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Overcoming Overwhelm: How to Stop the Cycle
Posted By : Ellen Martin on 29-Apr-2010Life can be overwhelming. Going through your day at a hundred miles an hour doesn’t leave much time for thought. When you are not thinking you are simply reacting to what happens around you. This anxiety causing cycle will cause you to feel as though you’ve lost control.
When you feel yourself spiraling out of control, you must stop. Stop, take a deep breath, and think about what you are doing. Stop to really think about the pieces and parts. What is the next step you must take? Are you doing things in an efficient order? How can you get control of the situation to avoid future anxiety-filled days?
Get it all out of your head and down on paper. Make yourself a list of tasks and then prioritize them. You might use a pad of paper or you could use index cards for each task. Then you can move the index cards around and prioritize them easily. Now when you get started again, you will be working on purpose. If you get out of control again, you know that you can stop, re-group, and get started again.
Break projects down into smaller pieces. Big picture thinking can lead to feelings of overwhelm. Often when thinking about projects, we think about the whole project. For example, you need to revamp your website. Well, break that project down into smaller pieces. Figure out what your very next step is and focus on that one piece. The first step may be to hire a website strategy coach. Contact someone and move on to the next step. Take one step at a time, one decision at a time.
Take frequent breaks or get away for awhile. There is only so much doing and decision making we can take. Give yourself some rest – even if you just drive around or take a walk around the block – it will help to clear your mind. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can do serious damage to your ability to think straight and function properly. Get the amount of sleep appropriate for you and encourage your employees and family members to do the same.
Regaining control of the way you are spending time will give you a tremendous sense of peace. Remember, when you feel like speeding up, stop. Give yourself a breather and begin again refreshed and with purpose.
Happy Organizing!
11 Responses to “Overcoming Overwhelm: How to Stop the Cycle”
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Perfect. Brilliant. I agree wholeheartedly. I LOVE my lists because once I write it on a list, I don’t have to “carry it around” anymore — I know I’ll get to it in due time. You ROCK, Ellen! ♥Katherine
Life Blossoming Systems
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ahhh…deep breath
thank you, this helps make it doable
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Thanks, Ellen! IF it’s not on my list, it doesn’t happen! Sometimes I even have to remind myself to BREATHE! Keep up the great work!
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3 easy steps that could really change anyone’s daily life. Good job Ellen. You have a great way of ‘organizing’ the information into simple processes.
Dr. Robert Fenell
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I need to break down my projects into smaller steps. Thanks for the reminder. Great article as always.
Kiyla
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I love this. Especially putting the ideas on index cards so you can move them around! I’m an endless list maker and that’s a great idea!
Linda
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Such very valid points Ellen. I’ve started using a timer and force myself to take breaks. Sometimes caring more about something else makes us do it. I have my wee dog whom I wrote about in my new book; the rescue of her in Nepal last year. I’m so in love with her that I simply will not miss walking her in the morning and mid afternoon. And believe me she knows when it is 3:oo pm and pesters me until I set the computer aside and take her out. I am always so happy I do it just to see the bounce in her step and the joy in her eyes when we play. I know I wouldn’t do it if it were not for her!
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The “ideas on index cards” is one I also like. Otherwise, my “ideas” to do list is lost somewhere in a stack. The other thing I’ve learned is to take the breaks as little rewards. Thanks for the tips!
Sue Painter
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Great post Ellen! I love my notebooks and the software program that lets me capture ideas and tasks as they occur. Keeping it out of my head is one of my key steps to managing the overwhelming number of things to do that are flying around all the time.
Of course, my other solution is taking a break – one where I move my body, or make myself laugh out loud by reading from some bookmarked websites.
And breathe – that is critical!
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Ellen,
Great suggestions. I especially resonated with the need to “get away”. I actually unplugged for most of this weekend and I’m feeling refreshed with new perspective.
Write on!~
Lisa
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Breathe… breathe… breathe…. yes, sometimes I do put BREATHE on my list.
Thank you, Ellen!
Grace Heer
Gemstone Coaching
Mine the Jewels Within You!
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