Do you ever feel overwhelmed with life?  Are there times when it feels like your never-ending to-do list has piled up and between work, home, family obligations, and your own self-care,  it’s nearly impossible to get everything done? 

If this is something that resonates with you, please know you are not alone. 

In this post, I’m going to share some practical tips from my own personal journey of dealing with overwhelm so that you can learn how to live a life of peace amidst the chaos.

Plan Ahead

One of the best ways to avoid overwhelm is to create a simple and realistic plan each day… and then stick to your plan. Planning ahead can help you get a clear overview of what needs to get done and also allows you the time to focus on what you want to accomplish both personally and professionally. The key with planning is to be realistic about what you are able to fit in on any given day. This is where many women struggle. We try to fit in more than we can handle, which results in feeling overwhelmed. 

Challenge yourself today to plan your day for tomorrow. Time blocking is a great way to help organize your time and provide structure to your day. Once you have your plan for the day, review the day to ensure that it feels realistic. This is the most important part. If it feels like you may be taking on more than you should be, move one of your commitments to another day. 

Say NO More

Time is so precious. That is why it is important to remember that every time you say yes to someone or something you are saying no to yourself. The next time you are asked to do something with or for someone else, check in with yourself first and determine if you truly want to commit. If you aren’t excited about the invitation, simply say no. Saying no is a powerful way to set healthy boundaries with others while protecting your overall well-being.

Remember…No is a complete sentence.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Practicing mindfulness through meditation has become very popular in recent years and has been an effective tool used by many of my clients to keep overwhelm at bay. The term “meditation” originated thousands of years ago and includes a variety of practices which focus on calming and centering your mind and body while enhancing overall wellbeing. 

There are many forms of meditation and you can begin by simply closing your eyes for one minute each morning or evening and focusing on your breath. I recommend keeping it simple in the beginning. Most importantly you want to set aside intentional time each day to practice being relaxed and focusing inward. 

A wonderful meditation that I recommend is called the Loving-Kindness Meditation:

May I be happy.

May I be healthy.

May I be safe.

May I be at peace.

Have a seat in a quiet space, close your eyes, breathe slowly and repeat this meditation silently to yourself 3-4 times.

Once you are finished, notice how you are feeling. The goal with meditation is to allow  the time and space to be present in the moment…even if it is only for a few seconds. With practice, meditation can help you feel calmer, balanced and more at peace overall in your life.

Eat That Frog! 

There is a wonderful book that I recommend called Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy which was inspired by Mark Twain’s famous quote, “If the first thing you do in the morning is to eat the frog, then you can continue your day with the satisfaction of knowing that this is probably the worst thing that will happen to you all day”. This resonates with me deeply when it comes to feeling overwhelmed. 

Most often, we tend to put off what we least want to do, knowing deep down that we need to take care of it eventually. The longer we put it off, the heavier the burden becomes over time. Imagine, carrying many “frogs” around with you day in and day out. Eventually, the burden will become too much to bear…. this is when overwhelm occurs.

A wonderful and effective practice to adopt is to note your one “frog” each day ( the one thing that you least want to do but need to take care of) and then take care of it first before completing any other tasks for the day. Once you complete the task, notice how you feel. 

Adopting this practice on a daily basis, not only helps you accomplish more over time but it is an effective strategy to help keep overwhelm at bay!

All of us experience moments of being overwhelmed in our lives. Learning how to prevent overwhelm is a necessary life skill that can greatly impact your life for the better..

If you need support on your journey to conquer overwhelm, click here to schedule a 60-minute FREE life coaching discovery call!

On this free coaching call you will:

• Create a crystal clear vision for ultimate success so you know exactly what you want, where you’re heading, and what you need to do to make it happen.

• Uncover hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your ability to make a lasting change or that are slowing down your progress.

• Leave this session feeling renewed, re-energized, and inspired to finally achieve the changes that you wish to make…once and for all.

Click this link to book your session now!

Take your next step and learn more about how coaching can help you create more passion, purpose, confidence, and connection in your life today. I look forward to speaking with you!