There’s something about this time of year that feels like the universe is running a social experiment to see how far parents can be pushed before we spontaneously combust.

The kids’ commitments ramp up.
The shopping centres become a battleground of trolleys, tantrums and zero parking.
Everyone’s getting a little… Christmas crazy.
And suddenly every medical appointment we’ve been putting off all year needs to be squeezed in before December 25th because apparently January doesn’t exist.

For us, the past couple of months have felt like a highlight reel of “Are you kidding me?”
Hospital visits.
Sickness.
Storm damage to the house.
Endless medical appointments.
Just life doing that thing where it throws everything at you at the exact same time.

The other day I sat staring at my to-do list, a chaotic scroll of responsibilities, errands, and things I’d already forgotten twice. My brain went completely blank. I didn’t even know where to start. I could’ve cried. (Okay… maybe I did. A little.)

And then I had a thought:
What if I asked ChatGPT to sort it out for me?

I typed out everything that was weighing on me and asked it to put it into a schedule. Within seconds it spat out a full breakdown of what I had time to do, what was genuinely urgent, and what could absolutely be pushed to later. Did I get through every task?
Nope.

But did it make me feel lighter, calmer, and capable of getting sh*t done?
Absolutely.

Sometimes the thing that helps us the most is simply taking the load off our brains. And honestly? If an AI can help a frazzled mum breathe again for five minutes…I’m here for it.

So if you’re drowning in the end-of-year chaos too, here’s the exact prompt you can use to get the same relief.

💡 The Overwhelm Buster Prompt:

(Copy + paste this whenever your brain is fried)

“I’m overwhelmed and need help planning my day. I have the following tasks to get through: [list everything]. I also need to account for: [times you’re out, kids’ commitments, work appointments, meals, pick ups, rest breaks]. Can you please:

1. Sort these tasks by urgency,
   
   
2. Tell me honestly what can wait,
   
   
3. Create a realistic schedule for today only (max 3–5 priorities),
   
   
4. Give me a simple plan that feels doable,
   
   
5. Add a little encouragement because I’m exhausted.”
   

If this helps even one mum feel a little more human during the silly season, then cheers to that. 🥂
And remember, it’s not about getting everything done.
It’s about surviving with your sanity (mostly) intact.