Have you ever struggled to find your focus in today’s busy world?

Do you ever feel like your mind is spinning with a hundred different tasks?

Maybe you’ve got family duties, work projects, chores at home, and personal goals all calling your name.

I certainly do!

In fact, I’ve got about 30 things I’m juggling right now, and it can feel overwhelming.

But here’s something I’ve learned: prioritizing can make all the difference.

I decided that my “word of the year” is focus, because I realized I can’t do everything at once.

If I try, I end up super stressed and not really getting anything done.

So, let me share how I’m learning to pick what matters most and focus on it, one step at a time, without letting the rest of my to-do list eat me alive.

Understanding the Everyday Rush

I don’t know about you, but life can sure feel like it’s on fast-forward, right?

Sometimes, it reminds me of that feeling I get around the holidays—there’s way too much happening all at once.

I’ll have errands, maybe some extra social events, people visiting, or even decorating.

Add in normal life tasks, and it becomes a recipe for stress.

But it’s not just the holidays when we experience this kind of rush.

Any time of year, we can experience a hurry-up-and-go kind of rush that leaves us feeling overloaded with responsibilities.

When I skip prioritizing, everything feels urgent, and that’s when I go into panic mode.

You know the feeling—heart racing, brain fog, maybe that urge to grab some ice cream and binge-watch a show instead of tackling your tasks.

Trust me, I’ve been there.

Embracing My Own Word: “Focus”

This year, I decided on the word “focus” because I realized something needed to change.

I was tired of letting stress take over and feeling scattered.

By focusing, I mean really deciding which thing to work on right now and being okay with letting the other tasks wait their turn.

It might sound simple, but wow, it’s powerful.

Every time I catch myself trying to do five things at once, I stop and ask, “What’s my main priority at this moment?”

Then, I give that priority my full attention—at least for a set block of time.

Why We Get Overwhelmed

In my experience, overwhelm happens when I feel like I have to do all my 30 tasks today.

Deep down, I know that’s not realistic, but my mind sometimes pretends it is.

This piles up pressure, and I get stuck, not knowing where to start.

Since I can’t do everything at once, the best plan is to figure out what needs to be done first or what matters most.

When I do this, it’s like a weight lifts off my shoulders.

Instead of feeling guilty about the 29 other things, I focus on the one thing in front of me, doing it well and trusting that I’ll get to the rest eventually.

The Magic of Writing It All Down

You’ve probably heard this before, but writing down tasks can be life-changing.

I literally sit down with a pink sticky notepad and list everything I need to do.

The act of writing these tasks is like cleaning out a messy closet—you see what’s really in there.

I discovered that some tasks are urgent (like paying a bill due tomorrow), while others are big projects that span weeks (like organizing the garage).

Some tasks are small errands that can happen anytime, and others might not even need doing at all if I’m being honest.

This process helps me see that not everything is equally important.

Picking the Big Rocks First

Imagine for a moment that all your tasks for the day are rocks of various sizes.  

Now, imagine you have an empty jar that represents your day.

It’s important that you put the big rocks into the jar first so they fit.

If you fill the jar with sand or little pebbles first, you’ll run out of space for the bigger, more important rocks.

For me, that big rock might be finishing a work project.

It might be devoting time to a major family need.

Or it could be editing that chapter of a book I’m working on, which I’ve been putting off.

If I place a big rock in my schedule first—like an hour in the morning—I make sure it happens.

Handling the Other Tasks

Now, I still have all those smaller tasks: taking the dog to the vet, returning a phone call, picking up groceries.

I don’t ignore them, but I plan them around my big rock times.

If I finish my big rock for the day, then I knock out a few smaller items.

I also realized sometimes I list tasks out of habit.

For instance, I thought I needed to deep-clean the whole house every week.

But do I really?

Maybe I can just tidy up one room per day instead of trying to do it all at once.

That’s the beauty of looking at each task honestly.

