Q. There’s too much to do — the stuff I want to do, and the stuff I have to do. I want to read, spend time with friends, nurture my partner. And I have to take care of stuff — meals, calling my relatives, laundry. And then there’s the distractions — Facebook, the news, emails, politics, etc. My biggest issue is that I just don’t have the same amount of energy that I used to. Instead of feeling excited and motivated to get things done, most days I end up overwhelmed. How can I make this better?

A. Accomplishments help us feel alive, productive and useful. As we age, the amount of “stuff” we can pack into a day diminishes. We move a little more carefully; we tire a little sooner. Still, there are good techniques that can help you complete important tasks, strike a balance between fun and work, and combat feeling overwhelmed.

Try this three-point plan:

1) Retrain “outward-seeking” habits into “inner-centering” moments.

Once upon a time, maybe we had a problem with boredom, but now we have a problem with overstimulation; too many shiny things catching our eye and too many news stories capturing our attention for a moment.

Our minds become habituated to seeking this stimulation. Our smartphones seem designed to do this! Also, email and the media are constantly “on.” It seems some people can’t let a moment go by without checking out some tidbit on TV or online. I was out for a walk the other day, and every person was checking their phone for something — a text, an email, an update, a scrap of news. My reaction was to pull out my own phone. I felt like “monkey see/monkey do,” instead of enjoying peaceful time in the fresh air.

To better manage your time and energy, and to avoid feeling overwhelmed, consider a new outlook. (Or should I say “in-look?”) Each time you feel that outward- seeking impulse, take a breath. Allow a moment of inner-centering. Check your energy. Notice whether you feel tense or relaxed. See what emotions are present. Then ask yourself, “What’s actually important to me right now?” Do this a few times a day, and you can start to reclaim yourself from the monkey mind and gain renewed control over your actions. (See endnotes)

2) Practice acceptance and compassion for your decreased energy.

It’s a hard fact of life that our vitality and energy levels can diminish. We have to face this and deal with the losses and self-judgments that can stem from it. We may lose the ability to play the roles that make us feel valuable or that others relied on us to do (nurturer, cook, kin-keeper, activist). If only we could be more like dogs — when they are tired, they lie down; when they are sleepy, they close their eyes. They don’t judge themselves for it; they just go with what they feel.

My suggestion to you: Stay tuned into your energy levels. When you are fatigued, let yourself rest. While resting, offer yourself love and acceptance for your fatigue. Notice what you think — are you judging or criticizing yourself for being tired? Are you feeling it should be different? Let go of the “shoulds.” Treat yourself with friendliness. Your worth is not about what you do, not really. It’s about who you are. So treat your bodily vehicle with care and kindness.

3) Use lists.

Build a system for prioritizing tasks that works for you. I’m big on To-Do lists. Each day I jot down tasks and goals, including self-care items like “drink water” and “vitamins.” I also maintain a long-term To-Do list, with major projects that I hope to accomplish within the next few months. That way I don’t have to keep it all in my head. At points where I might get swept up into random outward-seeking behavior, sometimes I remember to check my To-Do list instead. Then I can consciously choose what’s next. Maybe relaxing and Web-surfing is what’s next — but maybe not. The To-Do list is your map to help you make the best of your day.