How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

Do you feel you’re overwhelmed on a day-to-day basis and never have enough time for yourself?

Have you settled for a life of overwhelm and believe it’s just the way life is?

Do you feel burned out, but you’re not sure how to get off the hamster wheel?

If so, I have a solution for that!

Society tells us we’re not succeeding in life if we’re not juggling several things at once, and burnout is something of a proud badge of honor to wear.

I used to buy into these beliefs myself.

But this is not normal and not the way things should be.

Time spent doesn’t necessarily equal productivity nor does it determine success.

Overwhelm is actually one of the top productivity killers, so you are not doing yourself a favor taking on too many things at once.

Here are tips that will help you squash feelings of overwhelm and not only give you a peace of mind, but boost your productivity.

How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

Learn to Say “No”

As a recovering “yes” person, I know it’s not easy. But when you’re asked to do something that does not serve your best interests, you have to learn to tell people “no.”

You have to decide what your highest priority is, and you’re going to have to turn down anything that takes you away from that priority.

I have seen several people resign from organizations, committees, groups, etc, triggered by burnout. They just didn’t know when to draw the line and say “no,” and eventually dropped everything altogether.

The best way to avoid this is to strategize what you say “yes” and “no” to.

It is not selfish to turn something down that does not serve your best interests, period.

There may even be things you want to do. But if you already carry a full schedule and are struggling to find time for yourself, the best thing you can do for YOU is to say “no.”

Time is money-don’t waste it on anything that doesn’t serve your purpose or give you peace of mind.

Take Action

Practice the art of saying “no.” Every time you are asked to do something, attend something, join something, etc, evaluate if it truly serves your purpose or would bring you joy.

Strategize when to say “yes” and when to say “no” so it becomes a habit.

Do not be afraid to say no, even if you have a clear schedule during the time of said request!

There were many times I would agree to something thinking my schedule was clear, so sure, I can do it! But by the time the event came along, I was so stressed out by everything I had going on, I wished I hadn’t agreed to it. So keep that in mind when proposed with a request.

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Prioritize

“Priorities” and “prioritize” are two words that are thrown out often and I believe their true definitions are misconstrued. Not all priorities are created equal!

If you do not prioritize that #1 thing above all else, whatever your productivity goals are for that #1 thing will not be reached.

This is why it’s so important to say “no” when it doesn’t benefit you. You clutter your schedule up with things that keep you from your priority, and then those priorities get put on the back burner.

Also know the difference between urgency and priority-there is a difference!

What is urgent often isn’t what is your #1 priority. Urgent things tend to be phone calls or requests from others. When you’re working on your priority, those things can wait (unless someone’s house is on fire or it’s an equally true emergency).

Take Action

When scheduling out your week, evaluate and order your priorities based on what is most important for each day, and do that thing first. Do not move on to the next thing until priority #1 is done. If you don’t get around to the other tasks on your list of priorities, reschedule them in your planner for another day.

Related:

10 Ways to Declutter Your Life
5 Things Successful Women Manage Well
6 Time-Wasters Successful Women Avoid
How to Create A Morning Routine
Time Management Tools
Planner (I have one similar to this one by this company, and love it!)

Schedule Time for YOU

If your days are so packed out that there is no time left for you, you’re going to get overwhelmed, burned out, and maybe even feel resentment.

You might also engage in bad habits as coping mechanisms. Sleeping in too late. Drinking too much. Eating junk food. Etc.

Take Action

You’re so accustomed to scheduling out work-related tasks, so why not schedule time for you?

Look at the week ahead and schedule out at least one thing per day that is all about you, even if all you can squeeze in is 30 minutes. Exercise, read a book, journal, get a massage, etc.

Better yet, create a morning routine that is all about you. Review your goals, journal, pray, work out, read a personal development book, etc.

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Focus on ONE Thing at a Time

We live in a society where everyone’s constantly distracted, usually by their phones.

Texts, emails, phone calls, notification pings, etc, are constantly coming through. While these alerts are sometimes worthy of your attention, that doesn’t mean you have to stop what you’re doing to respond right away.

Focus on the ONE thing, then when you’re finished, answer those emails and messages.

Some people brag about being a good multi-tasker, but I think multi-tasking is a lie-you cannot truly, 100% focus on something and produce the best results when you’re allowing yourself to get pulled in a million directions.

When I quit answering texts, emails, calls, and messages on a whim, I noticed a reduction in feeling overwhelmed, so I know this works.

Take Action

Block out time to work on each task and do not allow yourself to get pulled into anything else during those blocks of time where you are focusing on one thing.

Minimize or “x” out of email or anything else not pertaining to the task at hand, and keep your phone out of reach. Everything else can wait!

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Step Down (If You Need To)

If you’re implementing all of the above practices and you still feel overwhelmed, it’s time to evaluate your life and eliminate something.

This might mean you need to step down from a committee or team you volunteer for. It’s okay to take a break and focus on what matters most.

Take Action

It can be hard to walk away from something you love or people who are relying on you, but your peace of mind is worth more. Step down for a season and see if things improve in your life. You can always go back!

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What are your tips for avoiding overwhelm? What are topics that you want to hear about? I read and reply to every comment, so let me know in the comments below! I love hearing from my readers.

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Lisa

Hi! I'm Lisa. I help women live purposeful, fulfilling and joyful lives. I'm happily married and a fur mom to two boxers and two rabbits. I love Jesus, freelance writing, fitness, personal development, reading books, football, cross-stitching, and video games.