How to Deal with Overwhelming Days
& Remain Calm
“If we don’t see a failure as a challenge to modify our approach, but rather as problem with ourselves, as a personality defect, we will immediately feel overwhelmed.”
‘AAAAAAAAAAAH’, a natural reflex paired with the essence of feeling overwhelmed. Was it another unfulfilled moment, a disfavored trigger, a spontaneous change in plans, new harsh deadlines, or your body may be unable to keep up to speed with all that is required to get done?
Let me start by sharing the mere fact that your to-do list will never be empty, nope, never. First and foremost, you must accept that. Secondly, why would you want it to be empty? The purpose of life is to learn and adapt to changes in the environment. To grow and gain wisdom occurs through the daily mundane tasks we must complete. Knowledge is gained by learning and through experiences. Look at it this way; you cannot fix what you don’t know is wrong. Ergo it’s more than okay to make mistakes, to feel overwhelmed, and not despise yourself for feeling overwhelmed. You can feel overwhelmed; how you choose to behave when you are under pressure is a welcomed challenge for many.
Let’s discuss what to do before, during, and after an overwhelming incident or outburst.
Before/avoid feeling Overwhelmed
Unplanned and last-minute changes will inevitably induce chaos and feelings of overwhelmingness. Here are a few things you can do before or to avoid the frequency of feeling overwhelmed.
Write it down: each night, write down your to-do list for the following day. If it’s challenging before you go to bed, do it as soon as you wake up. If writing it down on paper is a challenge, download a journal app on your smartphone or add it to the reminders app and be sure to look back at it thoroughly at the beginning of your day.
One task at a time: we try to be supermen and women aiming to be confident at multitasking; heads up, it doesn’t always work. And even if it does, it will catch up with you later. So practice completing one task at a time.
Focus on that task: it will help you if you focus on that one task without trying to manage more. You are practicing focusing and being in the present moment.
Say NO: you cannot possibly say yes to everything. Learn to say no without guilt or shame. If managing it will make your day harder, make you unwell, or ruin your day, keep it simple and say ‘NO.’
Start small: major projects, school exams, deadlines, and events require time and effort. The only way to ensure your time and effort is productive is if it is of quality, sound, and mind—therefore no need to think about all the details all at once. Take baby steps toward any goal and see it through.
Delegate: ‘delegate’ is the best-kept secret of all successful people. Why burden yourself when you can share the load? You can delegate within the family, ask your good friends (who will not consider it a favor,) and delegate amongst your team. There is no need to try to be cool; instead, stay cool and collected, and work collectively.
What to do while you are feeling overwhelmed
When you are caught in the middle of feeling overwhelmed, it can be tough to think clearly; which is why it is even more critical to the following almost immediately :
Breathe: stop everything you are doing and saying. Just take a deep breath. Then practice breathing slowly. Regain your clarity before you think, speak or act.
Count: what works for children works for adults. Don’t underestimate the human body. Count backward from 10. Do it a few times until you feel calmer.
Be self-aware: knowing you are the one that is stressed is very critical and will aid you in fixing the situation and your sentiments. Before blaming anyone else or trying to gain a power trip because you are overwhelmed, know it and fully admit to yourself that currently, the problem lies within you; ergo, ‘you’ can fix it too.
Sorry: say sorry to others around you and yourself. There is nothing wrong with feeling overwhelmed. Though how you behave when you are overwhelmed is a different story. The quickest way to get compassion from others when you are overwhelmed is to show compassion; to all those around you and yourself. This will convey accountability and maturity.
What to do After feeling overwhelmed
It's challenging when you feel under pressure and needs air. So what should you do?
Get AIR: Leave the environment. Go for a walk to clear your head. Make time to get out more often and regularly. Nature is a natural remedy to any stress. It is entirely free and always available so take advantage.
Self-reflection: it is vital to self-reflect and sees what happened from a third perspective. To look at the circumstance and understand how it arrived at that pressure point, what could have been done differently or been wholly avoided. It is also necessary to say how you behaved during that time. If you feel you could have handled it better, then remember that. Moreover, now that you are self-aware put it into practice. Being self-aware is an excellent aspect. Though to does no positive change or is a pointless reflection if you continue with your old habits. Don't overestimate your confidence; like every other muscle memory, you must practice and build up your tolerance and stamina for your reaction, especially when it involves the feelings of others around you whom you may harm unintentionally.
Say Sorry: you can never apologize too much. Don't put out a lame 'sorry.'' If you genuinely feel guilty, apologize properly to mend the situation. Many problems can be fixed with kindness; don't be stingy with kindness. You will hurt yourself. The only person that will appreciate you safeguarding your 'sorry' is your alter ego. Be the change you expect to see. Be wiser.
Take a break: A get-a-way or mini vacation is a good reset for anyone from mundane responsibilities. Recognize that you may be burnt out and need to rejuvenate.
Therapy: seek professional help. It's modern times, and eighty percent of the world sees a professional to help remain calm. There should be no stigma or hesitation in creating the best version of yourself. Seek help for you! Life is short, don't ruin stubbornness.
Interpersonal Growth
There are institutions for academia, athletics, musicians, arts, and culinary, and the growth opportunities are limitless. Though the best development is interpersonal, Working on yourself, working on your inner child trauma, your fight or flight mode, your obsessive compulsory behavior, your need for control and power, your worry for status and social stigmas, I can go on and on. There are billions of people out there with infinite complex personalities. Our conflicts are not who we are; how we deal with them shows whom we are becoming. I’ve self-reflected for years and am so proud of who I am. I continue to self-reflect daily. This means I hold less time for socializing or other desires. Though until you prioritize the positive change you wish to see within yourself, it won’t happen. Anon said it was easy or quick. It’s hard (HAF), but once you do it. You will be happier. I promise you that. Your happiness is not based on a few people that come and go, work demands, or tight schedules; it is based on your ability to understand what you can and want to handle. Everything is a choice. Choose yourself for a better life and a much better you.
Self-reflecting Daily,
