Feeling Overwhelmed with the Pace of Life.

Get a good book. instead of being on the computer, lie down and read a few pages. I am not overwhelmed. I used to be, not anymore. There are things under my control, and there are things that are out of my control, like the economy, situation in Egypt. If I worry, what good will that do to me?
I also usually decline invited for lunches and dinners unless it's with my kids and husband. People understand. Wanna catch up? Drop by my house and have a cup of coffee.

Take a page from my 4th grader. She informed my husband last week, that she hadn't used her iPod touch in a week. Why? Because she just decided that she would go a week without it. She just got it for Xmas, so it isn't like she doesn't just LOVE it still, lol. She just decided that she would self-impose a week's break from it. (I was floored at her maturity! No one suggested this to her and frankly, we were unaware she was doing it until she was through with her week).

Give that a try! Just... disconnect for a week. You could even post on your FB.. . "I'm taking a techno-break. See ya in a week."

I know exactly what you are feeling...not only i have all that stuff going on but also my husband travels about 80% or more of the time so usually i am "trying" to do it on my own.
I think this is one of the biggest reasons i don't have facebook. There is just too much going on in my life that its just another distraction taking away from what is truely important.
Mamapedia helps me out and reminds me i am normal. I try to only spend about 30 min a day checking questions and responding to others, or asking my own question, just because its the ONE thing i do for me.
TV, i would love to "catch" up on the past two years of shows that i have been missing...but again just another one of those things thats really not that important.
Currently im a SAHM, but in the process of looking for a job so thats my main priority for checking my email.
I know i could be reaching out and talking to others a little more often, but there just arent enough hours in the day.
I try to make a list everyday of the most important things,necessary things and optional things (if i don't i get distracted and completely overwhemed with everything). I rate them, and get on with my day. Being a mom is hard work, i know we want to do it ALL but we need to remember to focus on what is truely important! There is only so much you can do in a 24 hr time period! Take a breath, step back, re organize and go get em! Good Luck!

take up a "mellow" relaxing hobby like Yoga or Tai Chi or Qu jong. when I first started my traditional yoga class it was very hard for me to sit still, I like the stretches but soo hard to sit and relax at the beginning and end of class. but I knew that because it was difficult for me, I NEEDED it

I understand right where you are. I used to be just like you but my darling husband really helped me set things straight. I don't "need" to check into anything. I need to breathe, I need to sleep, I need to eat.

In our house we don't do the news thing, I don't record shows I missed. If I missed it they will play it again at another time or I just miss it no big deal. I'm really more invested in the lives of the people around me over the people on the screen.

I barely watch tv now but spend more time playing board games with the kids or reading books or cooking new dishes or just relaxing.

Why do any of us really need to hear every bit of news (mostly bad) that goes on? It just whiddles away at our soft heart and gives us a hardened heart.

Give yourself permission to take a break, it is your life make the most of the time you will acquire by cutting yourself free from all the technological ties that bind you up and overwhelm you and be at peace and happier. ;-)

Life can be very overwhelming but you can do some things to take care of yourself. Someone mentioned reading a book. Find an hour or so a week to read a good book. Turn off the phone, do not read facebook, emails or text messages and just take care of you. Everyone will be there waiting for you when you get back to them.
As for the news. I think the news has a habit of putting most folks in a state of panic. I read the paper online instead. Sometime I'll go a day without reading the paper even.
Take care of yourself and good luck.

Unplug for a few days.

You say you want to get back to the basics. If that is really true, then stop doing facebook, email, and texting! That will save you hours every single day. FB, email, and texting are all very addictive! I know it will be hard to stop doing all of those things, but since you said you want to get back to the basics, then you should stop and you will be happier. You will find yourself with a LOT of extra time on your hands - time that can be spend with your kids, your husband, cleaning the house, organizing closets/drawers, etc.

About the DVR'ing. I know, I know. You should delte SOME of your shows. Just pick your favorite shows that you cannot live without and stop recording the rest. You can't watch everything!

About the news - it is very important to know what is going on in the world, so I wouldn't suggest not watching it anymore, but I do suggest not watching your local news, where they talk about fires, robberies, etc. You should watch the national news. I DVR NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams every day. It's 30 minutes and it tells you what is going on in the world. Yes, some of it will be sad, but that is reality/life. You can FF through the part where they talk about the weather, sports, and obviously the commercials, so it will be less than 30 minutes for you.

So to recap - get rid of FB, texting, emails, and shows that you can live without. Keep the shows you cannot live without, and then call your friends instead of emailing them (email is so addictive, so stick to the phone). Also, forget about your local news and watch NBC Nightly News. Good luck!