The Paralysis of Being Overwhelmed
We've all been there, our to-do lists have taken over our ability to do anything at all.
We get so overwhelmed with all the things we have to do, that we
shut down and do nothing instead.
We become paralyzed and fall into a downward spiral of not so healthy choices - arguing with your partner or family, having one too many glasses of wine, or over-eating, things that feel comforting in the moment, but make us feel worse off in the end.
So how do we control this nasty monster of overwhelm???
First of all and I know you're probably sick of hearing this one,
Go Back To the Basics:
Eat Well. We're talking fresh berries, avocado, hummus, almond butter, apples, you get the idea.
If you eat junk, you will feel like junk, and pass out on the couch watching some worthless tv show.
Sleep Well. Everyone's different on this one but on average get at least 6-8 solid hours of sleep every night.
When you're tired you can't function, period.
Exercise Well. Shoot for 3 times a week, minimum. Choose something that you enjoy and get a buddy to join you, it will make all the difference. Seriously.
Now down to the nitty gritty. Once your basic needs are met, it will feel easier to tackle and approach your daily to-do list.
Make a clean space. ONE space that is organized so you can focus on your tasks at hand.
Make a nice hot cup of coffee or tea to sip on.
Prioritize. Look at your list and decide what can wait. Let those things go for now.
Next choose ONE of the priorities on your list.
Ok, now ban yourself from Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Email, Phone....whatever your distractions are, you know what they are. Don't worry, it's just for the next 45 minutes.
Alright so for the next 45 minutes focus on that one priority. Then the last 15 minutes of the hour, take a break to check your phone....I know you'll be dying to.
And now you're feeling accomplished, you've made progress with something, and that's going to get the ball rolling. Next chunk another 45 minute time frame to tackle some more. Then 15 minutes break. Repeat.
Now the reality is, unfortunately, our to-do lists will likely, wait for it, never end. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that's the truth. All we can do is take it 1 thing at a time. And give yourself a break, we can be so hard on ourselves and think we're not doing enough. But take a step back and really look at all the things you've accomplished. If you listed all of those things, I would bet that would be even more than your carefully written to-do lists.
You got this. Now go and take charge of yourself, your goals, and your time. You will be so happy with that 1 less thing running through your mind that you know you need to do.
At the end of the day, you can feel proud and accomplished of checking off even just 1 thing on your list. And, then, you can actually relax completely without it weighing on your mind.
