How to overcome overwhelm

Previously published as Day 44 of Fall into Better Habits series

Want to know how to overcome OVERWHELM? Think of it this way…

Overwhelm is like a storm at sea. But remember, it’s only temporary.

It’s merely a temporary state of mind. So, keep your head up and hang on...plus check out today's Baby Step, too.

(#Keep your head up) image courtesy of Unsplash

BABY STEP

OVERWHELM shows up when we feel we have too many choices. For me, it’s like the difference between shopping at Walmart versus Aldi.

Q: How will you ever decide when there's so much to choose from?

Walmart has an entire aisle of every kind of cereal imaginable.

A: Limit your options.

Aldi has like a dozen.

OVERWHELM also makes an entrance when we feel we have too much to do. It’s like the show about hoarders.

Q: When you have a billion things to do, where do you begin?

Hoarders' homes are filled to the rim with excess stuff and they can't bring themselves to start the seemingly impossible process.

A: You take one teeny, tiny Baby Step at a time.

They pick up one item at a time, even if it's only a single sheet of paper or a magazine from ten years ago with half the pages torn out.

When you decide to be proactive and take back control over the swirling storm of thoughts in your mind, then, just like an actual storm, overwhelm dissipates naturally.

Try this simple, yet amazingly helpful, Baby Step that can be done anytime, anywhere for any reason:

• Recognize when overwhelm is happening and give yourself a moment to regroup.

• Take a few slow, calming breaths.

• Remind yourself that these thoughts and these feelings are temporary and allow them to pass.

This mindfulness practice will keep those thoughts from swirling out of control by bringing yourself back to the present moment. Then, instead of panicking, recite this Baby Step mantra:

No matter what’s going on around me, I choose to remain calm and confident. Because when I do, I maintain the clarity I need to make the best choice for me.