Overwhelm

“Feeling like you’re drowning in a sea of stress and responsibilities? You’re not alone. In this blog, I will dive into the top 5 reasons why people feel overwhelmed, and explore practical strategies to help you stay afloat and thrive.”

Here are 5 common reasons why people may feel overwhelmed:

1. Excessive workload: Having too much work to do, or unrealistic deadlines can lead to feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious.
2. Lack of time management skills: Poor time management skills can lead to feeling overwhelmed because you may struggle to prioritize tasks and complete them in a timely manner.
3. Emotional stress: Dealing with difficult emotions such as grief, anxiety, depression, or even positive emotions such as excitement or joy, can be overwhelming and cause you to feel stressed and anxious.
4. Lack of support: Feeling unsupported by family, friends, or colleagues can leave you feeling like you have to do everything alone, which can lead to feeling overwhelmed.
5. Perfectionism: Striving for perfection can cause undue stress and pressure, leading to feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

Feeling overwhelmed can sometimes be related to fear, as fear and anxiety are often closely linked. When we feel overwhelmed, it can be because we are afraid that we won’t be able to cope with the demands placed upon us. This fear can be based on a variety of factors, such as a lack of confidence in our abilities, past experiences of failure or rejection, or a fear of the unknown. Additionally, the physical sensations that often accompany feelings of overwhelm, such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, and shallow breathing, can be similar to the physical symptoms of fear and anxiety. However, it’s important to note that feeling overwhelmed can also be caused by a variety of other factors, such as excessive workload, lack of support, or poor time management, as mentioned above. Knowing where the overwhelm is coming from is the first step to being able to deal with it.

Following are helpful strategies gained from my personal experience and from my work with coaching clients who are burned out, growing cranky, frustrated and even depressed. These strategies immediately diminish feelings of being overwhelmed so you can refocus and make some work/life balance decisions.

1. Stop what you are doing for a few minutes and take a break. Go for a short walk, sit outside under a tree, meditate, practice mindfulness techniques like deep breathing, exercise, call a friend to share what is going on.
2. Get a piece of paper and make two columns. In one column, list urgent things you need to do this week. In the other column, list those projects that you can delegate, perhaps to a work colleague, partner, kids or friends.
3. Eliminate, eliminate, eliminate. Unsubscribe to unnecessary e-mails, organize your desk and office to decrease clutter, cut back on any extra activities that are adding to your overwhelm.
4. Take an action step today to make change in your life! Call a friend who will support you, take a class to get organized, or work with a coach who will support and motivate you to have a more balanced life.
5. Remember, feeling overwhelmed is a common experience, but it doesn’t have to control your life. By identifying the reasons why you’re feeling overwhelmed and taking practical steps to manage your stress and workload, you can regain a sense of balance and calm. If you’re struggling with feelings of overwhelm, and you feel they maybe related to emotional stress I have prepared a video on how to feel emotions. Click here to watch the video.I can help you with your overwhelm. Reach out, I am here for you.