It feels ironic that I wrote this post in the week of International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day given that I’ve felt like I’m failing in pretty much area of my life.
I’ve made silly mistakes at work through rushing to get things done and I’ve felt guilty for not being fully engaged with my child because my mind is elsewhere.
In my case, feeling overwhelmed triggers headaches and an inability to focus properly. My mind struggles to switch off and then a lack of sleep affects my ability to rationalise things the following day.
It’s pretty much impossible to design a life which is fully stress-free. However, it is important to understand the impact feeling overwhelmed has on the body. It releases the stress hormone, cortisol which longer term can lead to health issues such as high cholesterol, heart disease, low immune systems and many, many others.
How to deal with overwhelm
So what can you do to get this under control?
1. Respond rather than react
Your emotions cause you to react but try instead to respond. This is something I’m learning to put in place (admittedly I did shed a few tears in the work toilets last week). It doesn’t mean you should suffer in silence, just instead take the emotion out, assess the situation and consider the best response.
2. Prioritise
The Guardian journalist Oliver Burkeman describes the sense of overwhelm as, “the mismatch between all the things you’d like to do, or feel you ought to do, and the far smaller capacity of things you’re actually capable of doing”.
Look at what needs to be done urgently, what can be done in a few days and what really can wait. The likelihood is not everything needs to be done straight away.
3. Be kind to yourself
Feeling like I’m not on top of things leads to a pattern of negative thinking. I find it hard not to start telling myself what a failure I am. Actually, caring about doing something well is a really positive thing. Remember, you are doing your best.
4. Done is better than perfect
Sometimes you just have to accept there aren’t enough hours in the day for perfection. You just need to get it done and move on.
5. Ask for support
Don’t suffer in silence. There is nothing wrong with asking for help or speaking out. My sister in law took my son for a walk yesterday. In that hour, I finished two pieces of work and feel like I’m going to start the week on a more positive note.
6. Practice self-care
I don’t know about you, but as soon as I get busy, healthy eating (by which I mean good nutrition) goes out of the window. I’m eating packet food and craving anything high in salt and fat. That’s quite a normal response. Stress increases our appetite and so we immediately crave food which will give us a quick burst of energy. Longer term though, it’s not really doing us any favours.
Try to take time out just for you. Run a bath, read a book, watch TV – anything to give yourself a break. Better decisions are made with a clear head.
7. And breathe
I can feel a bit teary when things get too much. If you do feel really overwhelmed, focus on your breath and take a few minutes just breathing in and out. It helps, I promise.
Originally published at 365daysofwellbeing.com