What to Do When Life Feels Overwhelming: 3 Surprisingly Ridiculous Coping Tools That Actually Work

Chaos, Oat Milk, and Existential Confusion.

My life’s chaos peaked when I opened the fridge to cry, only to forget why I was crying. Was it because I couldn’t remember what I came for, or because my oat milk had expired? We may never know. Yet, one thing’s certain: life can get a lot sometimes.

If you’ve ever looked at your to-do list and wondered if faking your disappearance is a viable option, you are not alone. I’ve Googled “How to become a lighthouse keeper” more than once, and I’m not ashamed.

But in the spirit of not vanishing into a foghorn-blasting abyss, I’ve cobbled together a survival guide for those days (or months) when life feels like one giant ‘system error’ message.

The Ultimate Overwhelm Survival Guide

1. Lower the Bar Like It's Limbo Night

First, if you constantly feel driven to do more, consider a relaxing break.

Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is move “take a shower” to tomorrow’s to-do list. Did you eat toast while standing in the kitchen wearing one sock? Amazing. That’s called survival couture. You’re thriving, darling.

2. Declare an Emotional Snow Day

If it’s good enough for blizzards, it’s good enough for brainstorms. Cancel all non-essential operations. I mean: work if you must, but everything else can wait. Be Jello.

Say it with me: I don’t need to alphabetize that spice rack today. Paprika won’t judge you.

3. Snack Like Your Sanity Depends On It

While I won’t claim emotional support snacks are a cure-all, peanut butter, dark chocolate, or copious ice cream have resolved at least three of my existential crises. And let’s be honest, ice cream? Goated. Yet, I go for healthy options like my special yogurt.

Also, if anyone asks, yes—those crackers were a coping strategy.

4. Laugh Until Something Snorts

Few things shatter the grip of overwhelm like a giggle fit born of pure nonsense.

• Watch a cat valiantly battle a cereal box like a portal to another realm.

• Send your best friend that sacred meme of the raccoon swaddling a baguette as if it were the chosen one.

• Or cue up your favorite comedian on YouTube and laugh—loud, ugly, glorious laughter. You deserve it

Or better yet, recall funny stories. We’ve all been there.

5. Get Outside (or Near a Window, Let’s Be Real)

This one’s not revolutionary, but it works.

Nature is the Earth’s therapist’s office. A little fresh air, even if it’s just standing outside in your pajama pants whispering “what even is this day,” can be weirdly healing.

Bonus points if there are trees. Double bonus if you talk to them. Triple if they answer.

6. Phone a Friend Who Won’t Try to Fix You

We all have That Friend — the one who listens without turning your spiral into a spreadsheet. Call them. Say, “Hey, I don’t need advice, I just need someone to say ‘yikes’ with me.”

Sometimes, that’s all it takes. That and a two-minute voice memo of unintelligible ranting followed by “OK, I feel better now.”

7. Remember: Overwhelmed ≠ Broken

This one is serious because it matters.

You are not weak for feeling overwhelmed. You are not failing because you're tired. You are a gloriously complicated, multi-layered, life-juggling human being doing the best you can. Some days, doing your best is impressive. Other days it’s “I wore pants.” Both are valid.

Final Thoughts From the Overwhelm Trenches

If today feels like you're balancing flaming swords while juggling emotional grenades, please know you’re not alone. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just keep showing up, messy and magnificent, one snack at a time.

We’re all in this ridiculous, beautiful soup together.

Now You Tell Me:

When life feels overwhelming, what’s your secret weapon? Is it a weird ritual, a snack, a song, or a survival dance?
Drop your chaos-coping secrets in the comments—we need each other’s weirdness to survive this thing. 💬💛