Feeling Overwhelmed? It’s OK to Slow Down

By Kate Stewart

Church Magazines

It’s OK to slow down. God is aware of you and your circumstances.

We learn in the scriptures that it’s not required of us to run faster than we have strength (see Mosiah 4:27). So why do we often still live every moment racing full speed ahead?

The feeling of running faster than you have strength, needing to complete a million things, and thinking that you need to be perfect now can make you feel overwhelmed and burned-out.

If you’re someone who feels caught in a swirling tornado of seemingly never-ending tasks, responsibilities, and commitments, learning how to slow down and redefine your priorities might just be your key to newfound rest and peace.

Five Tips for Slowing Down

Each morning, pray for the Spirit to help you stay present, be motivated, and make the most of each day. Throughout the day, you’ll notice moments where your prayer is answered!
Write a list of everything you need to do daily, and then prioritize which things are most important. Complete the most important things first.
Give time to the Lord daily. As you do so, everything else will often resolve itself. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, strive to continually progress forward each day.
Take care of yourself physically and mentally. As you prioritize your physical and mental health, you’ll have more energy to do other things. Listen to your body and your needs.
Take things one step at a time. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, tell yourself, “The only thing I have to do in this moment is X.” After you complete that task, try it again with the next thing.

As you practice these tips, you may find yourself establishing clear priorities in your life, spending more time disconnected from technology, or allowing yourself to rest and recover.

Eliminate Pressure, Discover Joy

Living a productive life isn’t bad. It’s good to feel accomplished and get stuff done! However, you don’t need to put too much pressure on yourself or use your productivity as a measurement of your self-worth.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained it best: “It’s rather easy to be busy. We all can think up a list of tasks that will overwhelm our schedules. Some might even think that their self-worth depends on the length of their to-do list. … Because they unnecessarily complicate their lives, they often feel increased frustration, diminished joy, and too little sense of meaning in their lives.”

Instead, Elder Uchtdorf encourages us to “slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most.”

For me, an application of this would be choosing to leave my phone at home the next time I go for a walk. Then I can truly enjoy my surroundings and reflect on my day!

Decreasing our pace in life can help us eliminate unnecessary pressure and find more joy.

The Savior Can Make Our Best Efforts Perfect

Elder Vern P. Stanfill of the Seventy taught: “We must remember that whatever our best-but-imperfect offering is, the Savior can make it perfect. No matter how insignificant our efforts may seem, we must never underestimate the Savior’s power.”

When I feel overwhelmed with tasks, anxious about my future, or worried that I’m not living up to my potential, I trust in the fact that the Savior can perfect my small—yet earnest—efforts.

I place my trust in the same God who has brought peace and solace to His children for thousands of years. He’s helped me, and I know He’ll help you too.

It’s OK to slow down. God is aware of you and your circumstances.

He loves you!