7 Ways to Feel More in Control of Your Life

Developing greater agency can help you make important life decisions and feel less overwhelmed, stuck, or lost

Life demands a lot of us. And offers much in return. But to get the most out of it, you need to own your part in things. Jessica Rockowitz/Unsplash

Leslie and Josh came to therapy to talk about their son’s problems in school. But it soon became apparent that they had a different problem altogether—one familiar to working parents.

As an experienced child and family psychologist (Anthony) and a management psychologist who works with business leaders (Paul), we were struck by how common these concerns are. We hear the same thing over and over from the people who come to see us: Their daily routine included a dizzying array of activities and responsibilities that kept them constantly stressed.

Getting their kids out the door for school was an ordeal, involving much haranguing and eating on the run. After working long hours, they arrived home to a laundry list of other duties. Constant interruptions from electronic devices made them feel on-call to their workplaces and disengaged from each other. Though unhappy, they didn’t know what to do or how to make a change.