When you’re overloaded, you still have options

Overload.

Have you ever had one of those days when you can’t see a flash of light at the end of the tunnel?

You know what I mean. One of those days when your to-do list overflows and your phone rings and you’re overwhelmed and discouraged. You feel like you’re swimming upstream and you can barely keep your head above the water.

I hit one of those times recently. If I could have put in another four hours at the end of my day, I still wouldn’t have come close to “doing it all.”

When I get to moments like that, this is what I do …

Overload doesn’t have to be your owner

I cheer up and remind myself that I yet have options.

I imagine myself standing at an emotional crossroads. Right there, I place myself on a power point, because I can decide which direction I will take next.

So get on with me now.

If you give in to being overwhelmed, you can easily sabotage your good efforts. Perhaps you succumb to procrastination. Or perhaps with your energy waning, you will lose focus and give in to debilitating worry. And, of course, self-criticism is always on the lookout and ready to intervene as well.

As an alternative to those counterproductive choices, I often suggest that people look at their values, the urgency of the tasks, and who will be affected if the tasks are not completed. Armed with that information, you begin to prioritize.

There is one more way …

A third option for when you’re feeling overwhelmed is to simply tell yourself “I’ll never finish it all.”

Honest and self-care relief.

The first time I said those words to myself objectively (not self-pityingly) it had an immediate positive effect. I was accepting my limits and giving myself permission to stop trying to do the impossible. Putting my feet back on the ground, relaxing my shoulders, taking a breath, I let him go. I returned to my tasks without load.

How does this resonate in your life?

What things have you found useful when you are overloaded?

Let’s explore time together …