Sometimes, we find ways to make it simpler or realize we don’t need to do it at all.

Being Present in the Moment

A big lesson I’m learning is to stay present while I tackle my top priority.

Let’s say I’m writing an important email.

My brain might wander and think, “But what about all those other tasks?”

I gently remind myself, “This is what I’m doing right now. I will deal with the rest later.”

Sometimes, I set a timer for 25 or 30 minutes (some people call it the Pomodoro Technique).

During that time, I focus only on one task.

If my mind tries to jump to another thing, I bring it back.

This helps me stay calm and actually finish what I started.

It also reduces that frantic feeling that I’m juggling 10 items in my head.

Planning Ahead Without Losing Today

While staying focused on one task at a time, it’s important to still plan for the future.

Maybe a big project is due in a month, or a holiday is coming up, and you want to prepare.

That’s fine.

Take time to think ahead, but don’t let it consume your right-now focus.

I break big future tasks into smaller steps and schedule them for later days.

For instance, if I have a project to finish in two weeks, I might set aside two hours each day to work on it.

That way, I’m still handling the present tasks without feeling I have to do the entire project in one or two frantic days.

Keeping Stress at Bay

Stress creeps in when I pretend I can do everything at once or when I ignore tasks entirely.

By choosing to prioritize, I reduce that stress.

I remind myself that it’s impossible to do 30 things in one day, but I can definitely do 2 or 3 important ones.

That sense of accomplishment feels great and also reminds me that progress is built one step at a time.

If I start to feel overwhelmed, I’ll take a quick break—like a short walk or a few deep breaths.

Sometimes, I’ll write in a journal for five minutes to clear my head.

Even small breaks help me refocus on what I decided was important.

The Power of My “Word of the Year”

As I said, my word for the year is focus.

Maybe you have a word or phrase that encourages you, too.

For me, focusing on focus is a daily reminder that I don’t need to do everything—just the right thing right now.

If tomorrow I have a different priority, that’s okay.

The big point is to not let everything swirl around me like a tornado.

This approach helps me feel calmer.

I’m learning to trust that if I do my best today, I’ll also be in better shape for tomorrow.

And if something doesn’t get done, I remind myself that I’m human—I can only do so much in one day.

That gentle mindset shift helps me avoid beating myself up.

Celebrating the Small Wins

It’s easy to finish tasks and move on without a second thought.

But I’m discovering that celebrating small wins can keep me motivated.

Even if it’s something tiny, like writing one page or cleaning one messy shelf, I’ll give myself a mental high-five.

Why do this?

Because it reminds me that progress is happening, even if it doesn’t feel huge.

Over time, these little wins add up to big results.

It feels nice to stop at the end of the day and say, “Hey, I did get some things done—good for me!”

 Enjoying the Journey

Finally, it helps to remember that life isn’t just about checking off boxes.

The reason we prioritize is so we can be fully alive in our tasks, not merely running around.

When I pick one thing to focus on, I have the chance to enjoy it—whether it’s a job I love or a personal project that excites me.

Or if it’s not enjoyable, at least I can finish it and move on, freeing myself from nagging stress.

In the end, prioritizing isn’t about being super strict or perfect.

It’s about making sure life doesn’t run us into the ground.

It’s a way to handle all the demands without losing ourselves.

By letting ourselves focus on one step at a time, we find more peace and do better work.

My Invitation to You

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your own towering list of to-dos, give prioritizing a try.

You don’t have to wait for a special day or a new year.

Just start now—take 10 minutes, list your tasks, pick the top ones, and promise yourself you’ll give them your full attention.

If you keep doing that, you’ll begin to see a clearer path forward.

And remember—you can’t do everything today, but you can do something.

Celebrate each small success, allow yourself to breathe, and trust that the rest will fit in when it’s their turn.

You might be surprised at how much calmer and happier you feel.

Good luck, and keep focusing on what matters most!