recently ive felt like i’m being pulled in so many different directions. im doing dance and drama and mun, as well as taking difficult courses in school, and i just cant deal. ive already missed dance and drama rehearsals becaue of other commitments and i completely missed an appointment with my college counselor because i had so much going on. everyone is md at me, and all of my activity leaders keep telling me that their activity is a commitment, and i can’t miss any rehearsals or conferences, but sometimes things overlap and its so, so hard to keep track of everything. and when i do get a second to myself, i just find myself doom scrolling or procastinating, and im SO FREAKING EXHAUSTED ALL. THE. TIME. and at the same time, i feel like im not doing enough. i dont have enough extracirriculars, my grades aren’t good enough, i dont have any leadership roles. its just too much, and i can’t ever seem to escape it. please help.
Hi @user1554
Thank you for sharing what you are experiencing. I can see how difficult it has been for you. I believe many students also face similar commitment and scheduling conflicts. It totally makes sense that you are feeling exhausted and burnt out. It’s made more challenging with the pressure from activity leaders and you are having self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy.
Please do not be discouraged.You can overcome this. 
Firstly, recognise that you’re doing too much. It’s okay to acknowledge your limits.
Prioritise
- Essential school commitments (classes, exams).
- Critical extracurriculars (those bringing you joy or significant benefits).
- Personal well-being (rest, self-care, relaxation).
Simplify and Streamline
- Re-evaluate commitments: Consider dropping or scaling back non-essential activities.
- Create a master calendar: Visualize conflicts and plan accordingly.
- Set realistic goals: Focus on achievable objectives.
- Learn to say “no”: Politely decline non-essential requests.
Time Management Strategies
- Pomodoro Technique: Work in focused 25-minute increments.
- Break tasks into smaller chunks.
- Schedule downtime and self-care.
- Use productivity tools (apps, planners).
Self-Care
- Sleep (7-9 hours) and exercise regularly.
- Mindfulness and relaxation techniques (meditation, yoga).
- Connect with supportive friends and family.
- Engage in enjoyable activities (hobbies).
- Seek support from a school Counsellor or a trusted teacher.
Reframe Perceptions
- Recognize your worth beyond achievements.
- Focus on progress, not perfection.
- Celebrate small victories.
Please know that you are not alone. Many students face similar challenges. Take small steps toward balance and self-care. You can do this one tiny step at a time♥️.
Hi! It is okay to feel what you are feeling. People in your situation will also usually feel overwhelmed/exhausted. In your post, you mentioned that you feel that you are not good enough. I understand that perhaps you wanted to do more so that you can keep up with the progress.
Typically, people who do many things, are likely to have less time/energy for activities. In the past, my friends who were studying well in school, typically don’t commit that much. Thus, focusing 1-2 activities might be one of the techniques that you can consider to score well.
Nevertheless, I feel that you are very resilient. Given that you have so many commitments, it is really hard to try and keep up schedule. It seem like you have tried to keep up commitments even though you missed dances and drama rehearsals. You also deserved to be supported by others. I would suggest you to speak to your teachers and consider to reduce some commitments.
hello! it must be really difficult juggling so many things at once, and it seems its all been very exhausting to keep up with. it’s completely okay to feel overwhelmed when you’re trying to do so much. its easy to feel like we’re not doing enough especially when we compare ourselves to others, but your worth isn’t measured by how busy your schedule is. its important to recognise that 1. you’re already doing so well managing everything at once, and 2. recognise your limits and prioritise rest. its okay to step back and say no to things that are draining you, it doesn’t mean you’re failing, it just means you’re taking care of yourself. after all, if you end up being burnt out and exhausted, you wont be able to accomplish anything in that state right?
I’ll say it again, i think you’ve done really well juggling so many commitments at a go, it really shows how dedicated and hardworking you are. recognize the amazing things you’ve already done and let yourself rest when you need to.
Hi @user1554,
Thank you for having the courage to share this with us. It does sound incredibly overwhelming to juggle so many commitments, especially with dance, drama, Model UN, and your challenging school courses. It’s completely understandable that things are overlapping and that you’re feeling pulled in every direction. Missing rehearsals and appointments can be really stressful, especially when others are expressing their disappointment. It’s difficult to meet everyone’s expectations when you’re already stretched so thin. It’s okay to feel exhausted—balancing everything can be such a heavy load to carry. It also sounds like you’re really hard on yourself, thinking that you’re not doing enough. It’s important to remember that you’re giving your best effort, and sometimes that just isn’t feasible with everything on your plate.
Do you think it might help to prioritize your commitments or even take a step back from a few activities for your well-being? Taking a break from doom scrolling and allowing yourself some downtime, even for a few minutes, could also be beneficial. You’re not alone in feeling this way, and it is okay to seek support from friends, family, or a counsellor to help you navigate through this. You deserve to feel balanced and to take care of yourself.