3 Tips to Manage Overwhelm
Published on 28 Jan 2008 at 6:28 am.
3 Comments.
Filed under Business Development, Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies.
Yesterday I received an email from a client who’s been having a tough time in her personal life. Initially, she hired me to help her grow her business and we’ve been focusing on personal development areas to help her build a strong foundation from which to take her business to the next level. I’m a believer that growing yourself as a person as well as growing your business is the winning combination for success and happiness.
Her email told me she was spinning in so many directions, feeling stressed and overwhelmed. What I have found is that when people get to that point, one of the biggest mistakes they make when feeling emotionally stretched is they start eliminating the people and systems they need to help them stabilize.
It’s understandable that when folks feel so burdened they immediately look to dump as much as they can so they can breathe easier. The only problem is that decisions made under emotional duress are often ones that bring regrets. The key is being able to step back and assess the situation from a clear perspective so that the best decisions can be made.
Overwhelm keeps us busy, distracted, and confused. It’s a sign that something is off -that in some way we are out of integrity, out of alignment, out of balance with our selves in some way.
How do people become overwhelmed?
Here are 5 reasons:
1. They haven’t prioritized things. They try to do too many things and end up working harder to accomplish less.
2. They lack setting time boundaries. Without some discipline in scheduling time, becoming distracted creates confusion and stress.
3. They haven’t taken time for themselves. People are more likely to react when they are depleted, over-extended, and weary.
4. Too much clutter builds up. Regular cleaning up of clutter frees us time and energy.
5. They take on too much responsibility because they don’t say no. This is a biggy for folks who struggle with saying no or delegating to others. Superman and superwoman are comic book characters. Multi-tasking is now being seen as causing a decrease in productivity. Check out my past post on ways to say no
Here are 3 quick tips to manage overwhelm:
~ Look at where your energy is going during the course of your day. Ask yourself – is this the best use of my time right now? Does this (whatever you’re giving attention to) need to handled right now? Is putting my attention here moving me towards what I desire or away from it?
~ Framing your day to get off to a good start with some morning and evening rituals. Take as little as 15 minutes or more. Get up a little earlier and do something to help you get centered and focused before you start your business day. Schedule time in your calendar to play – have a massage, lunch, take a bubble bath, meditate. Book it like an appointment!
~ Spend 15-20 minutes each day decluttering one area such as clearing your desk, cleaning out a file, or going through your closet. You would be amazed at how much you can clear out over 30 days! Not sure where to start? Start small be identifying something that is annoying or bugging you. Then, handle it.
To master your ability to manage overwhelm, procrastination & fear as roadblock to your success and happiness, purchase a copy of my newly released eBook and Live Webinar: Take Charge of Your Life: Overcoming Overwhelm, Procrastination & Fear. It will be one of the best investments you’ll make for your business and your life!
Cheers
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
Sham @ Enhance Life on 29 Jan 2008 at 2:06 am: 1
I am also one of those people who find it difficult to say “No”. Thus having too many thing on plate!
Great post!
lorraine on 29 Jan 2008 at 8:43 am: 2
You’re not alone on that one Sham
It takes practice to be willing to hold boundaries that include saying no. In the long run, it makes your life work better!
Cheers,
Lorraine
Bootstrapper » Carnival of Business and Entrepreneurship #10 on 2 Mar 2008 at 1:55 pm: 3
[...] Cohen presents Powerfull Living » 3 Tips to Manage Overwhelm posted at Powerfull Living. Learn 3 tips to use your time and energy more effectively in managing [...]