How I Manage My Time as an Anxious Person: Finding Peace Through Intentional Living

Hello friends,

I’m so grateful that you could join me on this beautiful Sunday.

Today, I wanted to chat about something that has been on my mind lately: time management and anxiety. Over the years, my relationship with time has changed dramatically. Looking back, it almost feels like I’ve lived several different lives when it comes to how I manage my days.

In my teens and early twenties, I felt like I could do anything. Time seemed endless, and sleep felt optional. I worked two full-time jobs, attended school, and somehow still had an active social life. I rarely felt overwhelmed, and if I did, I simply pushed through.

When I got married and started a family in my mid-twenties, life became busier, but I still managed to keep up. Between working full-time, being a wife and mother, attending my children’s sporting events and activities, and maintaining friendships, I had a routine that worked. My days were full, but they felt manageable.

Then something changed.

As I entered my mid-thirties and beyond, I found myself struggling more and more with managing my time. The strange thing was that life had actually become less demanding in some ways. My children were growing up and becoming independent. My responsibilities had shifted, yet I constantly felt like I was falling behind.

I couldn’t understand why.

When Anxiety Started Stealing My Time

Eventually, I realized that the problem wasn’t a lack of time—it was anxiety.

The more anxious I became, the more overwhelmed I felt by even simple daily tasks. Things that once seemed routine suddenly felt exhausting. My anxiety showed up as irritability, frustration, and sometimes anger. I dreaded waking up in the morning, and life began to feel more like something I had to endure rather than enjoy.

My negative thoughts affected everything. They influenced how I spoke to myself, how I interacted with my family, my coworkers, and even strangers. Instead of living my life, I felt like I was constantly reacting to it.

Realizing I Needed a Change

Earlier this year, I finally reached a turning point.

I became tired of feeling tired.

For the first time, I recognized that I had become my own obstacle when it came to managing my time and protecting my peace. I knew I couldn’t continue living in a constant state of overwhelm. Something had to change.

Rather than trying to do more, I decided to do less.

I began focusing on three simple changes:

• Spending more time outdoors

• Letting go of rigid to-do lists

• Limiting the things that negatively influence my thoughts

The goal wasn’t productivity.

The goal was peace.

I wanted to experience intentional living, enjoy quiet moments with loved ones, and be fully present in my own life.

Touch Grass First

One of the biggest changes I’ve made is starting my mornings outside.

My partner, Dennis, is usually up before me around 5:30 each morning. He prepares fresh grapefruit juice, coffee, and toast while I make the bed and get ready for the day.

Then we take our breakfast outside.

We sit together and watch the sunrise. Sometimes we chat. Sometimes we simply enjoy the quiet. Afterward, we’ll sweep the walkways, water the flowers and cactus, pull a few weeds, or pick tomatoes and chilies from the garden.

These simple moments have become one of my favorite forms of stress relief and anxiety management.

Before checking emails, social media, or the news, I connect with the real world around me. Starting my day this way helps me feel calm, grounded, and grateful.

The End of the To-Do List

This may sound a little unusual, but I’ve stopped relying on long to-do lists.

Of course, I still have responsibilities. Bills need to be paid, chores need to be done, and work still exists. Life doesn’t stop just because I choose not to make a detailed list.

What I realized, though, is that my to-do lists were becoming a source of stress rather than a helpful tool. As someone who tends to be a little high-strung, I would create these long lists and then feel disappointed when I couldn’t complete everything. Instead of celebrating what I had accomplished, I focused on what was left unfinished.

That cycle simply wasn’t serving me.

By letting go of the pressure to check every box, I’ve learned to focus on what truly needs my attention each day. It has helped reduce my feelings of overwhelm and made my days feel much more manageable.

Now, I’m not saying to-do lists are bad. In fact, I still use a simple list from time to time because I can be a bit forgetful. The difference is that I no longer put pressure on myself to create a lengthy list or finish everything by a certain time. For me, that kind of pressure only adds to the feeling of being overwhelmed.

These days, I focus on what’s most important, give myself grace when things don’t get done, and trust that tomorrow is another opportunity to continue where I left off.

Limiting Outside Influences

Another important change has been setting boundaries around the things I consume.

Staying informed is important, but I’ve learned that too much information can negatively affect my mental well-being.

I noticed that excessive news consumption and social media scrolling often left me feeling anxious, discouraged, or inadequate. Sometimes I would find myself purchasing products I didn’t need because I was convinced they would somehow improve my life.

Other times, I caught myself comparing my life to someone else’s highlight reel.

Comparison never left me feeling inspired. It left me feeling disappointed.

These days, I am much more selective about what I watch, read, and allow into my mind. Protecting my peace has become more important than keeping up with every trend.

How I Feel Now

I still experience anxiety from time to time. I don’t think that part of me will disappear completely.

The difference is that I recognize my triggers much sooner.

Instead of spiraling into frustration, sadness, or anger, I’m able to pause, reset, and move forward. My days feel longer. My mind feels quieter. Most importantly, I feel present.

For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel like I’m watching life happen from a distance.

I’m actually living it.

If you’re someone who struggles with anxiety, overwhelm, or feeling like there are never enough hours in the day, I hope my experience brings you a little comfort. Sometimes the answer isn’t better productivity. Sometimes it’s slowing down, simplifying, and reconnecting with what truly matters.

Thank you for spending part of your Sunday with me.

I’ll chat with you again next week as I continue sharing my personal journey toward a slower, more intentional life.

With gratitude