How I responded to one of my client's questions about a to-do list "pile-up"

"Do you have any resources about what to do about feeling overwhelm especially when things have to be pushed to the next day, so at the end of the week there's a big pile up? I know that I need more time than I normally do to prepare to focus/tackle tasks, but I don't know how to adjust my reality (I need to get things done!) with my other reality (I can't do as much as I used to)."

Thank you for naming this so clearly, what you're describing is such a common and real experience, especially for folks navigating shifting capacity or executive functioning challenges. It makes total sense that it feels overwhelming when the tasks keep moving forward and accumulating, even as your energy and focus might not be matching what they used to.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but here are a few ideas we can explore together:

1. Name the pile-up with compassion – Sometimes just acknowledging “this is a pile-up week” without judgment can soften the shame or pressure that often sneaks in. You’re not doing anything wrong—your capacity is just asking for different support.

   
   

2. Work with your current reality, not against it – Instead of trying to push through with your old pace, we can look at new rhythms. What would it look like to plan for more prep/focus time up front, and to intentionally leave buffer space for carryover tasks?

   
   

3. Try a weekly “sweep and sort” ritual – This could be 30 minutes on Friday or Monday to look at what rolled over, name priorities, and gently drop anything that’s no longer essential. It gives you a moment to reorient instead of feeling stuck under a pile.

   
   

4. Use visual/task tools that align with your brain – If it helps, I can suggest or explore tools (like visual week planners, kanban boards, or time-blocking methods) that make the pile-up feel more concrete and manageable, rather than just a looming “ugh.”

   
   

And most importantly: your needs and pace are valid. There is nothing broken about you—just a new calibration to figure out. We can absolutely work on adjusting systems and expectations so you can move through your week with more ease and less overwhelm.

Would it feel helpful to take a closer look together at a recent week and identify some small adjustments we could try?