It Takes Only One – 5 Tips to Handle TOO MUCH

Overwhelmed? Maybe the TOO MUCH is Getting to You.

Ever had so much to do that you didn’t know what to do?

And because you didn’t know what to do, you just… didn’t do anything?

Yeah. Been there.

The truth is, we don’t get stuck because we have nothing to do. We get stuck because we have too much to do—and no clue where to start.

When There’s Too Much, You Do Nothing

My husband decided to take a driving adventure… without notifying the passenger.

That passenger being me.

I had a whole plan mapped out in my head. It started with lunch because I had skipped between-church snacks, and my stomach made that reality known on the way to the car.

Meanwhile, my husband was just randomly driving.

Finally, I announced my hunger.

His response? “What do you want to eat?”

Cue decision overload.

Too many choices. Too many options. Too much thinking.

So, what did I do? I didn’t choose anything.

Which, in case you’re wondering, is still a choice. A choice to do nothing.

It did not end well.

A Confused Mind Says No

Or in my case, an overloaded mind said nothing.

When we don’t make a decision, we are making a decision—to let someone else decide for us.

And that’s how we end up in situations we don’t like.

Because too much causes confusion.

Confusion causes hesitation.

And hesitation stops you in your tracks.

#QuoteoftheDay

If You Don’t Move You Won’t Move

When we had to move for the fifth time in less than five years and it was TOO MUCH!

• Too much stuff for our new home.
• Too much to move on our own.
• Too much frustration about choices we didn’t want to make.

It was just too much.

So, what did I do?

Nothing.

For days, I just kept walking in the room and announcing, “We need to do something,” instead of actually solving the problem by doing something.

This went on for several days.

Until ONE day, I picked up ONE thing and put it in an empty box.

Then I filled that ONE box.

Then I took that box downstairs.

And then I got ONE MORE empty box.

One box at a time.

And before I knew it, the whole house was packed.

Not because I suddenly figured it all out. But because I just did ONE thing.

Only One in 5 Simple Tips

Too much and too man cause overload. But ONE breaks through that overload.

If you want to move forward, there can be only one.

1. Do Only One Thing

Not ten things.
Not five things.
Not three things.

One thing.

Overwhelm doesn’t come from not doing enough—it comes from trying to do too much at once.

I was stuck because I kept looking at everything that needed to be done instead of just doing one thing.

So, stop. Pick ONE.

You have to do something to get something done. Ecclesiastes 11:4 warns us that if you just watch the wind, you won’t plant, and if you just stare at clouds, you won’t reap.

It takes an intentional investment in one action.

2. Know Your One Purpose

You are designed on purpose and for a purpose and when you lock on to that unique design then all the overload in the world won’t be able to hold you back.

But it’s ONE.

Yes, only one.

You are uniquely designed for A PURPOSE. While that purpose might work out in different ways during different seasons, it’s still the same purpose.

If you don’t know what that purpose is, you’ll end up:
✔ Doing things that drain you.
✔ Saying yes to things you should say no to.
✔ Taking on more than you need to.

✔ Listening (and trusting others) more than your heart.

I’ve made that mistake before. Actually, I’ve made all of them at one point or another.

But there have been times when I locked on to purpose and wasn’t swayed.

I taught swimming lessons in high school, babysat for extra cash, raised three boys, and wrangled scout troops.

I’m capable of working with kids.
I enjoy working with kids now and then – on a limited run basis.

But kids are not part of my purpose.

So, when the children’s ministry leader at church came my way, I knew what was coming.

“Would you —”

“No.”

Yup. No. No excuses. No explanations. Just NO.

Because no is a complete sentence.

3. Create One Boundary

Because “yes” to everything = burnout. And yes to the wrong thing is just as bad.

Saying no to teaching in the children’s ministry was an easy no for me because I was secure in my purpose.

Saying no to leading the Arts Club triggered my enthusiasm (an emotion) and I let my yes get away from me. When I stepped down, the club fell apart and I almost felt guilty for not staying.

But it wasn’t my purpose and I had to have that one boundary in place: If it doesn’t align with my design then I let it go.

Your time, energy, and focus are limited.

You can only do what aligns with your one purpose—so you have to set boundaries to protect it.

4. Celebrate One Win

You know what happens when you focus on everything you haven’t done yet?

You lose the ability to see what you can do.

When you celebrate one accomplishment, you fuel the ability to accomplish more.

Your BIG DREAM goals may be across that distant finish line, but you will never reach that point without the ONE step.

Every small step is a win taking you closer to where you want to go.

Celebrate that ONE win!

I don’t throw confetti every time I check something off my list…

(Okay, maybe sometimes.)

But I probably do a dance.

I definitely take a moment to acknowledge, “Hey, I did that.”

I have the check list in the Focused Flexibility Planner where I can mark things off as I WIN at ONE.

Because when you focus on progress, not perfection, you keep moving forward.

How do you win at ONE?

5. Share Just One Step

Want to stay stuck? Keep everything to yourself.

Want to create momentum? Share what you’re doing.

• Share a goal.
• Share a next step.
• Share your progress.
• Share a win.

Because when you say it out loud, it becomes real – and winning is contagious!

It also keeps you accountable.

It Only Takes One

The key to overcoming overload isn’t doing more.

It’s doing only one thing at a time.

🔹 Do just one thing.
🔹 Know your one purpose.
🔹 Create one boundary.
🔹 Celebrate one win.
🔹 Share just one step.

That’s it.

One.

So, what’s your one today?

Drop it in the comments, send me a message, or join me for the Hope & Courage Reset —because we’re in this together.

Let’s break free—one step at a time.

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