Overwhelm sucks!
Most of us can handle a lot of pressure and put life on hold for a while. Toughening up and just grinding through the work is only effective for a short time however. When "overwhelmed" describes a lifestyle, it's time for a change. Here are some ways to deal with overwhelm.
Do you ever get weighed down with too much to do, it feels like you’re stuck in quicksand?
Most people will feel at least somewhat overwhelmed at some point in their lives. There are certain circumstances and life experiences where temporary overwhelm is common (college finals, planning a wedding, starting a new job, etc.).
If you’ve felt overwhelmed recently, you’re not alone.
The number of people feeling overwhelmed has been on the rise. Studies in recent years show some staggering statistics! Half of working parents struggle with family life and work balance, as reported by Forbes, and almost 75% of small business owners feel overwhelmed by too much to do.
Feeling backed up in your work, overloaded in every area of life, or worrying that you’ll never being able to catch up with everything you’ve said “yes” to is as distracting and uncomfortable as constipation.
It can really ruin your day!
Feeling overwhelmed sucks. Just like constipation. Get moving with these tips for overcoming overwhelm:
Fortunately, temporary overwhelm isn’t unhealthy. It may help motivate you to gain perspective and take action in new ways. Pushing past your comfort zone creates intentional feelings of stress, but personal growth and professional development are the well-earned payoff.
On the flip side, chronic overwhelm is detrimental to health and well-being. For many people, feelings of overwhelm are closely related to stress, anxiety, burnout, and other barometers of mental health.
It can feel like a vicious cycle. Your fight or flight response is perpetuating your feelings of overwhelm too. Every time you react automatically when faced with a stressor, you’re training your body how to handle that type of stimulus.
You may even be addicted to the adrenalin rush!
Consider how this can show up. What is the next thing that is likely to trigger your feelings of overwhelm?
Break the cycle: Imagine yourself pressing an imaginary PAUSE button, and calmly responding intentionally, without making assumptions or raising your blood pressure.
How long should overwhelm last?
The biggest problem with overwhelm is when it becomes your normal state, and you start to get used to it. Then if you’ve been in an overwhelmed type of survival mode and are no longer being strategic or creative, you start losing the ability to see your situation for how damaging it is.
Many people fall into this trap that I refer to as “long-term temporary.” This is when you tell yourself that you must do extra for a little while until things change, but it continues far too long.
Most of us can handle a lot of pressure and put certain things on hold for a short time. Toughening up and just grinding through the work is only effective for a little while. When it becomes a lifestyle, there are consequences. That is not a life anyone yearns for!
If you know someone caught like this, help them gain perspective. Help them acknowledge it is unsustainable and ask them to commit to a deadline where they will begin making changes or get some expertise from a coach or therapist. (Please note that chronic or intense feelings of overwhelm can be a symptom of stress disorder, anxiety, or depression. If in doubt, get a professional’s opinion.)
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Ways to deal with overwhelm:
You can use these when you're ready to get out of the quicksand of feeling overwhelmed.
- Clarify expectations by asking a few questions, including when something is needed. Unconsciously assuming everything is urgent will add unbearable pressure and make it harder to keep top priorities on target. Instead of assuming, find out enough information to determine how it ranks with your other priorities.
- Delegate appropriately, as much as you can. You do NOT personally have to do everything to ensure it gets done. Work on teaching and trusting others, so you can let some stuff go and enjoy the liberation!
- Identify habits that are adding to your problems with overwhelm. Make a list of the reasons you are feeling overwhelmed. Select one habit to focus on and get support from others to aid in your transformation.
- Don’t put off decisions for when you “have time.” This can add more weight to the perceived black cloud of incomplete tasks. Sharpen your decision-making skills by quickly summarizing the situation, stating your desired outcome, and choosing the best option now.
Overwhelm is common. Suffering is optional.
You can release some of the anxiety by taking back control. Remind yourself that every action you take, and the words you use are yours to control. When you see yourself as stuck, it makes things harder. When you see yourself taking charge, you can summon the energy and courage to stop the cycle of feeling overwhelmed.
Here's to your success,
