Feeling overwhelmed? Remember this
A few notes on keeping your cool when the world seems on fire
This is First Things First, your weekly reminder to reflect on how far you’ve come, as well as prepare for the journey ahead. This is where I’ll share with you my deeper thoughts on all things career, money, family, and everything else that I won’t share anywhere else. This is a special place, and I’m glad you’re here.
Confession: I’ve been feeling a bit useless lately
It’s been hard to show up online and share career advice when every time I open Instagram or scroll through Threads, I’m met with another tragedy, injustice, or reminder of how cynical people feel about the future. When the world feels like it’s crumbling, it’s easy to feel like your personal goals are trivial.
Why does a new job matter if the world feels like it’s falling apart? Why stress about your next promotion, your investments, or networking when everything feels so fragile?
But then I pause and take a breath as I realize: I’ve been here before.
Every few months, I feel the overwhelm that’s bound to happen with 7+ hours of screen time each day (trying to improve this). And over time, I developed a quick 4-step process that always does the trick of releasing some stress and makes me a hell of a lot more positive about the future.
So the next time the world feels overwhelming in a way that makes you want to shut down, try this instead:
Disconnect: Literally log off for a little bit
Stabilize: Make sure you’re taking care of your body (sleep, diet, and fitness)
Shrink the circle: Narrow your focus to what’s actually in your control
Act locally: Contribute to something beyond yourself in your community
Because here’s what I’ve learned after five years of being terminally online:
You can’t control everything.
But you can control something.
A better world can only be built by better people choosing to be more kind and conscientious towards one another. And there’s nothing stopping you from doing that today, in a small but impactful way.
Even if all you can do today is make one person’s life a little brighter, have faith that your kindness will compound to make a bigger impact down the road.
I am where I am today solely because of the kindness of others. And I’ve committed the rest of my life to paying that kindness forward.
Nobody prepares you for the loneliness of being an entrepreneur
When people ask me what the one thing I miss about working in corporate America is, they’re usually surprised by my answer.
It’s not the prestige
It’s not the happy hours and perks
It’s not even the salary
It’s having coworkers. At least the ones I liked, anyway.
The life of anyone working for themselves can be quite lonely. But as a full-time creator, it can be especially hard to find people who can relate to the work you do or the unique mission of your business.
As I venture out on my own, I’ve had to navigate finding clients, paying taxes, and staying compliant all by myself as well, which is super challenging! But that’s why I use Gusto.
Gusto handles all my payroll and benefits, which saves me a ton of time and stress. And as a parent, knowing I can also get my health insurance and retirement savings through Gusto is a game-changer.
Believe it or not, paying yourself when you’re self-employed can be incredibly complicated. One wrong move and you can open yourself up to an audit or pay more in taxes than necessary. But since I use Gusto for payroll, I can give myself a consistent income and peace of mind knowing that Gusto is handling the backend.
If you’re building something on your own, you need the right support. Learn more about Gusto Solo here.
Sponsored by Gusto Solo, the modern all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform trusted by creators and solopreneurs.
ICYMI:
On my birthday this past Tuesday, I shared some nostalgic reflections on moments throughout the last 30 years that stuck with me. The longer I’m on social media, the more comfortable I’ve gotten with sharing my story. And I wanted to share some of the moments that made me into the person I am today:
And finally, the most effective way to lower your stress in hard times is to not go through them alone
If the news or social media has been weighing on you, odds are you’re not the only one in your circle being affected by it. And something as simple as inviting an old friend out for coffee or a meal can do more for your peace of mind than almost anything else.
It’s, if nothing else, an excuse to vent. But it’s also one of the most natural ways to deepen your network with people you haven’t spoken to in a while. The best time to strengthen these relationships is before you need them, and this can be a great moment to reach out to someone who may be dealing with the same anxieties you are.
Here’s a text you can send to get the ball rolling:
“Hey! You were on my mind recently and I wanted to check in. Any chance you’d be free to grab coffee or a bite sometime soon?”
See you next week!
learn more about Gusto Solo here
read previous notes here
register for my next For The Firsts event here
have me speak at your organization by filling out my speaker form
plan your 2026 with my Yearly Goal Planning Guide