Feeling Overwhelmed?

Recovering people do not have a monopoly on feeling overwhelmed.  Historically, however, we have turned to mood-altering substances to deal with stress and emotions, so being overwhelmed can be a significant trigger for many people in recovery.

So what to do if you are feeling overwhelmed?  The first step is to sit back, take a breath, and figure out what exactly is overwhelming you.  Sometimes you are so caught up in the chaos, you can’t see the steps needed to move out of it.

I suggest you get out a pad of paper and start writing out all the things you have on your plate at the moment. It become clear really quickly where you need to focus your priorities and where you might need to step back and reassess how you are using your time. 

Once you have your list – you might want ot break it down into types of pressure – family obligations, work obligations, specific work projects, personal obligations and needs (such as meetings, meditation, or the other things you to do stay sane).

Then ask yourself a question: What is on this list that is hanging over my head that I can complete TODAY.

You might be surprised just how much procrastination has led to your list getting longer and longer, and how not doing something is putting more pressure on you than just donig it. If there are little projects you’ve been putting off because you just don’t want to shift your focus, they are likely still pressing on you in some way. Get rid of them if you can.  Fix that door; write that memo; finish that presentation.

Another idea: clean and organize your desk.  A chaotic desk in itself can make things seem overwhelming – especially if every time you switch gears you have to figure out what you need, where it is, and why you can’t find that one item you need. I’m sooooo guilty of this. My desk can turn into a combat zone.  Cleaning it always clears my head a bit.

Another trick is to not project too far into the future. If a new project has been given to you that is due in a month, don’t start thinking OMG what I’m going to have to do this month to finish that! How will I juggle it all!  Instead, plan out what you will do the next two days – or even just today – to get started. 

Remember, a novel isn’t written in a day – it’s a few pages a day over a long period of time that results in that big manuscript!

When you are feeling overwhelmed remember it’s a feeling.  You can get analytical and figure out how to get things done – it might mean asking for support, but that’s still figuring out how to get it done.