Your day can go off the rails before your feet even hit the floor. We have all done it: wake up, grab the phone, scan email and news, run the mental calendar, and suddenly everything feels urgent. I sit down with Anne Chester, licensed clinical social worker, to talk about why that reaction is not a character flaw. It is a nervous system problem. When we start the morning in fight or flight, clarity disappears and even simple choices feel heavy.
We dig into Anne’s “soft wake up” idea, a small but powerful morning routine shift that helps your brain wake up before the world starts demanding things. We also talk about stress management at night, like looking at the next day’s schedule early enough that you can still sleep well. Along the way, Anne explains how overwhelm makes every task feel equal, how perfectionism sneaks in as a coping strategy, and why that sets us up for a crash.
One of the most memorable moments is the “green beans on the stove” story, which shows how cluttered thinking can distort priorities in real time. From there, we build a values-based priorities list using practical questions: What needs attention now? What can wait? Does this align with my values like family, integrity, and dignity? Is this actually my responsibility, or am I carrying it to avoid disappointing someone?
If you want less noise in your head and more confidence in your choices, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels maxed out, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
To learn more about Anne Chester™, LCSW Counseling visit:
https://www.AnneChester.com
Anne Chester™, LCSW Counseling
122 River Oaks Drive
Southlake, Texas 76092
817-939-7884