3 Strategies for Managing Overwhelm and Getting Back on Top of Things
3 Strategies for Managing Overwhelm and Getting Back on Top of Things
Let me start by saying that I am no psychologist, I am not a counsellor but I have been hit by overwhelm on many an occasion and I thought I would share with you how I have learned to manage it.
A bit of background on me
About 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety which is heavily affected my mood and guilt. Guilt is a BIG one. It has always been there nagging me but having a child really ramped it up. Mum guilt can be so incredibly overwhelming and this was not something that I was prepared for. Having said that, it was the straw that broke the camels back and lead to me seeking help so every cloud.
I’m sure there are many of you reading this that suffer from overwhelm and/or guilt. It’s part of being human to care what others think and want to do our best isn’t it? I have always wanted to do a good job of everything. I have come to realise though that there is no such thing as perfect and that is kind of freeing.
Managing the Overwhelm
There are a few ways that I do this. They don’t all work all of the time so try things out and find what works for you.
Done Not Perfect
I joined the Mint Business club in July 2020 and it has transformed the way I think of myself as a business owner. One week there was a session on marketing with Michelle Rose. She had some amazing ideas but the thing that stuck in my head the most was her mantra DONE NOT PERFECT.
There are some things that need to be the best they can be (my artwork, commissions, customer service) but other things sometimes just need to get done. When looking at your jobs list think “How long do I NEED to spend on this?”. Can it be a quick win or does it need to be the best it can be?
If you are struggling for perfection all of the time, you are going to burn out. Trust me, I’ve been there on more than one occasion and looked back and wondered why. Nobody is perfect - even if their instagram is pristine and they never have a hair out of place. You rarely see the whole picture of someone else’s life so it’s dangerous to compare.
Prioritise
To help you with prioritising, I have created a really simple download. Just click the photo below to get the link.
If you don’t have a printer, then just use the boxes as a guide.
Right, now grab that jobs list that is panicking you and let’s sort it out. You’re going to put each job into one of the boxes:
This week - what do you really need to get done as a matter of urgency?
Next Week - what do you need to do soon but it can wait until next week?
This Month - What do you need done by the end of the month in order to avoid overwhelm next month?
Eventually - things that are not in the slightest urgent go in here.
For me, the most important box is the ‘Eventually’ box. Once you have sorted jobs into this box you might even be able to cross some off because they actually don’t need to happen at all (that is very satisfying!).
Now look at the ‘This Week’ section. Jot down how long you think each one should take then decide when you can slot that into your diary. Are there any quick wins that you can get done speedily? Ticking these off will make you feel so much better. Tackle the jobs in this box first then plan for the others.
You must absolutely stick to your plan though. The minute you start ploughing through all the other jobs early is the minute you head for burn out.
Ask for Help
You’ve got this amazingly organised plan and now you need to be able to implement it. Asking for help can really speed up that process and lighten the load, so think:
Are there any jobs that you can delegate to others?
Can someone look after your child while you get a big job out of the way?
Is there someone that you can talk through a problem with? Talking always helps me. Sometime just voicing an issue helps me to realise the answer. Talking to friends, colleagues or even a mentor can be so valuable.
Can you pay someone to do a job for you? If I had the funds, I would certainly have a cleaner and an accountant. These are jobs that I find really draining and someone else can do a lot better than me. Unfortunately, my current budgets don’t allow for that but maybe yours do.
Can you swap skills with someone else? Do you know someone who is great at the one thing you hate? Perhaps you have a skill that they lack? Why not help each other out.
Please never be scared to ask for help and certainly don’t feel ashamed of it. If there’s someone in your life who makes you feel that way then cut them off. You don’t need people that make life harder. And remember ‘Shy bairns get nowt’ as the Geordies say.
Over to you
I hope that you have found the strategies in this blog helpful. Don’t forget to download your free overwhelm planner here and comment below if you have any questions.
If you’d like to know more about Mint Business club, then click here. (Not an ad)
If you’d like to look into mentoring, I can recommend Imani from The Colour Nest Collective (click here). I found her insightful, kind and very attentive. (Not an ad)
Don’t forget to give yourself time to do things that you love too. It shouldn’t all be about work.