Balancing Projects and Mental Health: A Step-by-Step Guide for Managing BPD and Productivity

“If you are managing BPD, feeling overwhelmed and unable to read this article then. Just take a little break, do a box breathing exercise”

Juggling Projects whilst managing BPD? Let’s Make It Fun (Yes, Really!)

Managing multiple projects while navigating the emotional rollercoaster of BPD, boredom, and constant project-hopping can feel like a wild ride, but guess what? We’ve got strategies that can help us balance work and take care of our mental health. And trust me, it doesn’t have to be boring! Here’s how we can slay those projects and feel good about it:

1. Recognize Your Patterns (AKA “Why Did I Just Open 6 Tabs at Once?”)

First things first — let’s embrace who we are. Whilst managing BPD, we might suddenly want to drop everything and start something new, but that’s okay. Instead of fighting it, let’s work with it.

Take note of those moments where we’re ready to bounce to something else. Got a notebook? A notes app? Jot it down, track those patterns, and give ourselves a little more control over the chaos. 🎢

2. Break It Down (Baby Steps, Not Mountains)

Big project? No thanks. Let’s shrink that bad boy into snack-sized pieces. Instead of seeing a huge, scary project looming, we’ll take it one small task at a time. It’s like eating pizza — one slice, then another.

Finished something? High five! 🎉 Time to celebrate (even if it’s just a victory dance in your chair).

Okay, we don’t know how to break down tasks into smaller bits.

“In the next article we will learn how to do it”

3. Structure… But Like, Chill Structure

Schedules are great until they’re not. We need something that keeps us on track but doesn’t lock us down. So, what do we do?

Managing BPD can be unpredictable, and some days, sticking to a rigid schedule just won’t work. So, let’s give ourselves flexibility. We can create a daily routine but allow some breathing room. If we need to switch tasks, it’s okay.

Let’s use techniques like Pomodoro (work for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break) to keep things light and fast-paced.

When switching projects, we can give ourselves a time limit (e.g., “I’ll switch for an hour, then return to my main task”). This helps us stay flexible without leaving projects incomplete.

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4. Plan for Emotional Ups and Downs (very important step)

When managing BPD, some days we’re all GO-GO-GO. Other days, we’re… well… not.

Not every day will be a high-energy day, and that’s part of the journey. When we’re feeling low or distracted, we can focus on easier, low-pressure tasks.

Organizing files? Great. Reading something inspiring? Fantastic. Napping? Well… sure, that can be productive too. 💤

At the start of each day, let’s check in with ourselves. If things feel overwhelming, we can adjust our workload and give ourselves space to breathe.

5. Tame the Project-Hopping Urge

We’ve all been there: halfway through a project and — oh look! — a shiny new idea. It’s cool, we can rotate between a couple of projects. No need to feel guilty about wanting variety.Before we switch, though, let’s finish a tiny part of what we’re already doing. It’s like taking one last bite before getting up from the table. 🍰

Let’s commit to making even small progress before switching — finishing a small part of a bigger task can make a big difference.

6. Use Tools (Not Overload Ourselves with Them)

Ever tried managing everything in your brain? Yeah, that’s exhausting. Tools like Trello, Notion or Karo.chat can be our new BFFs. We can see our progress, and trust me, it’s way less overwhelming than juggling tasks in our head.

Also, accountability buddies: think of them as your supportive co-pilots, keeping you on track (or dragging you back when you go rogue).

If we need some external motivation, we could consider finding an accountability buddy — someone who can keep us on track. This could be a friend, colleague, or even an online group or simply an AI tool.

In further articles I will show you which tool to use, let keep it simple for now

7. Mental Health First, Always

Managing BPD and taking care of ourselves should always come first. We’ve got to take care of ourselves — period. Let’s sprinkle in some mindfulness or meditation to help with emotional waves. Plus, let’s celebrate every little win (because every win counts).

Finished something small? Treat yourself to a break, a snack, or maybe just some well-deserved YOU time. You’ve earned it. 🍫

“I am building my own YouTube channel where I will share my experience on how to take care of yourself. I just don’t what to give you information, I will show you how it can be done”

8. Monetize in Bite-Sized Chunks (Not Giant Projects)

Got bored of a project? Perfect, time to monetize the small stuff. Let’s focus on simple things we can sell fast — quick wins.


Build a micro-tool, offer quick gigs, or do freelance tasks that don’t tie us down for long. It keeps things interesting and gets us closer to that $500/month goal. 🤑

”This my goal for now”

9. Leverage AI (Let Robots Help!)

Feeling swamped? Let’s not be heroes — we’ve got AI for that. Tools like GitHub, Copilot or OpenAI, GPT 4, Custom GPTs, GPT 4o and o1-preview can handle some of the heavy lifting by automating parts of our work. We can even use AI to help brainstorm when we’re stuck in a creativity rut. 🤖💡

I will recommend you to just use ChatGPT and subscribe for PRO plan. It is cheaper and with right combinations of prompts we can build things that are unimaginable”

10. Outsource When We’re Stuck

There’s zero shame in passing the baton. If we hit a wall, it’s okay to outsource a few parts to someone else. Fiverr, Upwork — tons of freelancers are out there, ready to help. So, why not?

Therapy: If possible, let’s work with someone who understands managing BPD and can help us with strategies. They’re pros at this.

Validation: Let’s remind ourselves that switching projects and feeling things intensely is part of our journey. We’re not failing; we’re just learning to adapt.

Managing BPD with Compassion (Be Your Own Best Friend)

Manage Overwhelm: Instead of tackling ALL the things, we can focus on just a few. Let’s limit how much we take on, so we don’t get buried under tasks. 🧘‍♀️

Step by step, we’ve got this. Let’s make progress, take care of ourselves, and have a little fun along the way. 🎉

We’ve got this, step by step.

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Ashwani Arya

Living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) means I experience intense emotions, frequent overwhelm, and unpredictable motivation. Balancing my mental health with the need to earn money is tough, especially in a region like rural Bihar, where support systems are lacking. Despite the challenges, I’m committed to taking small steps to grow and build a sustainable income, even though consistency can be hard to maintain. I try to create a flexible routine that fits both my good and bad days. The fear of survival is real, and sometimes competition in the freelance world feels overwhelming, but I focus on making progress where I can. Step by step, I’m learning to balance my mental health and my goals.

Ashwani Arya

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