Feeling Overwhelmed? Get Back to the Basics
I've been talking to a lot of people these days who are feeling overwhelmed.
Between the economy and the sheer busy-ness of work, family, personal and community life, people just don't know what to do first, or who to turn to.
So many people aren't doing anything proactive; they're just kind of waiting.
While usually I find people are still revved up about their annual goals until at least late March, this year I'm already noticing a fizzling out.
And in some cases, looking back to December 2009, people were already feeling so stretched that they didn't really challenge themselves with their 2010 goals to begin with.
As a coach, I'm all about the action - how can you make something positive happen in your life today? No, you can't solve all of your problems at once or predict the future, but what CAN you do today? When you're feeling overwhelmed, often it's because it seems like you've lost control, like other people or things are in charge of your life.
There is a lot of fear and anxiety, the sense that you're waiting for the next shoe to drop, with worries about your job, family or the next mortgage payment.
You can choose to sit and dwell on these things, but why? Instead, you can take action in your life so if or when things happen, you're in a proactive, rather than a reactive mindset.
Here are just a few basic things you can do every single day to re-take control of YOUR day and life: 1.
Plan YOUR day and act on at least two of YOUR agenda items first Sure, you have your appointment calendar where you've marked down things like meetings, taking your kid to the ball game or lunch with the boss.
But what about YOUR time and YOUR priorities, where do those go? You've got to take back control of your calendar and put those things in first.
Even if it's just to spend five minutes researching one of your objectives or dreams, taking that action puts you back into action and back in charge.
You're no longer a sufferer of the "someday syndrome.
" Take action, even small action - everyday.
2.
Put e-mail in its place I've caused near riots with this suggestion, but I stand by it.
When you start your work day, hold off on checking email for a predetermined amount of time.
Whether that's a half-hour, an hour or two hours, claim that time for planning.
Otherwise you will either never get to the planning, or whatever you've planned will be trumped by an email.
Someone else's sense of urgency becomes your emergency, and their agenda gets pushed in front of yours.
No wonder you're feeling overwhelmed and like you have no control.
Decide on specific email times throughout the day.
If someone's issue is too important to wait for your response in one of those times, they will call you.
3.
Create and keep a Top 5 Priorities List I have a client who struggles with feelings of overwhelm, and says she often has so much to do that she doesn't know where to start.
I asked what she has on her "to-do" list that she might be able to get done quickly to just get back her feeling of control? She said her "to-do" list was three pages long.
I asked her to fax her list to me, and with some hard work, we narrowed her list to the Top 20 priority items.
Then we cut it down to the Top 10, and finally the Top 5.
When we hit the Top 5 she was excited about her "to-do" list again.
She could focus like a laser-beam on those items, get them done, and then bring an item up from the rest of her list to take its place.
The other two and half pages of items didn't disappear, they were just prioritized.
Create your Top 5 or Top 10 list so you automatically have a place to turn when you're feeling "overwhelmed".
4.
Shake things up Sometimes overwhelm is caused by a simple case of cabin fever.
Do something that changes your mindset and takes you out of your routine, whether that's reading something inspiring, exercising or just getting out of the office for lunch.
Shake things up and step out of your comfort zone as a way of re-focusing on your priorities and goals for 2010.
Take Action These are challenging times, there's no doubt about that, but that doesn't take away your power to take action and stay in a positive mindset.
That's what you can control.
Take the next step...
Would you like to sit down with me for a few minutes and get started on your daily, weekly and monthly actions? Visit my website today to send me a message and we'll coordinate a time that works best for both of us to focus on what's best for you.
Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing.
Go For It!
Between the economy and the sheer busy-ness of work, family, personal and community life, people just don't know what to do first, or who to turn to.
So many people aren't doing anything proactive; they're just kind of waiting.
While usually I find people are still revved up about their annual goals until at least late March, this year I'm already noticing a fizzling out.
And in some cases, looking back to December 2009, people were already feeling so stretched that they didn't really challenge themselves with their 2010 goals to begin with.
As a coach, I'm all about the action - how can you make something positive happen in your life today? No, you can't solve all of your problems at once or predict the future, but what CAN you do today? When you're feeling overwhelmed, often it's because it seems like you've lost control, like other people or things are in charge of your life.
There is a lot of fear and anxiety, the sense that you're waiting for the next shoe to drop, with worries about your job, family or the next mortgage payment.
You can choose to sit and dwell on these things, but why? Instead, you can take action in your life so if or when things happen, you're in a proactive, rather than a reactive mindset.
Here are just a few basic things you can do every single day to re-take control of YOUR day and life: 1.
Plan YOUR day and act on at least two of YOUR agenda items first Sure, you have your appointment calendar where you've marked down things like meetings, taking your kid to the ball game or lunch with the boss.
But what about YOUR time and YOUR priorities, where do those go? You've got to take back control of your calendar and put those things in first.
Even if it's just to spend five minutes researching one of your objectives or dreams, taking that action puts you back into action and back in charge.
You're no longer a sufferer of the "someday syndrome.
" Take action, even small action - everyday.
2.
Put e-mail in its place I've caused near riots with this suggestion, but I stand by it.
When you start your work day, hold off on checking email for a predetermined amount of time.
Whether that's a half-hour, an hour or two hours, claim that time for planning.
Otherwise you will either never get to the planning, or whatever you've planned will be trumped by an email.
Someone else's sense of urgency becomes your emergency, and their agenda gets pushed in front of yours.
No wonder you're feeling overwhelmed and like you have no control.
Decide on specific email times throughout the day.
If someone's issue is too important to wait for your response in one of those times, they will call you.
3.
Create and keep a Top 5 Priorities List I have a client who struggles with feelings of overwhelm, and says she often has so much to do that she doesn't know where to start.
I asked what she has on her "to-do" list that she might be able to get done quickly to just get back her feeling of control? She said her "to-do" list was three pages long.
I asked her to fax her list to me, and with some hard work, we narrowed her list to the Top 20 priority items.
Then we cut it down to the Top 10, and finally the Top 5.
When we hit the Top 5 she was excited about her "to-do" list again.
She could focus like a laser-beam on those items, get them done, and then bring an item up from the rest of her list to take its place.
The other two and half pages of items didn't disappear, they were just prioritized.
Create your Top 5 or Top 10 list so you automatically have a place to turn when you're feeling "overwhelmed".
4.
Shake things up Sometimes overwhelm is caused by a simple case of cabin fever.
Do something that changes your mindset and takes you out of your routine, whether that's reading something inspiring, exercising or just getting out of the office for lunch.
Shake things up and step out of your comfort zone as a way of re-focusing on your priorities and goals for 2010.
Take Action These are challenging times, there's no doubt about that, but that doesn't take away your power to take action and stay in a positive mindset.
That's what you can control.
Take the next step...
Would you like to sit down with me for a few minutes and get started on your daily, weekly and monthly actions? Visit my website today to send me a message and we'll coordinate a time that works best for both of us to focus on what's best for you.
Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing.
Go For It!
Source...