way you know how to handle the emotion.
Now, while each of these needs a slightly different approach, I’m going to focus on overwhelm today, because in my experience, it’s the one that trips up most of us. The good news is that small, intentional actions can make a huge difference to managing your it.
🌿 How to Calm Overwhelm and Regain Control
When you’re stuck in overwhelm, small, simple actions can help you take control of your life and mindset.
Here’s three simple steps that always help me:
1. Do a Brain Dump
- Write down (Or heart-dump into ChatGPT) everything swirling in your head. Then:
- Highlight what’s urgent.
- Mark what’s daily/weekly.
- Delete, Delegate, or Delay the rest.
Tip: even outsourcing one small task can free your mental load.
2. Use “Good Enough to Move On” (GETMO)
Perfectionism and people-pleasing fuel overwhelm. Instead, ask yourself: “What does good enough look like right now?”
Example: You don’t need to deep clean the kitchen, just run the dishwasher so you have clean dishes for breakfast.
3. Take Back Control (with Planning)
Sometimes your schedule overwhelms you because of your own choices, and sometimes life just piles up.
If you’re overwhelmed because you’re not able to say no, it’s time to get honest about what you’re committing to and why. Look at your calendar and ask yourself: “What can I let go of? What am I doing out of guilt instead of necessity?” Start small and see if you can remove one thing this week.
And if it’s life that’s overwhelming you right now? Give yourself permission to be in survival mode. This season won’t last forever, but while you’re in it, focus on what keeps you grounded: a morning routine, one small win each day, or asking for help when you need it. Progress doesn’t have to be big to be impactful.
Remember that Self-Check Guide [Download it here — link] I mentioned earlier? It’s a simple printable you can keep on hand for when life feels heavy and you need to figure out what you’re actually dealing with.
And if you want more of this kind of support, I share weekly videos over on YouTube @Chandrews Life about managing overwhelm, building sustainable habits, and creating a calmer life without adding more to your plate.
If this helped, you might also like:
• How to Simplify Life as a Busy Woman: 5 Simple Habits That Changed Everything for Me
🌿 Final Thought
Recognizing where you are is the first step to getting unstuck. Overwhelm, stress, and anxiety are different, but none of them define you. Start with one small action today, and let it snowball into calm, clarity, and confidence.
Which of these three do you feel most often? Stress, overwhelm, or anxiety? Share in the comments, because I promise, you’re not alone in this.
Here’s to finding calm in the chaos.
Because you can fall in love with your life again.
Until next time,
ChanDrew ❤️