Recently I’ve felt a teeny bit overwhelmed. Not because life has been particularly busy, but because a few things have taken up more headspace than usual, causing a feeling of overwhelm. Having navigated breast cancer twice, I’ve learned that protecting my energy is important. And sometimes that means making a few small adjustments.
It also prompted me to look into what can cause overwhelm. I learned that it’s often a stress response, sometimes triggered by a big life event, but just as often by an accumulation of smaller stresses.
I also discovered that there can be physical symptoms similar to anxiety. I can’t say I’ve been feeling more anxious than usual, but I have noticed the emotional impact: difficulty concentrating, feeling irritated by small things, avoiding some life admin that I would normally tackle with enthusiasm, and even almost cancelling social events.
So I decided I needed to take action.
01
Re-prioritising and reducing my commitments
I love helping people, so I very rarely say no to anything. It means I’m often busy. But recently I’ve had to take a step back and look at everything I’ve committed to and take a few things off my list.
It wasn’t easy. I worried about potentially letting people down. It would be very easy right now to tip myself into feeling guilty, but instead I’m choosing to celebrate this small achievement. I’ve put myself first.
02
Planning ahead and protecting my energy
Normally I enjoy being busy, but at times that has led to a very full schedule. I’ve now looked a few weeks ahead and made sure to create more space in my diary.
Instead of filling every gap, I’m leaving room to breathe, making sure there is time for things that restore my energy as well as the things that require it.
03
Journalling
Journalling is one of my go-to activities when I don’t feel quite myself (to be honest, it’s something I do most days regardless of how I feel).
But when I am feeling overwhelmed, I find it particularly helpful to get everything out of my head and onto paper, from thoughts and worries to my to-do list. It clears my mind and often helps me focus.
04
Movement
Movement is medicine and helps me in so many ways. Right now I’m focusing on my favourite – running.
It gives me a huge boost, clears my head and helps me process whatever I’m thinking about. I also find it a great way to practice a form of active mindfulness (try counting footsteps as you run as a form of mindfulness).
05
Saying yes to things that bring joy
Recently, I’ve unusually felt like hiding away a little. A normal reaction to overwhelm, I’m learning.
But I also know that I love spending time with friends and doing things that make life feel fun. So I’ve made a conscious decision to keep saying yes to the people who radiate energy and the activities that bring me joy.
At the moment those things include saunas, working on a knitting project, mini-breaks, and looking ahead to the party.
I also read somewhere recently that you should start by planning the fun first and I really like that idea. It’s something I’m going to try to do more of going forward
Life isn’t always plane sailing and from time to time we need to work harder to balance things out. These small things do that for me. What to you do when overwhelm hits?
