You're Not Alone: How to Counteract Feelings of Being Overwhelmed

Whether you’re juggling work, school, family, and social obligations or dealing with an illness or difficult life event, it can feel like there are too many things to keep track of and not enough time in the day to take care of everything. Before you know it, taking a shower feels like an overwhelming task, but when you need to be at your best and not just feel good but look good as well, what can you do? Follow these tips on how to counteract feelings of being overwhelmed so that you can get through your hectic day in style.

Pinpoint the Source

Ask yourself why you’re feeling overwhelmed. If it’s a situation that can be resolved with some effort and mental discipline, then you know where to focus your energy. If it’s out of your control, ask what you can do so that it isn’t as overwhelming in future situations. This might involve speaking up about your needs or taking on certain tasks that would take some weight off your shoulders. Or, if there are just too many things on your plate at once, consider whether doing something about those challenges is worth continuing with everything else on your list.

Set Boundaries around Your Time and Workload

You might think you have lots of time for yourself, but do you really? If not, it's time to set boundaries around your time and workload. Prioritise your personal life by figuring out what non-negotiable activities deserve a spot on your calendar. Then, identify other tasks that can be postponed. If you still find yourself feeling overwhelmed, try taking a step back from certain responsibilities and let someone else take over. A fresh pair of eyes will often uncover flaws in a project that were previously invisible to you. At times like these, turn off your email notifications so you can focus on one thing at a time instead of letting several projects consume all your attention.

Challenge Your Perfectionism

Even if you don’t realise it, perfectionism is probably what’s holding you back. Yes, I know — looking at your work and wondering how you can make it better is totally normal; we all want things to be great. But studies show that an obsession with perfectionism actually has a counterproductive effect on your happiness and productivity. If your attention is constantly focused on what could go wrong, then nothing will ever go right for you.

Outsource or Delegate

People can feel overwhelmed for any number of reasons, but most often it’s because they don’t know how or where to start tackling a project. When you have multiple things on your plate, there’s no need to go it alone. Outsource or delegate when you need help with a large task and gain back some time in your day—you can even work on delegating more things as part of your plan for countering feelings of being overwhelmed!

Challenge Your Assumptions

One of my favourite quotes comes from Albert Einstein, who said, Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So often we’re our own worst enemy in moments like these. In times when we feel overwhelmed or unfocused, it can be easy to blame others for something that’s not their fault—it’s simply on us for letting things get out of hand.

Start a Training Course

If you’re struggling with feelings of being overwhelmed, then I would recommend starting a training course. These days it’s easier than ever to find courses on most topics. So jump online and get researching! (While courses aren’t a cure-all for being overwhelmed, they can give you an outlet for all that extra energy.)

Bottom Line

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to remember that there is help available. Talk to your boss and co-workers about what you can do to take some pressure off your plate. Schedule time for yourself and put it on your calendar so that you stick to it. Take a break outside or meditate in your office; even if it’s just five minutes of deep breathing each day, taking care of yourself will only make you more productive at work! We all feel overwhelmed from time to time; don’t let your feelings of overwhelm control how well you perform professionally. For more information contact Mantus Learning.