Overwhelmed: Top Tips

I had a bit of a meltdown this week. I was just about coping with my long to-do list, work and routine tasks, when an unexpected dog fight broke out between two of my friends dogs that I was looking after. Creating emotional overwhelm and yet more tasks of things to do. Sigh!

Are there days when you feel as if life is just too much? You feel overwhelmed, deflated and don’t know where to start. It is all too much and you want to run away or burst into tears, but you know that it’s not an option.

Here are a few tips on how to cope with feeling completely overwhelmed and stressed:

1. Remove yourself – Move from the physical environment where you feel the sense of overwhelm. Go outside, if you are unable to go outside, leave the room where you feel overwhelmed, even if it means going to the loo. The change of environment enables you to have space to breathe and think different thought patterns.
2. Breathe – Take 5 deep breaths in amidst the chaos you feel. Breathe using your stomach. Place one hand on your stomach. Feel your stomach extend as you breathe in and contract while you are breathing out. Not only does this oxygenate your brain, enabling you to think better but it also helps relax the body.
3. Present Sensory Awareness – Be aware of what you are experiencing through your senses. What can you see, hear, smell, feel and taste (perhaps have a sip of water). This enables you to focus on your current environment and be present where you are at that given moment, shifting your focus from the stressors.
4. Surrender and Realistically Prioritise – Once you are aware and present in the given moment, realistically review your to-do list and select three tasks that you can do within the immediate future. Yes, I know that you have 100 things to do but chose three. Thus, giving you a sense of control and achievement when they are completed.
5. Ask for help – Once you have reviewed your to-do list realistically, look at where other people can help and ask. Even if it simple tasks such as please bath the children, or cook dinner or feed the dog. People are more willing to help that you may think.
6. Acknowledge and Celebrate – Remember to acknowledge what tasks you have achieved. If you have completed something that it not on your list, write it down and tick it off. By acknowledging what you have achieve it gives a sense of control and achievement. It is also a helpful reminder that you are capable of achieving so much more that you currently realise.

You are capable of so much more than your realise!

Kim #youarecapable

P. S. Should you need help realising your capablitities click here to check out the HOLC services. Or feel free to contact me here.