How To Get It Together When You Feel Like You Can't

Simple Tips to Help You Function on the Hardest Days

We all have those days—when life feels like a weighted blanket you didn’t ask for. The idea of “keeping it together” can seem laughable when everything feels like too much. Whether it’s stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, or just the relentless demands of modern life, the reality is: functioning can be hard. And when you're an introvert or a woman trying to balance emotional labor, mental clutter, and external pressures, it can feel even harder.

This post is your permission slip to not be perfect. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just need a way to get through today—and maybe tomorrow too. Below are practical, compassionate tips to help you get through the tough times, one small, doable step at a time.

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1. Accept That You’re Not Broken

First and foremost: if you’re struggling, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. You are not broken. You are human.

Introverts, in particular, often internalize the idea that needing solitude or silence means weakness. Women are often told they should be endlessly resilient. But struggle is not a character flaw. It’s part of life. Let’s normalize having bad days—and not judging ourselves for them.

2. Identify Your “Minimum Viable Actions” (MVAs)

When you're barely getting by, traditional to-do lists can feel overwhelming. Enter: MVAs.

Minimum Viable Actions are the absolute smallest tasks you can do to keep yourself afloat. Think: brushing your teeth, drinking a glass of water, answering one urgent email, or putting on clean underwear. That’s it.

Ask yourself:

• “What’s one thing I can do today, even if it’s tiny?”

• “What’s the bare minimum version of what I’m trying to accomplish?”

For example:

• Too exhausted to shower? Use face wipes and dry shampoo.

• No energy to cook? Eat a handful of nuts and some fruit.

• Can’t reply to all the texts? Send one heart emoji to a friend.

  
  

Start with one MVA. Then, if it feels good, try another.

🎯 Pro tip: Use a simple dry erase board or sticky note system to list 3 MVAs per day. Keep it somewhere visible like your bathroom mirror or nightstand.

3. Create a “Crisis Routine”

On good days, routines keep us organized. On bad days, they keep us alive.

A crisis routine is a stripped-down version of your normal day. It’s designed for when you're running on emotional fumes. The goal isn't productivity—it's preservation.

Example Crisis Routine:

1. Wake up and stretch in bed for 30 seconds.

2. Drink a glass of water.

3. Take medication (if needed).

4. Sit outside or near a window for 5 minutes.

5. Eat something.

6. Change into clean(ish) clothes.

7. Move your body gently (like a slow walk or yoga stretch).

   
   

This isn’t about self-optimization. It’s about grounding.

4. Curate a “Comfort Toolkit”

When your mental energy is low, decision fatigue makes everything harder. That’s where a pre-made comfort toolkit helps.

Think of it like an emotional first-aid kit filled with things that bring you peace, calm, or relief.

Ideas for your toolkit:

• A cozy blanket or weighted throw

• A lavender-scented roller or essential oil

• Favorite tea or hot cocoa mix

• A playlist of comforting music

• Fidget tools or stress balls

• A feel-good book or audiobook

• Photos or letters from loved ones

You can keep these in a pretty basket, tote, or even a drawer. When you’re overwhelmed, don’t think—just grab the kit.

🛒 Recommended product:Hug Sleep Pod – A gentle, full-body calming compression blanket-alternative that’s perfect for anxious nights.

5. Say “No” Without Apologizing

When you’re in survival mode, protecting your energy is non-negotiable.

Introverts already know how draining people and events can be. Add stress or emotional overwhelm to the mix, and even one small social obligation can tip the scales.

Practice saying:

• “I’m not available right now, but thank you for thinking of me.”

• “I’m prioritizing rest this weekend.”

• “I can’t commit to anything new at the moment.”

No further explanation needed. You’re not selfish. You’re setting a boundary.

6. Set Up “Low-Effort Wins” Around the House

If the chaos in your surroundings matches the chaos in your mind, start small. A little environmental support can go a long way.

Try:

• Decluttering just one surface (a nightstand, desk, or bathroom sink).

• Keeping a catch-all basket by your bed for random clutter.

• Using soft lighting (like warm LED string lights or a Himalayan salt lamp) to create a calm atmosphere.

🛒 Recommended product:Smart Plug with Timer – Plug your lamp or white noise machine into it, and set it to turn on and off automatically. One less thing to think about.

7. Switch From “Doing” to “Being”

Productivity culture tells us we are only as valuable as what we achieve. But sometimes, the best thing you can do is just be.

Instead of asking:

• “What should I be doing right now?”

Ask:

• “How do I want to feel right now?”

If you want to feel calm, do something that brings calm. That might be sitting in silence, wrapping up in a blanket, watching a comfort show (hello, The Great British Bake Off), or staring at the ceiling for 20 minutes.

That’s not wasted time. That’s recovery.

8. Digital Detox Moments

Phones can be both lifelines and landmines. When you're feeling fragile, constant notifications, bad news, or performative positivity can make things worse.

Try:

• A 30-minute phone break (put it in another room).

• Turning off all non-essential notifications.

• Following more accounts that make you feel seen, not shamed.

🛒 Recommended product:TimeCube Timer – A physical timer with pre-set intervals that helps you take focused breaks or quiet time without checking your phone.

9. Talk to Someone—Even If It’s Just Text

You don’t have to go through this alone. But reaching out can feel impossible when you're low.

Start small:

• Text a friend: “I’m having a rough day. Can I just vent?”

• Use a peer-support app like Wisdo or 7 Cups.

• Talk to a therapist (virtual therapy is a game-changer).

Even just putting your feelings into words—whether to a friend, a therapist, or a journal—can give you some breathing room.

10. Celebrate Micro-Wins

When you’re in survival mode, your brain often filters for failure. Flip the script.

Celebrate:

• Getting out of bed.

• Sending one email.

• Washing your face.

• Asking for help.

• Saying “no.”

These are not small things when you’re struggling. They are signs of strength.

Keep a “Done” list instead of a “To-Do” list for a while. Watch it grow. It’s powerful.

Final Thoughts: You Are Allowed to Just Get Through Today

You don’t need to be thriving. You don’t need to glow-up. You just need to get through the next 24 hours. That’s enough. You are enough.

If all you did today was survive—then that’s still something to be proud of.

And if you’re someone who has a little more energy tomorrow, come back to this list. Use it. Share it. And remind yourself that needing support is never weakness—it’s wisdom.

Bonus: Quick-Access “Get Through the Day” Survival List

Keep this somewhere handy for emergency days:

✅ Brush teeth or use a mint

✅ Drink one full glass of water

✅ Eat something—even crackers

✅ Change into clean clothes

✅ Step outside or open a window

✅ Text one friend “Hey”

✅ Sit in silence for 5 minutes

✅ Cross one MVA off your list

✅ Celebrate what you did (not what you didn’t)