# Feeling overloaded and not sure how to slow my mind down **URL:** \ **Category:** Trauma, Stress, PTSD\ **Created:** [October 29, 2026, 8:00am UTC](https://forum.sharedquill.org/t/feeling-overloaded-and-not-sure-how-to-slow-my-mind-down/54678 "2026-10-29T08:00:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Angel\_Wilcox](https://forum.sharedquill.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@Angel\_Wilcox](https://forum.sharedquill.org/u/Angel_Wilcox)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 8:00am UTC](https://forum.sharedquill.org/t/feeling-overloaded-and-not-sure-how-to-slow-my-mind-down/54678/1 "2026-10-29T08:00:11Z")
My mind feels overloaded lately, like it keeps opening new tabs and refuses to close any of them. Even when nothing urgent is happening, I’m running through chores, appointments, old conversations, and things I might be forgetting. I’ve tried telling myself to relax, but that usually just becomes another thing to worry about. Taking a short walk helps sometimes, and writing everything down can quiet things for a little while. The hard part is remembering to do those things before I’m already wound up. I’m trying to focus on one small task at a time instead of solving the whole week in my head. Has anything helped you slow down when your thoughts won’t let up? ---
**Author:** ![Jerry\_Jones](https://forum.sharedquill.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jerry\_Jones](https://forum.sharedquill.org/u/Jerry_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 2:31pm UTC](https://forum.sharedquill.org/t/feeling-overloaded-and-not-sure-how-to-slow-my-mind-down/54678/2 "2026-10-29T14:31:31Z")
Writing things down helps me too, especially when I keep trying to remember several small tasks at once. I’ve started putting just the next action on the page instead of making a full plan for the day. That feels less demanding. When I notice I’m already wound up, I try a slow reset before deciding what needs attention. A glass of water, a few minutes outside, and leaving my phone behind can be enough to interrupt the loop. I like your idea of focusing on one small task, since solving the whole week at once usually makes everything feel heavier. ---
**Author:** ![Frederick\_Deleon](https://forum.sharedquill.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@Frederick\_Deleon](https://forum.sharedquill.org/u/Frederick_Deleon)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://forum.sharedquill.org/t/feeling-overloaded-and-not-sure-how-to-slow-my-mind-down/54678/3 "2026-10-29T14:32:03Z")
The “next action” idea is useful. A full list can make me feel like I’ve already failed before I start, but writing something small like “send one email” feels manageable. Leaving the phone behind during a reset probably helps more than I’d expect. I tend to carry it around and then wonder why my mind never gets quiet. I’m going to try putting it in another room for a few minutes, even if I only manage one small task afterward. ---
**Author:** ![Heather\_Kidd](https://forum.sharedquill.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@Heather\_Kidd](https://forum.sharedquill.org/u/Heather_Kidd)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2026, 12:31pm UTC](https://forum.sharedquill.org/t/feeling-overloaded-and-not-sure-how-to-slow-my-mind-down/54678/4 "2026-10-30T12:31:31Z")
The “next action” approach has helped me too. I used to write down a whole string of steps, then feel behind before I even started. Now I’ll write something as small as “open the bill” or “put the laundry in,” which makes it easier to get moving. Leaving the phone behind is a good part of your reset. I’ve found that even ten minutes without notifications can make the next decision feel less urgent. The one concrete thing that helped most was setting a timer for those ten minutes, so I don’t keep checking the time or turn the break into another task.