Overcoming Overwhelm At Work

We all have those moments where life feels massive and you’re sure you’ll never tick everything off your list. It can affect anyone, but for those of us with dyslexia or ADHD, it can strike like lightning. In this episode, I shared a powerful method to blast through that overwhelm.

The idea is simple: turn your daunting tasks into a playful challenge. We talked about why this matters, what it looks like in real life, and how you can try it today. Below is a quick recap of the main steps I covered, plus a few of my personal reflections on using this approach.

The Overwhelm – Why Our Brains Freeze

Overwhelm isn’t just a vague feeling. It’s your brain in fight, flight, or hide mode because it sees too many tasks at once. It’s not laziness or failure. If you’re dyslexic, you might recognise storms of anxiety when your to-do list stretches across the cosmos.

That feeling where you’d rather do anything else than start? It’s something many of us experience. I call it the “spiral of inaction.” The more you put off tasks, the heavier they feel. This is where to-do list bingo steps into the picture.

Turning Stress into a Game

Gamification is a fancy word, but the idea doesn’t have to be complicated. Instead of dragging yourself through chores, you create a mini-competition. When you transform tasks into a bingo board, each completed square feels like a win. You’re not just ticking off tasks, you’re adding a dash of fun.

“This little trick saved me today. As the overwhelm was building, I wanted to share it with you.”

With this method, you break tasks into small, clear squares. Whether you need to do the dishes, write emails, or queue at the post office, each one is its own bite-sized mission. Once you cross out your squares, you’ll see progress in a way that feels rewarding.

How To-Do List Bingo Works

The concept is straightforward:

• Write your tasks in boxes on an imaginary (or printed) bingo grid
• Focus on one square at a time
• “Complete your line” by finishing a row
• Reward yourself when you get bingo

That’s it. You can get as creative as you like. Draw it on a piece of paper, make it on your phone, or even create a shared bingo board with a friend. If you want to see exactly how I do it, there’s a step-by-step resource I put together linked at the end of this post.

My Personal Experience

If you’re anything like me, seeing 100 tasks at once can shut down the day in record time. But when I map them out on a bingo board, the chaos has clear boundaries. I stop worrying about every single thing and focus on a handful of squares.

This shift energises me. It’s less about perfect technique and more about giving my dyslexic mind a system that doesn’t feel oppressive. I can see tangible progress, and that alone reduces my stress levels.

I’ve also used these strategies to trick my brain into motion:

• Pair dreaded tasks with something fun. Listen to your favourite music while doing chores.
• Set tiny goals. A single square instead of a whole page of tasks.
• Use built-in rewards. Watch a short show or enjoy a snack when you complete a line.

Making It Work for You

You don’t have to use bingo every single day. It’s a tool to pull out whenever you feel a wave of paralysis creeping in. You could tailor it to deadlines, creative projects, or even household chores.

The goal is to keep it light, so you can adjust it to fit your personality. If you’re more visual, make sure your boxes are bright and colourful. If you like structure, keep it neat and tidy. Whatever helps you feel in charge.

Remember, you’re allowed to experiment. No one’s marking you down if you try a few squares and then decide you need to re-arrange them. The beauty is in making this your own.

Key Takeaways

• Bingo boards turn a heavy to-do list into a game.
• Breaking tasks into squares makes each step manageable.
• Small wins can build momentum faster than you think.
• Overwhelm is natural, but you can move through it with simple, playful methods.
• Experiment to find the version that fits your life.

If you want to hear the full scoop and get a detailed tutorial, have a listen to the podcast. The player will appear at the top of this page, so you can dive deeper into all the ins and outs. And if you want to give To-Do List Bingo a go, find it here. It might just be the quickest way to turn your mountain of tasks into an achievable adventure.