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Pulling Through Overwhelm to Work on Yourself

LIFE

Pulling through overwhelm to work on yourself may bring feelings of selfishness and guilt. But, if you don’t take care of yourself, then who will?

It’s easy to fall into a feeling of overwhelm. It’s even harder to get out of it to work on yourself. So how do you get out of the day-to-day tasks demanding your attention and time to get back on top?

As I stepped on the scale I had been avoiding this morning; a thought crossed: I am not happy.

Who’s fault is that you may ask.

My own, of course.

I set goals all the time and mediocrely plan to work on them.

Someone else’s problems and emergencies finds their way into my schedule and dilute the time I have set aside for my life.

Mom Guilt. Daughter Guilt. Wife Guilt. Friend Guilt. The list could go on for a long time as I try to be the best for everyone while showing up in the last place for myself.

I don’t want to be last place anymore.

BRAIN DUMP TO BEAT OVERWHELM

The most important thing I do when I feel overwhelmed and anxious coming over me is to “Brain Dump.”

Over the years, I have found that keeping everything in a Brain Book has helped to keep my thoughts organized.

The way my lists look has changed, but the process is still the same:

  1. Let your tasks and thoughts flow out. You don’t want it to be perfect; you want it to be complete. So get all of those thoughts out.
  2. Go through your list and label them according to the task category. Example: E = Errand to Run, A = Admin, $ = Something to buy or pay for, etc.

This Brain Dump List will be helpful when you sit down to plan your week.

THIS WEEK’S PRIORITIES

  1. Map and plan my goals: If it isn’t on my schedule, it will not get done.
  2. Get back to the basics: I will simplify my systems to make everything less complicated.
  3. Plan my month: Knowing what to expect as far as possible will help me know how much time I have to work on the things that will advance my goals.
  4. Meal Plan for the month: Decision fatigue is real. Knowing what groceries to pick up ahead of time will save time and my brain.
  5. Pick a workout plan: Thanks to the internet, we can access many workout options without leaving home. But unfortunately, too many choices cause overwhelm.

There’s something about making a list and proclaiming the priorities that will invigorate you again.

My tools

My August 2022 Planning Tools

NEXT WEEK’S PRIORITIES

  1. Set Theme Days: Knowing what has to get done on an appointed day will help my weekly tasks work cohesively instead of jumping from task to task.
  2. Make useable routines: I am accepting that routines will help me, not hinder me.
  3. Declutter my workspace: Let’s face it…you cannot thrive in chaos.

Setting priorities doesn’t mean that is all you will do. But, it does help you to know what is most important over everything else.