Simple Steps to Manage Overwhelm Effectively

Welcome to Authentic Living with Linda
I’m Linda Codlin

Welcome, My Friends.

Sometimes when life becomes overwhelming or just too much, it is wise to take a step back and look at what is really going on.
This is where I have been in my life lately, it seems to me that life is throwing things at me, one thing after another.
Life can send me unexpected events or situations, which seem like I have no control over.
I know that I always have a choice in how I respond or react.

Is it time to do a life reevaluation?
A life reevaluation is where you take yourself off to a quiet private space to notice where you are, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially.
I follow the Lifebook system of 12 categories of living.
My 12 categories represent my life a month at a time.

This year I was introduced to the intention circles.
Each of my 12 categories has an intention circle, where I have noted the intended feeling I want to have in that space of my life.
Then underneath are a few ideas of how I can implement this feeling.

I will include a sheet to give you an indication.
If you want an intention circle template, email me your name and email address with intention circle in the subject line. My email is authenticlivingwithlinda@gmail.com

Is it time to reevaluate your life?

When you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed, taking a step back to evaluate your life, can give you more clarity, of what is and what isn’t working for you right now.

Create a safe and quiet space where you can be alone to reflect on what is going on in your life right now.
Create time to sit and breathe, to step away from the normal run of the mill doingness.
Open your journal to a new page and write all the things that are weighing on you, write all the thoughts you are having about yourself ‘not coping’, be kind, but be honest.
When I am in the middle of feeling overwhelmed, like I have this week, I sit with my notebook and write all the things I feel I have to do, and all those pesky things I believe I ‘should’ be doing.
I know myself well enough to know what creates stress in my body, and how I can work with my body to bring the levels down to a manageable level.

What makes you feel like you can’t ‘manage’ right now?

I use my 12 categories as a touchstone, they remind me of what I’m aiming for.
These 12 categories remind me of I want to feel and create in each area, they inspire me, and challenge me when I’ve moved away from what I say I want.

Where are you struggling to ‘manage’?

List the reasons you feel like you’re not managing as well as you want to.
Then list what it would feel like if you could wave a magic wand and everything would instantly be manageable.
How would your manageable state feel, look, sound. What would you be doing in your ‘managed’ environment?
This becomes your starting point.
For each item you wrote on your not managing list, write the opposite, how would it look if you were managing your work, home, personal life balance.

What responsibilities are you carrying that are not yours to carry?

Maybe you are still doing things for other people, that they are now able to do for themselves.
For example as a mum or dad of children, young children need a lot of time and energy to care for, maybe your children are not so young any more, but you are still doing all the things for them.
Maybe it’s time to set your children up for success in adulthood, by teaching them how to prepare and cook basic meals, by teaching them how to make their beds, and tidy their rooms.
In this case you will be teaching your children valuable skills for life and reducing the responsibilites you get to carry.

Maybe you have a work colleague who continually off loads their work onto you, and you pick up their work on top of your own.
In this case you may need to dust off your ‘red velvet rope policy’ and start to say ‘no’ to regain your own equilibrium.
By noting what is your responsibility and what isn’t you can hand back what isn’t and reduce your feelings of overwhelm, gaining more self-respect and time in the process.

Are you feeling overwhelmed with time pressure?

Often we feel like we don’t have enough hours in a day to get everything we want to do, done.
The thing is we all have 24 hours, 1440 minutes and 86400 seconds in a day.
It’s what we do with these increments of time.
Most people believe they need to manage time, I believe we need to manage the tasks we want to achieve in a time frame.
Time is going to pass, whether we do anything or do nothing. It will pass if we play games on our phone or scroll aimlessly.
This is not time managing, it is task managing.
I love the Pomodoro technique, or time blocking. I use 15 minute increments.
My motto is: I can do anything FOR 15 minutes.
What are the tasks that keep stressing you out?
Are they daily tasks, or are they more like projects and one off tasks?
Note to self: You set your schedule.
Let me say that again. You get to set your schedule. Schedule time for yourself, time to take breaks.
Your mind and body will work better when they are rested.
If you don’t set your schedule, still schedule time for regular 5 minute breaks and stretches. Do this deliberately, breathe and release the stress.
Manage your tasks, rather than your time.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by disorganized spaces, schedules and tasks?

For me disorganization is a huge stressor, and shifting house is all about disorganization, until every item in boxes has a new home.
Another of my mottos: A place for everything and everything in its place.
If you are finding your environment is part of the overwhelming factor, begin with a 15 minute timer, one draw or shelf that is really bothering you.
Note to self: Never take out more than you can put back in 15 minutes.
Each item is handled once, if it belongs somewhere else put it there, if you no longer love it, need it or use it, donate it, and if you do love it, use it and want to keep it put it back into the cleaned space.
Keep going till the timer goes off. Then stop.
Tomorrow set the timer again for 15 minutes, and continue. Never taking out more than you can put back in 15 minutes.
This is how I keep my home visitor ready, and almost motel like, most of the time.
A clean and clear environment will encourage a clearer mind and less stress.
If tasks are what are stressing you, investigate delegating them to someone else.
Can you pay someone to do the mundane household chores?
Can you outsource some of the basic yardwork, or paperwork in your business?

Are you feeling overwhelmed because ‘it’ isn’t good enough?

Perfectionism will stop you in your tracks and undermine your self-belief.
Another of my mottos: Near enough is good enough.
I remind myself that if I’ve done the best I can, then that is good enough.
There is no such thing as perfect. Every moment is an opportunity for change.
A 15 minute clearing out of a draw, is better than not starting it at all. Once the 15 minutes are up, part of your draw will be tidier than it was before.
Every day you do something toward your goal, no matter how well, or not, is a day you have done something to move you forward.
And any day you have done something, is a day for celebration.
Perfection will cripple your creativity, your love of life, your laughter and it will strangle your authenticity right out of you.
Let it go. Good enough is near enough. Do the best you can with what you have, in the time available, and celebrate that you have done it.

Step back and evaluate your expectations of yourself.

Until next time: Investigate what is overwhelming you. Check in with your body, and your schedule.
Define what is important to you, and begin to release what isn’t leading you where you want to go.

oxoxo Linda.

If you are struggling with overwhelm, I can help you to gain clarity and move yourself forward to a life you will love living.

Book a time for a 30 minute complementary call to see if we are a good fit. Use the link below.

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As a certified Life Coach, I help you to help yourself, so you can create a well lived life your way. 

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