When I am overwhelmed, I reduce my priorities. I have tried this, and it works every single time.
By de-prioritizing, I declutter my mind and unburden it of multiple tasks. On days I feel tired, my temperament does not support stretching my mind in multiple directions.
De-prioritizing saves me from the anxiety created by unfinished tasks and allows me to focus on a select few tasks.
The stripped-down list is comforting because I consciously de-prioritized.
Why conscious de-prioritization? Because when we do it consciously, it wires our brain to believe that the selected tasks match our energy levels, and once we complete them efficiently, we have lived a resourceful day.
One counterargument is that we should refrain from giving in to mood swings. But this adversely affects productivity because an anxious mind cannot deliver.
By de-prioritizing, I choose to tackle a few tasks efficiently, which also helps prevent procrastination from ruining the next day.
Otherwise, the overwhelm-induced paralysis can push people into an endless loop of procrastination and delay.