Don’t Try to Solve Everything Today

There are days when a person wakes up as if life has placed all its burdens on their shoulders at once.

They think about their family’s needs, the obligations awaiting them, the plans that have stalled, and what they fear in the days ahead. They move from one problem to another in their mind, even before their day has truly begun, and feel exhausted as though they have fought a long battle.

*In Gaza, needs can crowd in to the point of leaving a person unsure where to start, especially when resources are limited, conditions are unstable, and some problems are entirely beyond their control.*

The problem here is not always the sheer number of burdens, but our attempt at times to carry them all in the same moment, to find an answer to every question, a solution to every problem, and a guarantee for every fear.

But we are human, and we are not required to solve all of life in a single day.

 How do we lighten this load for ourselves?

First: Get the problems out of your head and onto paper.

When thoughts crowd together, problems seem bigger and more tangled. Set aside a few minutes to write down what weighs on you, without ordering it or trying to solve it. This step will help you see your burdens more clearly, instead of going round and round inside them.

Second: Divide what weighs on you into three groups.

What you can do today, what needs time or help, and what you cannot control at present.

Start with the first group, set a realistic plan for the second, and try not to drain your energy chasing guarantees you do not have regarding the third.

This does not mean surrender, but distinguishing between the responsibility that falls on you and the circumstances you cannot change by your will alone.

Third: Choose one small task.

Do not tell yourself: “I must organize my whole life.” Say: “What useful step can I accomplish right now?”.

It might be a necessary phone call, tidying something at home, helping a child with homework, or setting aside time to rest. A small accomplishment does not solve every problem, but it restores some of your sense of being able to act.

Fourth: Allow yourself to rest without blame.

Rest is not a reward you deserve only after finishing all your duties; some duties may not end any time soon. An exhausted person may need time to regain the ability to think and work. If circumstances do not allow a long rest, a short break, moments of calm breathing, or talking with someone you trust may help.

Fifth: Do not face everything alone.

Asking for help is not proof of helplessness. Sometimes sharing responsibility, turning to someone trustworthy, or seeking specialized support when needed is a wiser step than continuing in silence until exhaustion.

And if anxiety continues to the point of disrupting sleep or daily life, do not hesitate to seek appropriate psychological help.

We do not need to deny how difficult reality is, nor to convince ourselves that everything will be easy. We need to deal with what we can do, give ourselves the right to move gradually, and not judge ourselves for being unable to accomplish what is beyond our capacity.

Remember: you are not required to finish all your problems today; what is required is to know what step is possible today, then give yourself a chance to start again tomorrow.

For sometimes, restoring balance does not begin with solving the biggest problem, but with stopping the attempt to solve them all at once.