Overwhelmed? How to Get Unstuck
Are you overwhelmed with too much work, not enough time and too little energy to get anything done?
That’s the feeling we all get from time to time, no matter how organized or productive we are. When this happens to you, it is usually because you are overstressed, overworked and understimulated.
This post will help you figure out what is keeping you stuck and give you five tips for getting yourself out of the rut so that your productivity isn’t just back on track.
Read on for more :)
Why do we feel overwhelmed?
Being overwhelmed is a feeling of having too much work and too little time to get it all done. It happens when you are trying to do too much, when you don’t prioritize effectively and maybe don’t have the energy to do what you want to do.
This kind of situation can be caused by a number of different things, including:
1. looking only at the bigger picture instead of focusing on smaller goals
2. trying to do too many things at once
3. under-estimating the time you need to spend on certain tasks
4. being constantly distracted by other activities or projects
5. not knowing where to start
6. not giving yourself room to breathe
Use the following 5 tips to help you overcome the overwhelm and get yourself unstuck.
1. Don’t try to do too much at once
The most common reason for feeling overwhelmed is that you are probably trying to do too much at once. What do we mean by “too much”? If you have more than one or two major projects on the go at the same time, you are probably overdoing it.
If you are managing a project at work, an extra-curricular activity with your kids and cleaning up your house, you probably have too many things on your plate at once.
If you have even one or two major projects or goals that you are trying to achieve or you are responsible for other people’s work, you probably have a few tasks on your plate that you don’t have enough time to do properly.
That’s why it’s important to prioritize what you are doing and to set realistic goals. Make a list of the tasks you have to do, and then prioritize the ones that are most important.
2. Take a short break
If you feel overwhelmed, it might help to take a short break from your work.
A break doesn’t have to be a month-long vacation. It can be as simple as taking a few minutes to do something for yourself. This can be anything from a quick breathing exercise to a walk outside, from a few minutes reading a novel to watching an episode of your favourite TV show.
Try to find
something that will not only distract you for a few minutes, but that will also
give you a bit of a break from whatever is stressing you out. Even a few
minutes spent doing something nice for yourself can be helpful in regaining a
sense of balance.
3. Make a Small Change
Sometimes, when you are feeling overwhelmed, the best thing you can do is to make a small change in your daily routine. This can be something as simple as changing the order in which you do things or swapping out an item on your daily to-do list.
If you are feeling too busy and overworked, you probably need to schedule downtime. This can be as simple as setting a “date night” with your significant other or taking a little bit of time each day to read a book.
The idea here is to give your brain something new to focus on. To shake out any cobwebs and to get off of autopilot. A fun distraction can also lift your mood or lead to new inspiration.
Making small changes can make a big difference when you are feeling overwhelmed. If you are trying to do too much and feeling like you don’t have enough time, a small change in your daily routine could be all you need to eventually get back on track.
4. Make a plan
If you are overwhelmed with work, you might need to make a plan. This doesn’t mean you need to write a novel. It can be as simple as writing down a list of the things that need to be done.
If you are busy with more than one project, try to prioritize them. If you are responsible for other people’s work, try to get organized so you know what tasks you need to check off every day. This doesn’t work for everybody, but it can help if you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know what you need to do.
You might feel like you have too much work and not enough time to do it, but you aren’t sure what needs to be prioritized and what doesn’t. If you don’t know where to start, making a plan can help you get organized and get your productivity back on track.
This helps to narrow your focus from the bigger picture and hone in on smaller tasks that are less overwhelming overall.
5. Be Kind to Yourself
Finally, if you are feeling overwhelmed, you need to be kind to yourself. There is no use in beating yourself up for being too busy or for having too much on your plate.
When you are feeling overwhelmed, you need to stop and give yourself a break. Spend some time doing nice things for yourself, like drinking a hot cup of tea, reading a book or watching your favourite TV show.
Most importantly, don’t feel pressured to get everything done. If you can’t finish a project or get all of your tasks done in a day, that’s normal. Being too busy and having too much on your plate are sometimes unavoidable parts of life.
However, you can learn to cope with them and even use them to
motivate you to be more productive and organized. Sometimes we think something is important, and has to get done, when really it can wait. Prioritize urgent tasks first and give yourself a break on things that won't stop the earth from spinning.
Conclusion:
If you are feeling overwhelmed to the point of being paralysed by it, the best thing you can do is get yourself back on track by following these five tips for getting yourself into a healthy positive mindset.