248. What If Your To-Do List Is Keeping You Overwhelmed?

About this episode

This episode explores how to-do lists may contribute to feelings of overwhelm and what underlying issues they might be masking.

Your desk is covered in sticky notes. There are reminders on your phone, notes in a notebook somewhere, and a running mental list that never seems to stop. Crossing things off feels productive. It feels responsible. It feels like you're staying on top of everything. But what if your to do list is helping create the very overwhelm you're trying to escape? This conversation looks at the hidden comfort of staying busy, why empty space can feel surprisingly uncomfortable, and what might actually be underneath the constant need to keep doing. If you've been telling yourself things will finally calm down once the list is shorter, this episode invites you to consider a different possibility. Maybe the list isn't the problem. Maybe it's what the list is helping you avoid. Resources Mentioned: The Should Session: To Stop you from bringing work stress home! Find out exactly what belief is keeping you stuck in should energy . Only 5 spots available, expiring on 10/6/2026. Work with me: Breakthrough Intensive - You already know you should slow down, delegate more, stop overcommitting & be emotionally present. So why can't you? That's what we figure out in 90 minutes + integration call 1…

People in this episode

Host: Samantha Hawley

Topics covered

• overwhelm
• to-do list
• productivity
• mental health
• busy culture

Keywords

• to-do list
• overwhelm
• productivity
• mental space
• busy
• comfort
• stress

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