How to Manage Overwhelm and Maintain Productivity

Ever feel like your to-do list is plotting against you? Like you’re treading water in your business and home life while the current just keeps getting stronger?

In this episode of Deadlines and Dirty Dishes, I share my honest experience of overwhelm, not just from work, but from the relentless overlap of solo parenting, school holidays, and managing client demands. I unpack the strategies I now rely on to protect my energy, structure my time, and navigate the chaos with more clarity and calm.

Whether you’re a freelancer, a parent, or running your own business (or all three at once), this episode offers both empathy and actionable support.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• What overwhelm really looks like — and why it’s not a sign of failure
• 10 practical strategies that actually work when you feel stuck or overloaded
• How to reset your mindset and momentum with simple, sustainable changes
• Why breaks, boundaries, and planning ahead are non-negotiable tools for productivity
• How systems and support help prevent burnout, not just relieve it

🧠 Key Themes

• From reactive to proactive: managing energy, not just time
• The emotional toll of doing everything yourself — and how to change that
• Building business systems that align with your real life (including school holidays)
• Finding clarity through reflection, delegation, and calm focus

🔗 Mentioned in This Episode

Want support implementing any of the strategies I talk about today?
 Explore how working with a VA or OBM could support your business here:
 👉 https://alisonquinnvirtualassistant.co.uk/services-va-vs-obm-proven-support-for-your-business/

🧭 What’s Next?
Still not sure what kind of support your business needs?
Take the VA or OBM Quiz and discover what to delegate first:
👉 https://alisonquinnvirtualassistant.co.uk/va-or-obm-quiz/

📩 Let’s Connect
Have your own overwhelm story or strategy to share?
DM me on Instagram @alisonquinnvirtualassistant or get in touch via the website:
👉 https://alisonquinnvirtualassistant.co.uk/contact/

Thanks for tuning in to Deadlines and Dirty Dishes. If you loved what you heard, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, or share the episode with a fellow freelancer or founder.

For further resources, or to learn more about how I can support your business as a Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager, head to my website, Alison Quinn Virtual Assistant - OBM and Business Support.

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