Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night in a panic, worried that you will forget to do something the next day, or the realization that you did forget to do something important the previous day?
I have, and when it does happen, I get mad at myself for not managing things before they reach this crisis point.
The feeling of being overwhelmed is a very common experience. It happens when faced with a challenging situation, have too much to do, or are unsure where to start. If we are not careful, the feeling of being overwhelmed can lead to anxiety, stress, and even depression.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”SdzbE” via=”yes” ]We can do several things to quickly reduce the feeling of feeling of being overwhelmed. Here are three quick tips[/ctt]
Fortunately, we can do several things to quickly reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed. Here are three effective strategies to use to get back on the right track and regain a sense of control.
- Understand the Emotion
Being overwhelmed is a negative emotional state that can cause us to feel frustrated, stressed, and unable to cope with our situation. The first step in reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed is to understand your emotions and why you feel them.
Take a few moments to step back and reflect on what is causing the feeling overwhelm. Ask yourself questions like, “What am I feeling? Why am I feeling it? What triggered this feeling?”
Writing down your thoughts can also help you understand why you are feeling the way you are. Are you afraid you’ll make a major mistake, worried about getting fired, or about what others will say? What is the deeper emotion you are afraid of?
I know that recently I felt overwhelmed about a project I was working on and when I looked at my emotions, I realized I was afraid of ruining my reputation. I couldn’t stand to think someone would say, “Rhonda did a presentation on X, and it was terrible. She wasn’t ready; she read her notes, and she had no idea what she was speaking about.” That was the underlying fear (it always is when I release a new workshop) and I felt overwhelmed at what I agreed to do.
Once you have identified the root cause of your feelings of overwhelm, you can start to work on actively addressing and resolving it. That could involve breaking the issue down into smaller chunks or delegating tasks to others. It could also involve taking some time out to rest and recharge.
As you can imagine, that is exactly what I did with my new workshop. I ensured that what I was afraid of was not going to happen.
Once you recognize what emotion is causing you to feel overwhelmed, you can ensure that it doesn’t happen! Or, at the very least, minimize the chances of it happening.
- Simplify Your Life
Sometimes, the feeling of being overwhelmed can stem from having too much clutter and commitments in our lives. When this happens, we can feel lost and out of control. To combat this, it’s important to simplify our lives and prioritize the things that really matter.
[ctt template=”3″ link=”H4ld1″ via=”yes” ]Sometimes, the feeling of being overwhelmed can stem from having too much clutter and commitments in our lives[/ctt]
Ask yourself where you can simplify. Do you have too many tasks on your to-do list? Are you overbooked with social engagements? Are there things you can outsource, delegate, or stop doing so you have more time to focus on the important stuff?
A few years ago, I started buying meal boxes (such as Good Food or Blue Apron), so I could simplify the mealtime process in our house. It worked! While I don’t routinely do it now, I know that when my schedule goes crazy, that is an easy way to lessen some of the responsibilities and pressures I put on myself. I need to eat healthy, and pizza delivery isn’t that for me. The meals delivered to my door satisfy my need to eat healthy at home with home-cooked meals without the stress of meal planning, long prep, and groceries.
Another way to simplify is to get rid of the physical clutter in your home or office. Dedicate time to cleaning up, organizing, and removing anything that is not essential or does not bring you joy. A tidy and organized space will help you think more clearly and reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.
- Prioritize Your Tasks
Control is the key to reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed. When I prioritize, I feel more in control of what I’m doing and when I am doing it.
Write a list of all the things you need to do today, this week, this month. Break them down into smaller tasks and prioritize them in order of importance.
I have written in the past how I create a to-do list each night for the next day. I write the five most important things I need to get done tomorrow on the list. Sometimes it is less than five things, but it is never more than five. I get more than five things done each day, but IF I could only do five things, which five are the ones to keep me from getting fired?
I also have a weekly to-do list, as well as many others. Each day I prioritize the next day, accounting for all the things I need to get done.
By making the list available to me readily, I can feel in control of my day and workload instead of feeling at the mercy of every email, phone call, and request that comes my way. I feel in control, and the feelings of overwhelm dissipate.
By following these three easy-to-implement strategies, you can quickly reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed and get back on the right track. All it takes is a little bit of effort and a lot of self-care!
