My book launch is right around the corner, and I am feeling all the feelings that come with it. Excitement. Gratitude. Pride. And also a whole lot of anxiety. I knew a book launch would be busy, but I do not think I fully understood what it takes to bring a project this big into the world while still trying to live a regular life. Between emails, outreach, follow up messages, orders, organizing events, scheduling social media, managing sponsorships, updating the website, and making sure everything is running smoothly, it can feel like I have two full time jobs. Actually, it feels like I have three full time jobs if you count my real life, the one that includes my family, work, daily responsibilities, and the everyday things that do not pause just because I have a book coming out.
My mind races the second I wake up. Sometimes it starts in the middle of the night. I open my eyes at two in the morning and my brain leaps to the long list of things that are waiting for me. You did not do this yet, you still need to respond to that person. You forgot to follow up on that detail. It keeps going. My chest flutters. My thoughts pick up speed. And then I remind myself that this is temporary and it is also normal. Big dreams sometimes come with big pressure.
Last Friday was the perfect example. My youngest daughter spoke at an event. She was excited about it and I was excited for her, but I did not even know the event was happening until a couple of days before because I had been so busy. I did not make it in person, which is not my favorite feeling as a mom, although she assured me it was fine. I did have someone video it, which gave me a little more peace, but still. That was one of those moments where I thought, this is what happens when life grows a little too full. Something has to give. And sometimes it is something you care about.
I am not telling this story so readers feel bad for me. I am telling it because I want people to know that overwhelm is a human experience. Even when we are doing things we love, even when we are proud of what we are creating. Even when we know it is worth it. There can still be moments that feel like too much. Moments where you lose track of the simple things you usually catch. Moments where you feel stretched in every direction.
The good news is that I have learned how to support myself when stress shows up. I know that I do not need to stay in that anxious place. So here are the four things I practice when the overwhelm gets a little louder than I would like. None of them involve perfection. They are simply tools I rely on to get myself back to center. My hope is that they give you something to reach for the next time life feels like it is spilling over the sides.
1. I take fifteen minutes of self care every single day.
It does not matter what the day looks like. It does not matter how busy I am. I am committed to giving myself at least fifteen minutes that are mine. Sometimes it is a walk around the neighborhood so I can get out of my own head and let the fresh air slow me down, sometimes it is sitting on the couch with a glass of wine and letting myself exhale. Sometimes it is a short meditation. The key is that it changes based on what I need. There is no rule book for self care. There is only the question, what would help me right now. That is what I try to answer each day.
And if you say your world is so busy that you cannot find fifteen minutes, ask yourself how much time you spent mindlessly scrolling today. Most of us have more time than we think, we are just used to giving it away without noticing.
Those fifteen minutes remind me that I am a person, not a machine. They interrupt the idea that I should be able to power through everything without rest. They give my body and mind the chance to reset. And surprisingly, those small moments often help me work better, think more clearly, and feel more grounded once I get back to my tasks.
2. I regulate my breathing when the overwhelm hits.
I used to underestimate the power of breath, but not anymore, I can feel it in my body when things start to pile up. My heart moves faster, my shoulders tense. My thoughts jump to the future and all the things I still need to do. That is usually the moment I pause and take a slow breath in. Then a slow breath out. I tell myself to prioritize. Make a list. Start checking things off. Breathing does not magically solve everything, but it slows the world down long enough for me to get my footing.
Breath is free, breath is with you everywhere. breath does not require a fancy app or a special program. It is one of the simplest ways to interrupt an anxious spiral. When I remember to use it, it changes the direction of my day.
3. I ask for help. A lot of help.
This one is a work in progress because asking for help is hard for many of us. We often think we need to handle everything on our own, we do not want to burden people. We do not want to seem like we cannot keep up. But this book launch has taught me something important. No one accomplishes something meaningful alone. Not a book, not an event, not a dream. So I have been asking for help in all kinds of ways.
I am asking for help at the event. I am asking for help with organization, I am asking people to help spread the word, I am asking them to share the preorder link, I am asking for sponsorship support, I am asking for people to help get books into the hands of organizations and groups who need them. And honestly, the more I ask, the lighter everything feels. People want to support each other. People want to cheer you on. You simply have to give them the chance.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of wisdom, it is a sign that you know your limits. It is a sign that you are willing to let your village be part of the journey. And if we are being honest, people love being asked because it makes them feel included in something meaningful.
4. I prioritize sleep. Or at least I try.
I have been a terrible sleeper for years, so this one is not easy. But I also know that everything feels heavier when I am exhausted. So I do what I can. I put my phone down at least an hour before I go to bed. I try to quiet my mind instead of letting it sprint. And I end every night with a short gratitude practice so I fall asleep in a better place than where my stress tried to take me.
Gratitude is powerful. It pulls me back to what matters. It reminds me that even on the busiest days, there is good all around me. When I go to sleep with that perspective, I wake up calmer. And even if the flutter in my chest shows up again, I know I can work with it.
So here is what I want you to know.
We all have our own struggles. They may not look the same and they may not sound the same, but everyone carries something. For me, during a book launch, it shows up as racing thoughts and a little too much pressure. For someone else, it might look completely different. The point is that none of us moves through life without moments that feel heavy or moments that take us off balance for a bit.
It does not mean you are failing. It means you are human. And you deserve tools that help you find your way back to yourself.
Take a few minutes each day for you. Slow your breathing when your mind starts to run. Ask for help without apologizing. Protect your sleep and end the day with a moment of gratitude. These are not grand solutions. They are small choices that create calmer days. And they remind you that you are doing your best.
We are all doing our best. And that is more than enough.
