<p>Hey, hey, I hope you've had a great, great, great, great week! I’m Anna-Marie Ellison, and welcome back to Grit & Grace, my current passion project where we talk about life, balance, and real estate. I'm so glad you're here. I hope you’ve taken some time to set up your week, just like we talked about last time, preparing yourself to feel confident and treating yourself like someone who truly matters.</p><p>Let me start with a little story. I recently shared on social media that I accidentally microwaved my food scale! I was preparing my meal, and somehow, I tossed the entire food scale in with my Tupperware and set it for two minutes. A couple minutes later, I heard my son, Major, say, “Hey Mom, did you mean to put the food scale in the microwave?” Sure enough, I had! The microwave didn’t explode, and thankfully nothing caught fire, but the scariest part for me was that I had no idea I’d done it. My mind was so scattered that I didn’t even notice what was happening right in front of me.</p><p>Now, let’s talk about why I’m sharing this. It’s not about the food scale. It’s about how easy it is to miss our own warning signs when life gets busy. It’s one thing to say, “Hey, I’m juggling a lot,” but are you actually listening to your body and paying attention to those signals?</p><p>Recognizing Your Limits</p><p>Sometimes, we’re doing too much without even realizing it. And I’m not just talking about the bad stuff – I’m talking about the good stuff, too. The excitement of new routines, your kids starting back at school, maybe a new job, joining that chamber choir, or watching your child play varsity and JV sports two nights a week. None of this is bad! It’s all wonderful. But even great things can push us to our limits.</p><p>For me, one of the first signs I’m reaching my bandwidth is when I start feeling extra tired or, apparently, when I microwave things I shouldn’t! Recognizing when you’re hitting your mental and physical limits is key to staying present and enjoying all of the amazing things happening in your life.</p><p>Actionable Steps to Manage the Overwhelm</p><p>* <strong>Take Something Off Your Plate</strong>I know it’s tempting to try and do it all, but here’s the reality – you can’t, at least not without burning out. The first step is learning to remove, not add, responsibilities. What can you delegate or eliminate? If you’re like me and can't reduce your commitments, find smaller tasks to let go of to create more mental space.</p><p>* <strong>Prepare with Purpose</strong><a target="_blank" href="https://gritandgracebyame.substack.com/p/mastering-your-week">Last week, I talked about the importance of preparing for the week</a>. It’s not just about time management – it’s about giving yourself the confidence to tackle each day. If you missed it, go check it out. Preparing helps you stay ahead of the chaos and keeps you intentional with your time.</p><p>* <strong>Move Your Body</strong>Walking is my go-to for clearing my head. It’s like hitting the reset button on my mind. Find something that gives you the same clarity – maybe it’s walking, yoga, or even dancing around the kitchen. Physical movement does wonders for your mental health.</p><p>* <strong>Reduce Digital Distractions</strong>I’ve recently started a dopamine detox, and let me tell you – it’s eye-opening. I took myself off social media, and I’m already noticing how much of my time and focus I was giving away to mindless scrolling. It’s not easy, but it’s been worth it. I challenge you to try it for a week. Track how often you pick up your phone without even thinking about it. You might be surprised!</p><p>Are You Listening to Your Body’s Feedback?</p><p>So, here’s my challenge for you: When you have a lot going on, do you notice your body's signals? Do you catch those little moments that tell you, "Hey, we’re almost at our limit here"? It’s all good stuff, but even good things need your full attention. What are you doing to take action when your body or mind starts throwing out those red flags?</p><p>For me, I microwaved my food scale. My first step was reducing the number of digital distractions, cutting out social media to focus on the things that matter most. What about you? What steps can you take to make sure you’re fully present for the amazing things in your life?</p><p>Let’s talk about it! How do you recognize when your bandwidth is stretched too thin, and what do you do about it? Share your thoughts with our Grit & Grace community.</p><p>Hope you have a great rest of your week! Take care of yourself – you deserve it.</p><p></p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Grit & Grace at <a href="https://gritandgracebyame.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">gritandgracebyame.substack.com/subscribe</a>