Everyone gets overwhelmed this is normal. I know that you do not work now and I know it can be really tough not to have the schedule of working. A lot of people do not realize that staying home isn't one long vacation, it can be hard to stay motivated and can even be depressing. It is a lot of work to keep yourself motivated and give yourself purpose. With that, many people feel a lot of guilt and shame for staying home. They think, I should be so happy, many people would love to stay home, many people could accomplish a lot more than me. This added pressure and guilt makes it even harder to get motivated. Many people who stay home can experience depressive symptoms. That is why it is important to put yourself on a schedule of some kind. It does not have to be a fixed schedule but some routine is good.
What I suggest is every Sunday. Lucky today is Sunday!
Write down everything you would like to accomplish for that week. Prioritze them by putting A beside the task for top priority, B for medium and C for less priority. You can also rate them for how much work you think they will take. You may need to break the task into sections depending on how large of a task it is. Then plunk these items into a calendar. Try to start your day with a few smaller tasks then jump into the large ones. End your day with a few smaller ones. You should try to aim to get all the top priority tasks complete during the week but if you do not, do not feel guilty, simply move them to the next week.
Now the fun part! Also in your calendar schedule in rewards. If you complete a task or number of tasks (it is up to you). Plan in a reward, going for a walk, reading a book, playing a game, having a snack etc. These rewards are deserved and they are essential. Do not feel guilty because it is a very important part of your schedule. Plan bigger rewards for bigger tasks.
I suggest to not try to take on too much at once. Start small and gradually schedule in more. Try not to overwhelm yourself. Let us know if you try it and how it works for you.
Ashley, Health Educator