I think you know all this, but sometimes it's good to have reminders: Do your best to not overschedule yourself. If you’re taking a trip, don’t wait until the last minute to pack. If you’re throwing a party, take it easy on yourself and make it a potluck. The less pressure you put on yourself, the less stressed you’ll be in the long run.
1. Acknowledge and accept your feelings.
When you experience any challenging feeling, first stop and acknowledge the feeling you’re having, without judgment. Welcome the feeling and accept it for what it is. Notice where you feel it in your body. Then take a deep breath and try to send the breath to that area. Acknowledging and accepting your overwhelm is the first step to letting it go.
2. Determine where the overwhelm is coming from.
We feel overwhelmed when there is too much do or there's too many feelings, things to think about, people or things pulling us in too many directions… you get the idea! In this step, ask yourself what’s causing the feeling. For me, it’s often caused by thinking I need to do everything by myself and to do it perfectly. That’s a very intense feeling!
3. Figure out the truth.
Here we take time to notice the story we're telling ourselves that is not true. In my example, I think I have to do it all alone with zero mistakes. The truth is that I don't have to do any of that and that I can ask for help, prioritize, or set things aside. The truth is that there is no such thing as perfection and at the end of the day, everything will work out even if it's not "perfect." In other words... let go!
4. Ask yourself what you need.
You've identified the feeling, you know what's causing it, and you've identified any lies and truths within those feelings. Now, ask yourself, "What do I need right now, in this moment, that will give me space to breathe, think clearly, and feel calmer?" Maybe you need a 15 minute break, a walk in nature, or a power nap. There is no right or wrong answer here, just choose the thing that comes to mind first and then go do it.
5. Take one small step.
Now that you've had a moment to recenter yourself, complete one small task from your list. One small step will usually lead you to another step, then another and before you know it, you've checked things off the list that might not have been done at all when you were deep in the emotional turmoil in the beginning. Then, notice how you feel afterwards!
Revisit these steps often, take breaks as you need them, let go, and breathe! Was this helpful? Let me know in the comments below. Have a great week!
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