With a increase in demand from work, personal life and responsibilities, many are starting to feel overwhelmed. However many of us don’t even know we are feeling overwhelmed. We push it off like we are just having a “off” week or day. When in fact it is something more.
Being overwhelmed is an emotional and cognitive response to excessive stress, information, tasks, or demands that exceed our ability to cope effectively.
Causes can include work related stress, personal life challenges, overload of information, perfectionism, lack of organization and time management and unexpected life changes.
Signs can include physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, changes in sleep pattern and appetite changes. Emotional Signs can include, anxiety, irritability and increased frequency in mood swings.
How can your help yourself?
Write down and prioritize tasks – Prioritize by urgency and delegate when possible. Don’t be afraid to delegate and break tasks into manageable tasks.
Practice Time Management – Create a daily schedule or to do list. Add only necessary tasks, don’t overwhelm yourself all at once by writing everything you ever need to get done down. Don’t be afraid to say no to additional commitments or assignments.
Self Care – Practice shutting down and making time for yourself. Do something that brings you joy. Don’t be afraid to prioritize yourself. You are no help to others if you are overwhelmed.
Seek Help – Reach out to a friend, doctor, coach or processional therapist. Talk about your feelings and bounce ideas off someone who can help.
Feeling overwhelmed is a common challenge in our modern lives, you are not alone. The good news, it’s not permanent and you can work on it. By understanding the causes, recognizing the signs, and implementing strategies you can navigate your feeling of being overwhelmed. Remember, self-care and seeking support when needed are crucial steps.
Be kind to yourself.
The Love Yourself Diary 