5 things to do when Overwhelmed

I want to get right to the goods, because you need less, not more.

When you are feeling like you've taken on too much, quicksand is swallowing up your calm demeanor and perhaps you are getting, ehem, a bit curt with your responses here is your survival list.

Your survival 5:

1) Breathe. I don't mean the patronizing "just breathe" which is like someone asking another to calm down (worst advice ever). I mean feel your feet on the floor, roll your shoulders back and down and take a big belly breath in through your nose, filling you all the way up to the top of your lungs and chest area, slight hold, and purse your lips like you are exhaling with a straw, slowly. Do this 3 times and feel yourself come back to your knowing of "I can always take care of what needs to be done."

2) Brain dump. This is great so you can see that it's really not that bad. You can organize this into work and personal categories, you can take one bite out of the elephant. At times just making a few phone calls or emails to get something started feels like a "yes!" I got this thing. Create a list that your kids can do, your partner can do or (gulp) call your mom for some help. You can use the Steven Covey quadrant tool of important, not important, urgent, and not urgent to assist your priorities.

3) Schedule, schedule, schedule. Sound super annoying? Do it anyway, please just do it. My favorite tool on my google calendar is the duplicate feature! Personal things like haircuts, massage, chiro, counselor visits should be booked before you depart your current visit. Then you aren't waiting until you can barely walk, look like you have muppet hair or your relationship is in shambles. I'm sure the practitioners appreciate it too. How do we feel when our clients have waited until code red to contact us? It's not helpful. Schedule in fun stuff too. Dinner nights, you choose date nights, yoga, gardening, pick up basketball, or tarot card reading!

4) Get in the tub, forest, or sauna. What is the one thing for you that melts you and puts everything back into perspective? I am certainly a tub advocate while reading something that is in print (not digital). Often I go to bed before my other family members when I'm feeling on E with no guilt whatsoever. I'm not against Netflix and wine just don't overdo it or make it a regular habit.

5) Ask yourself "Is this a continuous problem?" If so set an appointment with whom you have to so you can come up with a solution. Let your partner or boss know what is taking up time for you that is not effective and you'd like to propose or hear their input on it. Guess what, this works with your kids too! Ask them at dinner how they can remember to put their shoes away, walk the dog, cook, or do whatever age-appropriate task they can do. I started ordering dinner they can cook from a delivery box. The recipe and all of the ingredients are included. They are so proud of themselves. IT IS LIFE-CHANGING. See how easy it can be!?!

If this was helpful to you I would love to hear about it.

Do you have an amazing tip to share and your hand is up like the excited kid in school? I'd love to hear it.