Breaking It Down: When Big Goals Feel Too Big

We set goals with the best intentions—clean the house, write the book, change the linen, change our lives. But sometimes, even the most ordinary tasks can feel like Everest. Not because we’re weak, but because we’re human.

I used to get anxiety attacks every time I changed all the bed linen. It felt endless. Like the doona covers were mocking me. Like the fitted sheets were plotting my downfall. I’d stand there, frozen, wondering how something so domestic could feel so impossible.

Then one day, I gave myself permission to break the rule.

I did my bed one day.
The girls’ beds the next.
And guess what? The earth didn’t end. The linen still got changed. I still achieved the goal—I just broke it up.

🧠 The Coaching Reframe

When a goal feels overwhelming, it’s not a sign to quit. It’s a sign to chunk it down.

• Break it into smaller tasks

• Spread it over days or weeks

• Celebrate each step as progress—not failure

This isn’t laziness. It’s strategic self-care. It’s honoring your energy, your rhythm, your reality.

💬 Coaching Prompt

What’s one goal that’s been sitting heavy on your shoulders? What’s the smallest piece of it you could do today—and still call it a win?