Being overwhelmed can feel like a heavy weight on your shoulder and can strip you of your happiness, composure, and ability to handle stress.
With all of the information overload we’re exposed to daily, It’s easy to become overwhelmed, anxious and depressed as we struggle to keep up with it all.
Technology is advancing by the hour and a recent 2019 report shows that over 90% of Americans now own smartphones.
We literally have access to the entire world at our fingertips and while this is incredible, it can be extremely overwhelming and taxing to the human psyche as well.
Add in family life, a job or two, a business, bills, appointments, and all of the other miscellaneous daily tasks we need to complete and it’s no wonder that nearly 40% of Americans report being anxious.
Reality Check
When I decided to leave my corporate job and work on my business last year, I didn’t quite understand what I was getting myself into. What I knew is that I wanted to work for myself, spend more time with my children, and have the freedom to pursue my health and wellness in the process.
Although I did get to do all of those things and would not trade it for the world, I realized that there was a whole lot of hard work that needed to be done and as a Mother of two, often found myself (and still do) completely overwhelmed.
Since part of my “wellness project” was to lower my body’s stress hormone (as I have always been more of an anxious person overall) I made the decision that I NEEDED to make some changes to my daily life quick.
Implementing certain routines and using various tools have really helped me stay calm, even-keeled,happy, and productive.
The following few things have helped me TREMENDOUSLY and I’ve noticed that not only am I getting more done now than I ever have before, I am having fewer panic attacks and feel better overall.
Whether you work outside of the home or from your home office, these tips can help. Just tweak them to your exact situation.
Here are 9 tips to help you avoid becoming overwhelmed daily:
1. Keep a to-do list.
I use Trello to help me organize my day both personally and for business. What I love about it is that I can add other members to a board so that only me and that person or persons can see it. I often add member of my team and delegate tasks quickly and easily.
You can even add a check list and mark off each item as you complete it. I use it my personal life as well so I have a board for nearly everything from doctors appointments to bills I need to get paid. Try it!
2. Use a timer for each task that you complete.
I use an online stopwatch and set it to different increments. I begin each task and work through it until the timer is up.
I make sure to dedicate enough time and am sure to STOP as soon as the timer stops so that I can then move on to the next thing. You can do seconds, minutes, and hours.
3. Wake up early.
I have to say that when I get at least 20% of my tasks done before 9am, I am more likely to have a productive yet relaxed day ahead.
Things like working out, planning out my meals, taking my kids out for a walk, checking off my to-do list as early as possible–these are all things that when done super early, increase my productivity throughout the day.
4. Take frequent breaks throughout your day.
I like to walk outside, make my favorite meals, play with my children, and make time for things like reading, writing, laying in the sun for a few minutes, and simply meditating/relaxing.
These things help to calm me down, produce endorphins and overall, put me in a much better mood.
5. Plan out your next day before bed.
Write down or type up the most important things you need to do the next day and organize them either in your planner or on your calendar.
I like to do this a couple of hours before I settle into bed so that I feel like I have a plan laid out for the next day.
6. Be present in each moment.
This was something I had to work really hard on. I would find my mind drifting to my to-do list when I was spending time with my family, dozing off to sleep, or even while watching TV.
I began to become conscious to it and stopped the thought(s) in It’s tracks before it took a hold of me.
7. Avoid caffeine.
I personally have a love-hate relationship with coffee (and caffeine in general). I LOVE the smell and taste of coffee and even love the initial burst of energy it gives me. For as long as I remember though, the second or third hour after I drink coffee, I become extremely agitated, anxious, and shaky.
My thoughts come and go faster, and sometimes, I even develop an excruciating migraine in the process. Caffeine just makes me feel like crap. Plain and simple.
If you are an overly-anxious person or someone who worries often, adding coffee (or other forms of caffeine) to the mix can simply exasperate the problem. So, either get decaf or stay away all together.
8. Make time to do the things you enjoy.
This is perhaps the most important of all. I truly believe that doing the things we love, help us be more present in the moment and help keep us grounded and happy.
If you cannot find the time in your schedule to fit in some “fun” or “me” time, then It’s time to reevaluate your lifestyle. For me personally, I needed to become INTENTIONAL with my fun/happy time.
This meant scheduling the time on my calendar in order to help me remember. Now you may not need to be THAT extreme as long as you remember to do it!
9. Outsource what you can to professionals
I absolutely CANNOT stress this enough. I used to be that person that wanted to do it all. I wanted to be super woman and wanted to prove that moms could “do all the things”and still run a business and take care of the house. This was such a wrong way to think.
In fact, trying to do it all will run you to the ground really quick. I now know that its OK to order groceries online to save me a few hours, I know that its OK to hire a cleaner once in a while to clean my house, and its OK to order take out, use paper plates, and hire a babysitter.
If it means saving my sanity, happiness, and time, I do it. Yes, this isn’t the most economically sound way to do things but once in a while, It’s crucial and if you’ve budgeted for it, you should be good!
Begin to implement these things
Sometimes it can be nearly impossible to avoid stress altogether but It’s important to find things which can help make your life easier since it isn’t healthy to be in a constant state of stress.
What do YOU do to help you fight the feeling of overwhelm?
