Finding Your Way Through Overwhelm
Does it ever seem like the items on your to-do list multiply when you're not looking?
New projects pile up. Emails go unanswered. Decisions linger longer than they should. The things you've avoided start to crowd the edges. That’s when overwhelm starts to take hold. The typical reaction is either to push harder… or freeze entirely.
These moments are when I remind myself that I’ve lost sight of the big picture. The brain tends to think in terms of one, two, three… many. If I’m focused on all the things I have to do, it’s a recipe for overwhelm. Rather, I need to focus on what I’m trying to accomplish, the outcomes or goals or objectives, because energy flows where focus goes. If I’m focused only on the to-do list, I will feel busy and get tired. If I focus on the outcomes, I will feel purposeful and energized.
Next time you feel overwhelmed, write down everything you have to do. Let’s say it’s one hundred tasks. Then group them around common outcomes. For example: get vegetables, go for a run, make an appointment with the chiro, research a new mattress, meditate, interview personal trainers… these all are all tasks towards one outcome, improve energy and vitality. The hundred tasks will likely break down to eight or ten outcomes, which are much easier for your brain to manage. Then, if you accomplish ANY of the tasks under an outcome, you are making progress towards achieving it, so you will feel successful even if you don’t get it all done.
Next time you feel stretched thin, remember to take time out to do some planning and focus on the results you want to achieve. Let energy flow towards a clear picture of the outcomes you desire and you will have a greater chance of achieving them.
Until next time, Sherif