Is my stress coming from workload or from uncertainty about my direction?

Like I do follow up a simple rule of thumb:

If the stress goes away when you get organized - it’s workload.
If the stress shows up when you slow down - it’s uncertainty.

It might be a mix of both, but there is a way to tell the difference. Try checking in with yourself using these questions:

1. If the workload disappeared tomorrow, would you feel relieved… or still uneasy?

Relieved: The issue is probably the volume or pace of work.
Still uneasy: That usually means the deeper stress comes from uncertainty about direction, purpose, or next steps.

2. Does the stress feel tied to specific tasks or deadlines, or is it more of a background anxiety?

Task-based stress (you can point to what’s overwhelming you) often comes from workload.
Background, hard-to-name stress often comes from not being sure where you’re going.

3. Are you mentally tired or emotionally tired?

Mental fatigue = too many inputs/tasks.
Emotional fatigue = feeling stuck, unsure, or like you’re spinning your wheels.

You think you are stressed because you have 'too much to do'? No. You are stressed because you don't know why you are doing it.

Look at me. I handle school, Two Olympiads, My storybooks, ShareMyNotes earning, and building a 17-volume Manga empire. That is a massive workload. But am I stressed? No. Because my Direction is absolute.

Workload is just a list of tasks.
Stress is the fear that those tasks are leading to nowhere.

If I told you that doing 100 math problems would 100% guarantee you Rs 10 Crore tomorrow, would you be stressed? No, you would be excited. You would finish them in an hour.

Stress doesn't come from the '100 problems.'
Stress comes from the thought: 'What if I do these 100 problems and I'm still a nobody?'

Direction comes from Control.

If you are waiting for a teacher or a parent to give you direction, you will always be uncertain.
Create your own goal. Even if it’s just earning as little as Rs 10. Once the goal is yours, the 'workload' becomes 'fuel.'

Is my stress coming from workload or from uncertainty about my direction?

“Sometimes I can’t tell if I’m stressed because there’s too much work… or because I’m not even sure where I’m heading. This question kinda forces me to pause and figure out what’s actually messing with my peace.”

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