When life gets overwhelming, it’s easy to feel like everything is on your shoulders. Deadlines. Drama. Decisions. The more you try to fix everything at once, the more stuck and stressed you feel.
But here’s the truth: not everything is within your control — and that’s okay.
The real power lies in learning to focus only on what is within your control. That’s where the Two Buckets Method comes in — a quick mental exercise that helps regain clarity, reduce anxiety, and take action on the right priority with confidence.
What Is the Two Buckets Method?
The Two Buckets Method is a mental clarity technique that helps you separate your thoughts and stressors into two categories:
- Bucket 1: Within My Control
- Bucket 2: Outside My Control
It gives you a clear visual way to sort your stress and stop wasting energy on things you can’t change.
How to Use the Two Buckets Method (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Visualize Two Buckets
Picture two buckets in front of you. You can also draw them out or use a notepad. Label one “Within My Control” and the other “Outside My Control.”

Step 2: List Everything On Your Mind
Think about what’s stressing you out. One by one, assign each item to a bucket.
Examples:
Stressor | Bucket |
---|---|
My team missed a deadline | Within My Control |
My boss is in a bad mood | Outside My Control |
I need to prepare for a presentation | Within My Control |
Will interest rates go up? | Outside My Control |
Step 3: Discard the “Outside My Control” Bucket
Now, imagine placing the “Outside My Control” bucket on a shelf, or throwing it away completely.
Let it go — those worries are no longer your mental load to carry.
Step 4: Focus on the Controllable
What’s left in the “Within My Control” bucket are the things you can take action on today. Pick one and take a small, forward step.
Why the Two Buckets Method Works
Stress multiplies when we try to control the uncontrollable.
The Two Buckets Method gives your brain permission to let go and frees your energy to focus on solutions.
It’s like spring cleaning for your mind.
Real-Life Example: How Alex Beat Overwhelm
Alex, a newly promoted manager, felt like he was drowning. His team was short-staffed, his manager kept piling on tasks, and he couldn’t sleep from the pressure.
Together, we applied the Two Buckets Method.
- Bucket 2 (Outside My Control):
- A key team member quitting
- Upper management’s demands
- Company hiring freeze
- Bucket 1 (Within My Control):
- Reorganizing team workload
- Communicating expectations clearly
- Requesting a deadline extension
- Managing personal time more effectively
By discarding what he couldn’t influence and acting on what he could, Alex shifted from panic to progress — and even regained control of his evenings.
Final Thought
In a world full of chaos and noise, the Two Buckets Method is a gentle reminder:
You don’t need to carry what’s not yours.
Sort it, discard it, and focus on what you can do — today.
Want to learn more about how to become your better self? Book a free coaching session with me now