How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed All of The Time

What’s more, we’ve all been forced to stay indoors for as much of the year as possible, taking away our normal stress-relieving activities and outlets which includes otherwise “normal” socializing.

But…hope is not lost, let’s get into how to stop feeling overwhelmed all of the time.

Overwhelm and paralysis 

When we are overwhelmed, it often leads to a state of paralysis. There is so much to do and so much stressing us out that we cannot help but completely shut down and slowly (or quickly) back away from our growing list of responsibilities. If you are nodding as you read this, it’s important to pay attention to that feeling. It means burnout is around the corner, and with that can come some really negative consequences on your:

• Health
• Finances
• Relationships
• Well-Being

Focus on One Thing At A Time 

How do you stop overwhelm? Take things off your plate. It may seem scary to lighten the load, but not lightening it is even scarier. In order to avoid overwhelm it’s important to focus on only one thing at a time. Think about it this way, when you are on the computer with multiple tabs and applications open, does your computer fan start to whir and the whole thing start to slow down?

Your brain is like a computer. The more you are trying to do at once, the less effective you will be with completing each task. While the general idea of doing multiple things at once is appealing, you are also creating greater room for error. When you make mistakes on top of being overwhelmed, it becomes a negative loop that you can easily get stuck in. The next time you’re feeling like you have too much to do, try the following:

• Create a to-do list (simple but effective). Keeping all the things we have to do in our heads just reduces headspace and increases overwhelm as we worry we may have missed something.
• Prioritize your to-do list by what absolutely has to get done, and what can wait
• Focus only on the priorities and get to the rest if and only if you have the time and energy, if not, save them for another day
• Take breaks when you are feeling stressed, this allows you to come back more focused
• Ask if anything on your list can be done by someone else, if so, take it off

Avoid Burnout 

If you do not take the time to reassess your activities and how you spend your time, you place yourself at a higher risk of burnout. When we feel burnt out, we tend to give up on everything. This is when people quit jobs, relationships, or feel a total lack of motivation to get up and try again. This is a dangerous state to be in and one that must be avoided at all costs.

The good news? 

There are things you can do to stop overwhelm and avoid burnout. Taking the time to make your to-do list and follow the plan above is the first step. The next is to set aside specific time for yourself in order to rest and recover. It’s imperative you make time for yourself and that you protect that time as if your life depends on it.

Protect your “ME” Time 

Find some time in your schedule that you can set aside for yourself. First thing in the morning or at the end of the workday are the most common. No matter when you pick, make sure it is a time that works for you and that you can stick to. Protect it. Set boundaries not to allocate that time for whatever else may come up. 

Utilize this time to do something that will relax and recharge you, like any of the following:

• • Meditate
  • Journal
  • Nap
  • Stretch
  • Yoga
  • Go for a walk
  • Read
  • Catch up with a friend
  • Play with a pet

Recap

Your health, happiness, and well-being matter. In order to stop the feeling of overwhelm and avoid the inevitable paralysis and burnout that accompany it, it’s important to follow the above steps. The last 1.5 years have been super hard for many of us, and we need to take care of ourselves. If you’re struggling, reach out to me to see if talk-therapy or an online programme would be appropriate options for you.

If you struggle with anxious, self-critical, racing thoughts and consider yourself an overthinker then don’t worry..I’ve got you…Check out The Overthinking Toolkit.