August Overwhelm: How to Escape the Chaos with a Reset

August. It sneaks up on you with a force that’s hard to ignore. 

It’s not just in your head—this month has a way of piling on. For many, it’s the final push before the end of summer, where the pressure to “make the most of it” meets lots of deadlines. Families gear up for the back-to-school rush, businesses prepare for end-of-year strategies, and personal expectations skyrocket. 

Suddenly, you’re juggling more than you can handle, and without realizing it, you’re trapped in a loop of stress.

Anyone feeling this?

If you don’t carve out space to breathe, you find yourself succumbing to the relentless flow of the month. It becomes harder to think clearly, make decisions, and function at your best. And let’s be honest, it can be hard to ask for help when you need it most.

There is a way out, if you’re willing to slow down, zoom out, reset, and take back control.

But, what does a reset look like?

In the middle of the chaos, a reset isn’t about completely abandoning your responsibilities or disappearing from the world for a week. It’s about creating intentional space to regain your clarity and energy. Who wouldn’t want more of that?

Here’s what a reset during one of your hardest months could look like:

1. Zoom Out and Reflect – Take a moment to look at the big picture. Step away from the clutter of tasks and reflect on where you are. Ask yourself:

• What are the core priorities for this month?
• What can be let go, delayed, or delegated?
• Are you stuck in autopilot, simply reacting to everything that comes your way, or are you actually being intentional with your time?

By zooming out, you start to see the bigger picture, allowing you to focus on what matters most rather than being overwhelmed by minutiae.

2. Set Boundaries – Resetting often means setting firm boundaries. Identify the non-negotiables in your life and decide where you can start to say “no” more often.

Create small windows of time where you are unreachable, even if it’s just 30 minutes in the morning or evening. When you respect your own boundaries, others will begin to also.

3. Create Physical and Mental Space – A reset often requires you to declutter both physically and mentally. Clear off your desk, organize your workspace, and decide what you can physically let go of around you. A clean space translates into a clearer mind. 

If that feels overwhelming, don’t be afraid to partner with someone else’s gift by getting help with what you need. 

4. Prioritize Self-Care – Maybe it sounds cliche, but self-care is the backbone of a reset. No one functions well when they’re running on empty. It doesn’t have to mean a spa day – simple things like hydrating, eating good food, getting solid sleep, and moving your body can make a huge difference.

An Emerge alumni recently reflected on a powerful behavior she’d been practicing: having a conversation out loud with herself in the mirror each morning using questions like these: 

How are you feeling? 

What do you need? 

What do you want to believe today? 

Mel Robbins built an entire platform on the High Five Habit which was high-fiving yourself in the mirror. There must be something to it.   

The alternative is being swallowed by the chaos.

It’s easy to resist the reset. AND, if you push through August without trying it, you’ll likely find a deeper overwhelm when September rolls around. The truth is, if you don’t create a way out, you’ll be swallowed by the very chaos you’re trying to avoid. 

Don’t make up that a reset means a long term slow down. It simply means that you’re creating intentional space for yourself to speed up the big picture and create better results. 

And speaking of intentional space that yields greater results – we have Emerge, designed for such a time as this. If you’re pulled towards a reset, this might be YOUR time.

We designed this women’s leadership experience to move leaders to their next level. The power of community around change is undeniable, especially when it comes to the big rocks and moves we can’t tackle alone. Groups change people.

In the months where we feel the most resistant to a reset are likely the months we may need it the MOST. 

What do you need right now? 

Are you looking for someone to help you figure that out? 

Ask yourself that question and stop. Wait for the answer. 

New clarity, confidence and transformation are waiting on the other side.