You know you’re juggling too much if these 7 normal occurrences really irritate you

I was working the other day, half-distracted and listening to Angie McMahon in the background, when a lyric suddenly cut through the noise:

“Calm down your shoes are out here / In the hallway where we left ’em / And this is no big deal.”

And wow—did it hit me.

Because sometimes, when you’re juggling too much, even something as small as misplacing your shoes can be huge. The tiniest things—normal, everyday things—can start to feel like disasters.  

If you’ve been finding yourself unreasonably irritated by stuff that really shouldn’t bother you, you’re not alone. And it might just be a sign that you’re carrying way more than you realize.

Here are 7 such occurrences that might be driving you up the wall—and what that says about how much you’re really juggling.

1. Someone asks you a simple question while you’re working

Picture this: you’re deep in concentration, trying to wrap your head around a complex task, when someone taps you on the shoulder and asks, “Hey, do you know where the stapler is?”

Suddenly, you feel this wave of annoyance that seems way too intense for such an innocent question.

When you’re already juggling too much, your brain is operating at maximum capacity. And when you’re overwhelmed, even the smallest interruption feels like a major disruption because your mental resources are already stretched thin.

That simple question isn’t just a question anymore—it’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back. 

2. Your phone buzzes with a notification

It’s just a text from a friend or a random app update. Nothing urgent, nothing that requires immediate action. But that little buzz or ping makes you want to throw your phone across the room.

When you’re already overwhelmed, another notification can feel like an assault on your nervous system.

Sharon Horwood, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Deakin University, backs this up noting that, “Constant app notifications stress your brain.” 

It’s not that you hate your friends or technology. It’s that when you’re juggling too much, your mind starts treating every interruption—even the tiny ones—as threats to your already fragile focus.

3. Someone changes plans at the last minute

Your colleague mentions they need to reschedule tomorrow’s meeting, or a friend asks if you can meet an hour later than planned.

Normally, you’d roll with it. But today? You feel genuinely angry about this minor adjustment.

When you’re overwhelmed, your brain craves predictability. You’ve likely mapped out your entire day, maybe even your week, trying to fit everything in like a complex puzzle. Every commitment has been carefully slotted into place.

So when someone shifts even one piece, it feels like your whole system might collapse.

That disproportionate reaction isn’t about the change itself—it’s about your brain desperately trying to maintain control when everything feels chaotic.

4. Your partner asks what’s for dinner

It’s 6 PM, you’ve just walked through the door, and your partner cheerfully asks, “So, what are we having for dinner tonight?” A completely normal question that somehow makes you want to scream.

When you’re already overloaded, this innocent inquiry feels like yet another decision you have to make, another problem you need to solve. Your brain has been in decision-making mode all day—choosing priorities, solving problems, managing crises—and now you’re being asked to make one more choice.

The worst part? You know it’s not a big deal. You know your partner isn’t trying to add to your stress. 

What should be a simple conversation about food becomes this overwhelming reminder that even at home, people need things from you. 

5. Your computer takes an extra few seconds to load

The spinning wheel appears, or that familiar loading screen lingers just a bit longer than usual. Nothing’s broken, it’s just regular technology being regular technology. But you find yourself getting genuinely frustrated at your laptop.

When you’re  on edge, patience becomes a luxury you can’t afford. Every second feels precious because you have so much to accomplish and so little time to do it.

I remember hitting my space bar repeatedly during a particularly stressful week, as if that would somehow make my computer load faster. It was ridiculous, but in that moment, those extra five seconds felt like an eternity.

Your computer probably isn’t actually slower—your tolerance for any kind of delay has just shrunk to zero. When you have too much on your plate (or on your mind), even the smallest inefficiencies feel like obstacles standing between you and getting everything done.

It’s your brain’s way of telling you that you’re operating with no buffer, no margin for even the tiniest inconveniences that are just part of normal life.

6. Someone walks slowly in front of you

Whether it’s in the grocery store aisle, on the sidewalk, or down the office hallway, that person meandering at a leisurely pace suddenly becomes your biggest enemy. Maybe, you feel this urge to push past them or make an exasperated sigh?

This reaction reveals something important: you’ve lost the ability to move through the world at a natural rhythm. Everything has to be rushed, optimized, efficient.

The person in front of you becomes a symbol of all the time you don’t have and all the things you still need to do. Your irritation isn’t really about their walking speed—it’s about feeling trapped in a pace of life that’s unsustainable.

7. You can’t find something in its usual spot

Your keys aren’t on the hook? Your favorite pen isn’t in the cup? Or your phone charger has mysteriously vanished?

These are normal occurrences in any household, but today they make you want to tear the place apart.

When you’re already overwhelmed, even tiny inconveniences feel catastrophic. Your brain is desperately trying to maintain some sense of order and control, so when something isn’t where it’s supposed to be, it feels like the final proof that everything is falling apart.

The missing item becomes much bigger than it actually is. Those keys aren’t just keys—they’re another obstacle, another delay, another thing going wrong in a life that already feels chaotic.

Final words

If you found yourself nodding along to most of these scenarios, here’s what I want you to know: recognizing these warning signs is actually the first step toward getting your life back.

Your irritation at these perfectly normal situations isn’t a character flaw—it’s your mind’s way of waving a red flag.

The good news? Once you recognize you’re overwhelmed, you can start making changes. Maybe it’s saying no to that extra project, delegating some responsibilities, or simply accepting that not everything needs to be perfect.

Start small. Pick one thing to let go of. Your sanity will thank you.