Dealing With Overwhelm

I wanted to make sure I posted to my blog today after taking yesterday off. I was so overwhelmed by Thursday night. I have been either working, out at meetings, or traveling every single solid day for the last 4-5 weeks.

I kept wondering why I was so low on energy and typical of me, I figured I would push harder and would just be able to "shake it off." As the days went by and I didn't appear to bounce back I decided to talk to my coach about it.
I am a Life Coach and sometimes it surprises people that most good coaches have a coach of their own. My own coach encourages and helps me forward myself so that I can do the same for the clients I work with. As I talked to my coach he asked a very important question, which was....When is the last time you have taken some time just for you to do whatever you want to do? Not what you need to do. Not what you have to do. What you want to do.

It had been a very long time. Then came the next question....How do you expect to feel invigorated if you never actually let you body and mind relax so that it can recharge itself?

I am a fairly intelligent woman and deep down I knew I was running myself ragged and tapping all my energy resources. I also knew I would have to slow down at least for a short time. The voice in my head however kept screaming, NO! There's too much to do! In fact I was overwhelmed by everything I was trying to get done.

My coach asked me to make a commitment to taking Friday afternoon and evening off. I was to nothing that would take much energy. I was just supposed to kick back and enjoy myself, let the feelings of overwhelm dissipate.

Tentatively, I took my book and went out on my back porch. It was a beautiful day. Sunny and 70 degrees. I put up my feet and just lost myself in the pages. I ordered take-out for my husband and myself and watched T.V
all night. I got to bed early and woke the next morning feeling a little less overwhelmed.

Often times it's hard to determine that we are overwhelmed, that we need a little break. It's important however to try and notice when those feelings are starting to take over. Dealing with feelings of overwhelm can be pretty easy especially if we nip it in the bud.

Just stop all the constant doing. The world isn't going to fall apart if we take a few hours off.

Choose something you like to do. Get a book and curl up. Schedule a manicure or pedicure or better yet get a massage.

Go for a leisurely walk or just take a long nap.

If you have kids, recruit your husband, a good friend, or a babysitter if need be to give you a few hours of just "you" time.

The rewards will be well worth it. You won't feel as overwhelmed. You're stress levels will lessen and your outlook should be a little brighter.

Now remember to keep taking time for you on a regular basis.