Ever notice how sometimes it’s easy to get things done, while other times it feels like walking through quicksand? It can be hard to motivate if we feel overwhelmed and don’t know how to get unstuck.

Most mornings, I roll out of bed raring to go. My mind is ready to write. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I get another burst of mental energy just before going to sleep at night.

During my usual afternoon energy slump, however, all bets are off. That’s when I’m most likely to feel overwhelmed...