Overriding Overwhelm

Ever get overwhelmed? I bet I am not the only one to experience this suffocating feeling where even the smallest tasks loom so large your body abruptly stops in paralysis. I know when I am faced with too much on my to-do list, my breath becomes shallow, I feel out of control and ready to quit, and I find it difficult to focus on anything.

Brene Brown writes, “The definition of overwhelm that I could FEEL the moment I read it is from Jon Kabat-Zinn: Overwhelm is the all-too-common feeling that ‘our lives are somehow unfolding faster than the human nervous system and psyche are able to manage well.’ Our bodies and minds are experiencing that quicksand feeling.”

Last week too much stuff cried out to be done all at once. Overwhelm engulfed me. I stared at the big projects not sure what next step to take while the tiny ones scream for just as much attention. Urgent outshouted the important. Brain-dumping all I had to work on helped me to name what had to be done, but the waves of so much submerged my spirit.

So I took a walk. In hindsight, this was a great strategy in overriding the feeling of being overwhelmed. I expended nervous energy as I walked and later returned to my desk after this small break with at least a small sense of control.

One golden piece of advice I heard last year is this: “What is the kindest thing you can do for yourself right now?” So after my walk I pondered this question.

The answer: I found compassion for myself (It will be okay) and gratitude for that day. I had the gift of a full day ahead so was blessed with some open time to get things done. I thanked God for this gift and for help in discerning my next right actions.

I knew I couldn’t tackle everything on the list, but I remembered a piece of advice from time management. When setting priorities, identify the top three items that need to be done. I also asked myself what would most help me feel by evening that today was a successful/productive day?

Using these criteria it was obvious what three items – important ones, not just urgent ones, would be good places to start. I knew if I made progress in these areas, the sense of completion and achievement would be my reward by day’s end.

Later I read the following in a productivity newsletter: “I first picked it up from the book Make Time, where the authors call it your Daily Highlight, but I’ve always preferred the word “adventure” because it does something interesting to your brain. But thinking of it as your Daily Adventure puts a totally different spin on it because there’s a sense of play baked in, a sense that you’re heading off to do something interesting rather than dutifully working through a list.”

Ohh, I like that idea. Instead of focusing on the overwhelm, chose your daily adventure. Isn’t that fun?

There is an old saying that provides a wonderful visual for when we feel overwhelmed:

Let the muddy water settle. This is a great reminder to slow down, pay attention, and options will appear.

Pausing. Praying. Breathing. Starting small. Self-awareness on what really is important and taking one step at a time. Even looking at the word overwhelm with new eyes. All simple ways to override overwhelm.

What helps you when you feel overwhelmed?