It's Over, if we are Overwhelmed!

One day, after I got to work, I realised that I was just not able to move an inch forward in terms of progress at work and I was just lying down as though my brain was hijacked!

Reason: I was feeling overwhelmed.

There were more than one task (five actually) on hand, which needed my immediate attention. And, I had lost complete control of my executional skills. It was as though, my brain had stopped working. I felt like the whole world was resting on my shoulders and I could not even move!

It was a very unusual situation for me and as a professional coach, I quickly realised that it was the effect of being overwhelmed. So, instead of fighting with the situation, I just picked up one of the five tasks and started working on it, even though I was not in the best of my moods (50%). I managed to complete the task successfully, although, it took a little more time than normal.

But that gave me the confidence and motivation to proceed for the second task... And by the end of the day, I could complete all my tasks and I went to bed peacefully :)

Now, the next day when I woke up, I realised that I had just cracked the toughest challenge to achieve optimal productivity. It was not focus, it was not procrastination. It was Overwhelm!! Yes, being overwhelmed is the biggest hurdle for optimal productivity!

We procrastinate, because we feel overwhelmed. We are unable to focus, because we feel overwhelmed. So overwhelm is the fundamental cause for lack of productivity at work.

So, what are the effects of being overwhelmed?

We feel burdened, as though the whole world is resting on our shoulder!

Due to which our movements and action become slow.

We become vulnerable.

We are too grumpy and selfish. Our thoughts are only about ourself and narrow.

We lack perspective and feel like we are at the end of a tunnel. Well, most of us would have experienced this, at some time or the other, isn't it.

So, what is the way out? Is there a way to overcome being overwhelmed?

Yes, indeed. I have found a way to overcome, being overwhelmed.

In fact, there are two ways,

1. Just take up any one task from your list and start working on it without worrying about the outcome. The confidence and motivation that we get after completing the first task will help us to complete the second task and so on..

The world will go on even if we are no longer alive... We need to keep this in mind. Overwhelm is just an illusion, like a mirage. It does not really exist! The people who achieve the highest level of productivity (includes me:)) are always the ones, who take up one task at a time, which automatically helps them to focus on it. The more on your plate, the more are the chances of distraction.

2. Work on yourself, spend time with yourself, either by writing in a journal regularly or by going for a walk alone. Reflect on yourself and understand your strengths and weaknesses. It's about who you are? What is that we want from this short life? Are we living the life we want to live? What is stopping us from realising our dream? Of course, if we have one. It's not a sin, not to have a dream at all! But, it is definitely a sin, if we are not joyful!!

To be joyful and cheerful in life is the fundamental purpose of life! And then out of that joy, if we can work for the welfare of others, we become successful!

I hope this article is of help to the working executives, who struggle to cope up with the day to day work pressure and competitiveness.

As a productivity coach and a Udemy teacher, I will be coming out with a full fledged course on, how to overcome, being overwhelmed soon? Visit www.aguidetoinnerjoy.teachable.com and sign up for the latest updates.

The writer of this article Rajesh C R is the creator of a 15 hour soft skill master course on personal productivity, titled 'The Focused Executive' Click on the link to know more.