The Little Things That Are Saving My Sanity This Season

Have you ever noticed how it’s rarely the big, grand gestures that hold you together — but the small, almost invisible rhythms you cling to?

This season of life has been full. The kind of full where laundry piles up, the group chat is buzzing, and the to-do list has its own to-do list. And now, with back-to-school in full swing, there are early mornings, new routines, and a calendar that seems to fill itself.

If I’m honest, I’ve caught myself teetering on the edge of overwhelm more than once.

But here’s what’s surprising me: it’s not a giant life overhaul that’s saving me right now. It’s the little things. The everyday comforts. The habits and rituals that feel so small they could be overlooked — yet somehow, they’re making all the difference.

Today I’m sharing them here, in case you’re in a full season too and need a few gentle lifelines of your own.

2. A No-Overthinking Dinner List

Decision fatigue is real. After a long day, the last thing I want to do is stand in front of the fridge trying to figure out what to make. So we keep a short list — six go-to dinners we all love.

They’re not gourmet. They’re not Instagram-perfect. But they’re quick, familiar, and everyone actually eats them. Having this list means I don’t have to think twice — I just pick one, make it, and we move on with our evening. It’s such a small thing, but it’s amazing how much mental space it frees up.

3. My “Three Things” Rule

My brain loves to run through all the things that need to get done — which, if I’m not careful, can spiral into overwhelm fast. I tend to see the full mountain at once instead of just the next step in front of me.

So, to help my ADHD mind actually get things done, I stick to just three priorities each day. Not thirty. Not “everything.” Three.

These are the things that, if I finish them, I’ll feel accomplished — even if nothing else gets done. Some days those three things are work-related; other days, it’s a mix of personal and business. And if I check them off early, great — the rest is bonus.

It’s a small shift, but it keeps me focused, lowers the overwhelm, and helps me end the day feeling like I moved the needle instead of just spinning my wheels.

4. A Hard Cutoff for Work

One thing I’ve tried hard to do in this season is protect my time — both for my family and for my own peace of mind. That means creating boundaries that I actually stick to.

For me, that looks like a hard cutoff for work at 6:00 PM. No phone calls. No “just one more email.” No scrolling through the inbox when I’m supposed to be present with my people.

I’ll be honest — I don’t always get it perfect. There are nights when I can’t sleep and I find myself opening my email “just to check something,” only to get pulled into responding. And every time I do that, I’m reminded of something I’ve learned the hard way: when I answer outside of work hours, I give others access to my time. I teach them that my time is always available, and that’s not the kind of precedent I want to set.

The truth is, work will expand to fill the space you give it. If you allow it to bleed into every corner of your day, it will. That’s why hard stops are a must. Not only do they protect my energy, but they also send a quiet message — to myself and others — that my time with my family matters just as much as my to-do list.

5. One Thing Just for Me — Lately, It’s Reading

For those of you who may not know, I love to read. Not in a “read-a-book-a-week” way, but in a way that makes the books I do pick feel extra special. Each year, I choose at least two books that I really want to read — the kind that make me clear the calendar a little or sneak in a few extra pages at bedtime.

Right now, that book is Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, a gem I found through Reese’s Book Club. I’m not a daily reader, and I don’t pressure myself to be. Some books I fly through in a few days; others I savor slowly over weeks. But making space for a story that’s just for me — not for work, not for anyone else — feels like pressing pause on the noise.

Whether I’m curled up with a blanket or listening to the audiobook while I fold laundry, it’s a reminder that I can still find moments that are mine alone.

Here’s the truth: The little things don’t solve everything — but they make the hard days lighter and the good days even sweeter. And sometimes, that’s enough.

So, tell me: What’s one small thing saving you right now? I’d love to hear it.