How to Conquer Overwhelm and Reclaim Your Life—One Step at a Time

Hey friends, Erica here! If you’re new around here, I’m the host of The Crazy Ex-Wives Club, and today we’re diving deeper into something every woman navigating life, motherhood, and divorce knows all too well: overwhelm.

As we wrap up Season 10, I found myself staring down a monster to-do list, preparing for a completely unplugged week in the Colorado mountains, and feeling that familiar rush of “how am I supposed to do all of this?”

So grab something cozy and take a breath. Let’s talk about how to stop letting the endless list of “shoulds” run the show—and how to reclaim peace, clarity, and control, one grounded step at a time.

The Never-Ending To-Do List: Why It’s Not Just You

Let’s be honest: sometimes your to-do list feels like a magician’s trick—one of those never-ending scarves they keep pulling out of a hat. And when you’re a single parent or navigating life post-divorce, there’s no one backstage to hand it off to.

As I prepared for a week with zero cell service (yes, zero!), I realized something important:
Overwhelm isn’t created by how much you have to do—it’s created by the way we hold all of it.

For years I believed that if I pushed harder, stayed up later, or powered through, the list would eventually shrink. Spoiler: it never did.

But when I stopped letting circumstances dictate my energy—and instead focused on what actually mattered—everything shifted.

Unplugging: The Hardest (and Weirdly Easiest) First Step

If you’ve ever caught yourself doom-scrolling before your day even begins, you know the truth: our devices drain us long before life does. It took a forced digital detox for me to realize that sometimes the clearest thinking happens when our phones aren’t within reach.

Here are a few surprisingly simple ways to reset:

• Charge your phone in another room at night. “Out of sight, out of mind” is real—and really effective.

• Take short, intentional breaks from tech. Leave your phone in your bag at dinner or turn on Do Not Disturb when you’re spending time with your kids.

• Notice your triggers. When you reach for your phone because you’re anxious, bored, or avoiding something, that’s a clue that something deeper needs attention.

Tiny shifts create massive results. Truly.

Focus on One Thing a Day: The Antidote to Anxiety

This strategy changed everything for me—and for so many women in this community.

Every morning, I look at my messy, overflowing to-do list, breathe, and choose one thing. Just one.

Asking, “What is the one thing I can do today that will move the marker?” gives your brain and nervous system room to breathe. You stop carrying the entire load and start creating momentum from a single, doable step.

Try it yourself:

• Brain-dump everything swirling in your head.

• Pick the one priority that matters today.

• Celebrate even the tiniest win.

• And if that’s all you get done? Tomorrow is waiting with a clean slate.

Give Yourself Permission to Let Go

Here’s one gift divorce quietly hands you: permission.

Permission not to do it all.
Permission not to do it perfectly.
Permission to protect your energy like it actually matters—because it does.

For me, that meant easy dinners, skipping school volunteer shifts, and letting go of the tiny things that didn’t truly matter. And guess what? The world kept spinning. In fact, life got easier, softer, and more spacious.

Letting go doesn’t magically create time—but it creates room for the things that actually sustain you.

Community and Support: You Are Not Alone

I created The Club, because so many women said they felt completely alone. I knew how important having a supportive circle was during my healing journey, so I created a space for us to gather and support each other through it. Divorce isn’t something we’re meant to do by ourselves. You deserve support, connection, honest conversations, and a place to land when things feel heavy.

Whether you join a call, listen to an episode, or simply allow yourself to rest, you’re already taking steps to reclaim your life.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, try asking yourself:
What’s one small shift I can make this week to support myself the way I support everyone else?

Your Next Step

Overwhelm isn’t a character flaw or a personal failure—it’s a sign you’re carrying too much without enough support. And that story can be rewritten.

Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. Choose your one thing today. Take the next small step. Give yourself so much grace in the process.

Season 11 is coming soon, and I can’t wait to share insights from my unplugged mountain retreat. Until then, I’m cheering you on.

What one thing will you do for yourself today?

With love and grace,
Erica Bennett, Host of The Crazy Ex-Wives Club

P.S. Need community? Join us inside The Crazy Ex-Wives Club—because you never have to walk this part of your story alone. Right now you can join us for every call, laugh and deep cry until January 15, 2026 for only $99. Snag your Holiday Survival Pass now and join us for our next chat November 25th.