Feeling overwhelmed with work and life demands?

Another way to create awareness around overwhelm might be to observe the thoughts that create the feelings of overwhelm. Commonly, it’s not the circumstance that creates a feeling but the thoughts, the meaning or the interpretation we give to the circumstance. So naturally, when we tell ourselves constantly that “there isn’t enough time”, that “there too much to do”, that you “don’t know how and when to get it all done” then we generate feelings of overwhelm within ourselves. By realizing the story we tell ourselves we can pause and step back and choose a better feeling/ more empowering story.

Recognizing and acknowledging stress is the first step toward managing it. Ignoring stress can lead to burnout and decreased productivity. What I do is regularly check in with myself to identify what’s causing my stress. This awareness allows me to address the root causes directly. For instance, I use journaling to express my feelings, which helps me understand and tackle stressors head-on.

Every time we feel stressed, we need to pause, breathe, and look at our situation as an observer. Most of the time, when we do this, we find that we were stressing without a strong reason. We need to adjust our thoughts and actions to find a different approach to our work and life demands. As the old proverb says: "If a problem can be solved, why worry about it? If it cannot be solved, then worrying will do you no good."

Recognize Signs: Be aware of physical and emotional stress indicators. Accept Feelings: Understand that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Talk About It: Share your feelings with a trusted person

Take 5-minute breaks every hour to recharge. Set specific times to unplug from devices. Allocate specific time slots for tasks and personal time. Start your day with meditation or light exercise. Prioritize tasks by urgency and importance. Share responsibilities to lighten your load. Reflect on daily achievements to maintain perspective.

Before you sit down to prioritize, make sure all of the goals and tasks that matter to you are on your list. I've made the mistake of prioritizing without considering if everything that truly mattered was even on the list of tasks, goals, and projects. Most of the time, I only listed work-related tasks because I didn't think of family, relationships, or personal goals in terms of tasks. It wasn't until I truly made a comprehensive list of all areas of life that mattered to me and their goals that prioritizing really made a positive impact.

Feeling overwhelmed by work-life demands? Setting priorities is key. Distinguish between important and non-urgent tasks. Focus on high-impact activities that align with your goals. By managing your time effectively and avoiding spreading yourself too thin, you can reduce the feeling of being pulled in multiple directions. Remember to delegate tasks and practice self-care to maintain resilience. Embrace flexibility and adjust your approach when needed. Prioritize your well-being to navigate work-life overload with ease.

List Tasks: Write down everything you need to do. Rank Importance: Determine which tasks are most critical. Focus: Tackle one task at a time, starting with the most important

I have a very good organisational skills and I am adaptable and as mum of 2 who does everything on her own I am able to recognise priorities which helps with my business and I am able to understand my clients needs more. But I always make sure I am the priority coz once I feel good I vibe good and my mind is in ease which makes prioritising easier as well.

You can tell yourself “I’m doing A, B, C, ….F today” and by the end of the day you’ll realize you’ve got nothing done. But instead of that approach, say (or better still write it down in your To-Do list), “I’ll do C for an hour and 30mins, starting from 9am, after that, I’ll do A whose deadline is tomorrow, then B”. Prioritizing your tasks helps you start with tasks which are more important, and by the end of the day, you’ll realize you’ve done 90% of your tasks.

This is a common challenge in today's fast-paced world. My recommendation is to follow David Allen's advice: "Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them." Here's how to: 1. Capture Everything: Write down all tasks, ideas, and worries. 2. Prioritize: Identify what's urgent vs. important. 3. Delegate or Eliminate: Offload tasks where possible. 4. Focus on One Thing: Break down tasks into manageable steps. 5. Review Regularly: Keep your system updated. This can help alleviate overwhelm and focus on meaningful progress.

Effective time management is crucial to avoid overwhelm. Prioritize tasks based on their impact, delegate responsibilities where possible, and use practical time management techniques like setting clear priorities and using scheduling tools. Seek support when needed and maintain a healthy work-life balance by scheduling time for personal activities. This helps reducing feelings of overwhelm.

One of the keys here is establishing time for breaks. Your mind cannot be in flow for 8 hours a day! Ideally, the maximum amount of time for flow is around 3 hours. After that, the brain and body get tired and not nearly as many connections can be made. In order to have a healthy balance between deep work, meetings, and creativity, create the time in your schedule for all three. Learn to love your calendar and set your hours for productivity, breaks, collaboration, and personal time.

Effective time management is crucial in handling multiple demands. I use tools like time-blocking, to-do lists, and digital calendars to stay organized. Breaking my day into chunks and assigning specific tasks to each period enhances my productivity. One strategy I find particularly helpful is the Pomodoro Technique, where I work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. This keeps me fresh and focused throughout the day.

Effective time management is key to handling work-life overload. Break large projects into smaller, manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Allocate specific time blocks for focused work, and schedule regular breaks to recharge. Using tools like calendars or to-do lists can help you stay on track and visually see your progress, which can be very motivating. This approach ensures you stay organized and productive without burning out. Use Pomodoro Techiqune.

By delegating tasks effectively, you can lighten your workload, empower your team, and manage overwhelm more efficiently. - Identify tasks that can be handled by others without compromising quality or outcomes - Choose the right people for the tasks based on their skills and workload - Provide clear instructions and necessary resources to ensure successful completion - Follow up to monitor progress and provide support or feedback as needed

Link self care rituals to an already established habit to stay consistent. Self-care is not a choice but a must if you want to deliver sustainably. This could be for instance taking a short walk after watch. You will be surprised how much more relaxed and energized you could be from just 10 minutes of walking.

Taking care of mental and physical health is paramount. I incorporate activities that relax and rejuvenate me, such as exercise, meditation, and hobbies. Regular breaks and adequate sleep are essential. One self-care practice I swear by is yoga, which helps me unwind and stay centered. By prioritizing self-care, I build the resilience needed to handle stress more effectively.

Life is unpredictable, and rigid plans can sometimes add to stress. Embracing flexibility by adapting to changes and finding alternative solutions when things don’t go as planned is crucial. This mindset reduces frustration and helps maintain a positive outlook, even in challenging situations. For example, when a project deadline shifts, I reassess my schedule and adjust my priorities accordingly.