It has been a stressful 18 months to say the least. Some of us have been left feeling overwhelmed or burnt out. Even before the pandemic hit, as a nation it’s common to have busy lives and juggle multiple responsibilities at the same time. We would constantly be looking for tips on being more productive or how we could fit a busy job in around other life commitments. With the additional pressures brought by Coronavirus, it is no wonder stress, anxiety and feeling overwhelmed by life are now more common place.
As humans, we feel overwhelmed when we believe we have too much on our plates or that too much is expected of us. In response to this feeling, we may lash out with emotions of anger, irritability, anxiety and helplessness. Whether feeling overwhelmed is common for you on a day-today basis, or if you know certain activities trigger these emotions, you can learn how to stop feeling like you do with a few tips and tricks.
1. Acknowledge and shift
If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is likely that you are finding it hard to think about anything else! Although you want to shove the feeling of being overwhelmed aside this is the last thing you should do. Instead accept that this is how you are feeling and shift your thoughts and mindset. For example, if you are facing a to-do list that you see as never ending instead of thinking ‘I’ll never get this done’ approach the task from a more positive perspective like ‘I might not get this all done today but if I prioritise tasks or break them into small parts I am likely to get it done’.
2. Hit pause
When you start to feel overwhelmed it is time to hit pause for a moment. Take some deep breaths and step away from what you are doing whether this is going into another room or going for a short walk. When you come back write down everything that you need to do or things that are troubling you. Most of the time this process will provide some calm, as seeing everything in front of you can relieve stress and you can often realise things may not be as bad as they see. Prioritise your tasks from urgent to things that can wait a few days. Choose something from your urgent section and set that as your task for the day, if you complete it and start something else that’s an added bonus!
3. Be kind to yourself
Remember that feeling overwhelmed is normal and OK, especially during these times. It can also be helpful to remember that this feeling won’t last forever. Give yourself some credit for what you have achieved so far and reflect on how you have got out of feeling like this before. Try to rationalise, if you leave washing the dishes to the next morning or ask for an extension for a piece of work, that is acceptable and can be done. Your mental health and wellbeing should be your top priority.
4. Ask for help from a loved one
You have friends and family for a reason. Your social network is there for you to lean on if you need to seek advice or just need to vent. Reach out to friends or family and have a chat, it is likely that somebody in your circle of friends have gone through feeling the same before!
5. Get organised
Creating a clear workspace can work wonders for your productivity. Not only can you work more efficiently, you know where everything is and don’t need to waste time searching for essential things. It is thought that the average person wastes an hour a day searching for misplaced items such as house keys, reading glasses and important documents! Finding a (good) place for everything can save time and relieve unnecessary stress.
We hope that following these tips you will be able to feel less overwhelmed and more in control. If you would like to learn more about stress, feeling overwhelmed and burn out then click here.