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What do you think you need more right now – your sanity, or to have your shit together? If you’re anything like me, the answer probably depends on the day – or maybe the hour. It is possible to have both. Most of the time, though, you need to start with your sanity before you can even think about getting your shit together.

Today, we’re going to dive into why that’s true and cover three ways to help you keep your sanity in check so you can tackle the rest without losing your mind.

When I first became a mom, the amount of responsibility was overwhelming beyond belief. Suddenly, I wasn’t just managing my normal responsibilities – I was responsible for this tiny, fragile human who depended on me for everything. The amount of stress and fear I felt was astronomical.

Fast forward to my second kiddo being born – in the middle of the pandemic, no less – and the overwhelm was dialed up even further. The constant juggling of responsibilities, the uncertainty, all the diapers…the sheer weight of it all…it felt like I was barely keeping my head above water.

It took a lot of work to keep my sanity in check amidst all that craziness. I felt like a failure for not having it together, for feeling as though I was losing my mind and for letting things slip and turn into an utter mess.

Eventually, though, I realized that focusing on my sanity was more important than trying to keep all my shit together. Because without our sanity, we have very little chance of successfully managing everything else.

So today, we’re going to talk about three ways to help you maintain your sanity – because when your mind is in a good place, everything else becomes – at least slightly – more manageable.

The first thing that helped me regain my sanity was learning how I could prioritize things in a way that worked for me. When you’re overwhelmed, it’s easy to feel like everything is urgent and important. But not everything needs your attention right now – or maybe, ever.

Let’s start with the power of no. Learning to set boundaries and say no to commitments that don’t align with your values and priorities is life-changing. It’s not always easy – especially if you’re a people-pleaser like me – but it’s necessary. Every time you say no to something that doesn’t serve you, you’re saying yes to something that does.

Another game-changer is the 80/20 Rule. This rule says that roughly 80% of the results you achieve comes from 20% of your efforts. So, what are the vital few tasks that will get you the most significant results? Focus on those first and do your best to let go of the rest.

There’s also time blocking, where you create dedicated blocks of time for specific tasks. For example, you might block out an hour in the morning for focused work, another hour in the afternoon for household chores, and a block in the evening for family time. The time blocks can be however long or short you need them to be to help you stay productive and reduce the overwhelm of trying to juggle everything at once.

The second way to keep your sanity in check is by cultivating a self-care ritual. This doesn’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming – just find a small, consistent way to take care of yourself throughout the day.

What could you do in the mornings to set your mental capacity up for the day? Whether it’s a few minutes of journaling, gentle stretching, or just taking some extra time with your coffee, taking time to center yourself in the morning can set a positive tone for the rest of the day. It’s a chance to check in with yourself before diving into your responsibilities.

Maybe you could use micro breaks – short, intentional breaks throughout the day where you can breathe, stretch, take a quick walk, or just savor your next cup of coffee or tea without distractions. Even five minutes can make a big difference in how you feel.

What about an evening routine? You could carve out time at the end of the day to unwind and think about what went well. Maybe you spend a moment appreciating something positive that happened, or chatting through a highlight of your day with a loved one. It’s a simple but powerful way to end the day on a good note.

The third – and maybe most important – thing is learning to embrace imperfection and let go of guilt. Perfection is unattainable. No matter how hard we try, we’re going to make mistakes, fall short, and have messy days – and that’s okay.

Being imperfect doesn’t mean we’re lacking our sanity.

When things don’t go as planned, practice self-compassion. Treat yourself the way you would treat a friend who’s struggling – with kindness, understanding, and encouragement. Remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can with what you have.

And guilt. Guilt can be so sneaky – it creeps in when you feel like you’re not doing enough, even when you’re already stretched thin.

To let go of the guilt, try reframing past experiences. Instead of focusing on what you didn’t do, think about what you learned. Focus on the present moment and ask yourself, “What can I do right now to feel good and move forward?”

Letting go of guilt isn’t about ignoring your responsibilities – it’s about recognizing that you’re human and giving yourself permission to move on.

Here’s the big takeaway for today: If you’re feeling like you have to choose between your sanity and keeping your shit together, start with your sanity.

By embracing mindful prioritization, cultivating daily self-care rituals, and letting go of perfection and guilt, you’ll create a foundation that makes helps make the all the other shit more manageable.

Take some time this week to try one of these strategies. Maybe you block off an hour for focused work, take a micro break to enjoy your coffee, or practice a little self-compassion when things don’t go as planned.

Whatever you choose, remember that you’re doing the best you can – and that’s enough.

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Read all of my blog posts about organizing.