Managing the Overwhelm
Overwhelm …
That feeling that you are not in control any more, there are more things on the list than you could ever tick off, and you feel like you are being pushed down a raging river at 100 miles an hour.
Overwhelm …
I know you have felt this. Maybe you feel it now. I felt like this earlier this week. In fact I did a Facebook Live video to share that moment.
Overwhelm …
It feels consuming, like it won’t ever end. But is will end, it can end … hopefully sooner rather than later … but only if you start doing things differently, because whatever you are doing in that state of overwhelm is not working for you, is it?
Here are some steps I take to turn the tide, to bring my world back towards a state of calm and control again:
1. Let Go … of all that does not serve me. This might be tasks on my list, thoughts in my mind, or commitments to others.
2. Slow down …. rushing, racing through the day feeds overwhelm. I might choose to meditate – this is one of my favourites. I might stop for 5 minutes over my morning coffee to read the paper, or my book – even though I have a zillion things to do. I might just stop to breathe slowly and deeply for a minute.
3. Change my thinking … what are all the “unhelpful” thoughts swirling around in my mind, feeding my overwhelm? Find more helpful thoughts … they serve me better.
Are you feeling overwhelmed this week? What is ONE THING you could do differently to help bring yourself closer to a state of calm?
