Everyday life can get pretty hectic. Between work, chores, commitments, e-mails and many other daily tasks, there’s barely any (quality) time for yourself.
Do you follow up on what’s really important?
In order to achieve everything without feeling constantly overwhelmed, you’ve got to know what’s really important to you. Prioritize and get crystal clear on what really matters in your life.
If you find yourself without time to attend important family events, meet with friends, or to simply take a long relaxing bubble bath, consider this the sign you’ve been waiting for and reevaluate your priorities, right now.
That’s it. The simplest, most effective way to deal with feeling overwhelmed is to prioritize.
Contemplate on what really matters to you and what your goals are. It doesn’t have to be complicated as you already know the answer to this – it’s within you. Like Henry David Thoreau said: “It’s not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: what are we busy about?”
Really dig deep, and ask yourself, “Why am I so busy?” The answer might just be what you need to reassess your priorities.
If you “get” this, but are still unsure how to actually start applying it in real life, take a look below at our best advice to get rid of overwhelming feelings.
1. Track your time.
A lot of people complain that 24-hour days are simply not enough. But, when it comes down to it, most of us are guilty of not using our time wisely.
Track how much time you’re spending on social media, how many hours of TV you watch daily, and how often you check your phone – even when you’re not really expecting an important message or call.
The amount of time spent on such things often surprises people. Tracking your time is an important first step when dealing with overwhelming feelings (and it can also be a huge reality check!).
Don’t get us wrong; we’re not discouraging leisure activities. Rather, we’re saying that before you move on to other projects, activities, and functions, check if you have any time “leaks” that need some fixing.
2. Just say no.
Sometimes you’ve just got to say no. You don’t have to help your friend organize that dinner party; you don’t have to go to your cousin’s boss’s fundraiser, and you don’t have to do that favor simply because you were asked.
Life’s too short to do things you don’t really want to do. Don’t overcommit to things that will burn you out. Value your time as well as other people’s time.
Why? Well, let’s face it. If you’re doing things just to please people, the results won’t be great. There is no shame in saying no as long as it’s from an honest place.
Being clear on your priorities also helps with this, because the more you know what you want, the easier it gets to say no to the things you don’t.
3. Schedule breaks and fun activities.
Scheduling adds consistency in your life and helps lower stress levels which are behind those overwhelming feelings.
Make a habit of scheduling your activities, including the fun and relaxing ones, or you’ll risk not getting them done. Work happens. Requests happen. Something will always happen.
By planning for some free time within your schedule, you’re getting ahead of all that.
Of course, your days won’t always look the same, and sometimes you won’t be able to strictly follow things as planned. However, the visual aspect of having your days planned out can go a long way in making you feel more relaxed and not to mention, it’ll get you pumped up to get things done. Challenge yourself by creating a realistic schedule and actually follow it for a week. We bet you’ll want to keep it up.
Feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean that you can’t handle your work, life, or relationships. It’s just a sign that you need to become aware of what your true priorities are and act accordingly.
Don’t let life pass you by. Put our advice to the test and get rid of those overwhelming thoughts and feelings that are holding you back. Act on what’s really important to you and always follow up.