Overwhelmed! Part II

Photo by foxtongue

In the last part of Overwhelmed! I talked about how busy I have become and some of the small changes I’ve made in my daily routine to get more done and feel more relaxed each day.  I focused on the small changes I’ve made to my “To Do” Lists, in Part II, I will focus on the small changes I’ve made in my life to feel less overwhelmed.

Take Time For You

This is an issue I have struggled with often in the past.  I tend to want to keep working until bed time then just go crash.  My thought process is usually that I have so much to do, and I already feel overwhelmed, so logically it makes sense to keep working to get more done.  The problem is that often I am burnt out at the end of a day, and therefore inefficient.  My thought processes are slower, and I have trouble focusing.  This is usually true for most of us at the end of a long day.

I know it may sound simple, and may even sound like common sense, but the sad truth is that most of us don’t take time to just enjoy being in the moment that often.  When was the last time you did your favorite hobby?  For most of the world, it was a while ago. When did you last sit down to read a book?  or watch a movie with the lights off and a bowl of popcorn (if you’re into it.)

As I said, most people don’t take much time for themselves each day when they’re feeling overwhelmed, logically, it doesn’t make sense, but it’s good to unwind and do something you enjoy, and if you’ve been taking care of your MIT’s each day, it won’t be as big of a deal to unwind a bit at the end of a day.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you spend all night just lying around, but if you even take 15 minutes and do something you like, it can yield tremendous benefits and really helps to lower your stress levels.  Some ideas if you don’t have something in mind are:

-Go for a walk.
-Go for a Drive (This is one of my favorites, driving is my happy place)
-Read a Book
-Play a Game
-Call a friend to catch up
-Watch a Movie (if you’ve got some extra time)
-Anything that is fun for you.

Just pick something that you enjoy doing, that isn’t work/list related, and do it.  The list is there because hopefully doing those things will help your life become more fun, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun in the process.  Enjoy each day, get the important things done and spend some you time doing you things.  It may not seem logical, but it’s worth it.

Meditate

It surprises me the number of people who shy away from meditation because of the stigma attached to it.  It especially surprises me because there have been so many studies here in “The West” that show the physiological and psychological benefits of meditation.  Countless studies have shown that meditation

-Lowers oxygen consumption in the body
-Decreases respiratory rate
-Increases blood flow and slows heart rate
-reduces blood lactate levels, reducing anxiety and anxiety attacks
-decreases muscle tension, the cause of many aches and pains
-Increases Serotonin, a mood enhancing chemical.  Low serotonin levels are associated with obesity, depression, insomnia, and headaches.
-Enhances the immune system
-helps to keep you relaxed during the day
-and so much more

The list is so long, I could keep going and going.  If somebody told you that you could spend 5-10 minutes per day just sitting in a chair, and you could receive these benefits, would you do it?  That’s all you have to do.  Sit down, somewhere comfortable, and relax, clear your mind and just focus on the sound of your breathing.  If those pesky thoughts about your “To Do” list sneak into your consciousness, just release them and focus on your breathing again.  If you are having trouble staying clear, close your eyes and focus on the end of your nose.

I require myself to do at least 5 minutes of meditation each day.  It’s nothing heroic, it’s just 5 minutes.  Take 5 minutes before bed or after you wake up and just clear your mind, it will help you feel more relaxed and more productive each day, which will definitely help you feel less overwhelmed.

Wake Up Early

I’ll admit it, I’m a night person.  I love staying up late and just getting things done, enjoying myself, reading, writing, and enjoying the peace of night.  Sometimes, I’ll get engrossed in a project and work on it until late, often too late.  When I wake up in the morning, I’m groggy and tired, and I just want to sleep.  So trust me when I say that waking up early isn’t necessarily my natural inclination.  That being said, I have noticed that on days that I wake up early, I get a  better start and I tend to get more done.

I’m not talking about waking up two hours earlier than usual, or even an hour earlier.  I’m just suggesting you wake up approximately 20 minutes earlier than you normally do.  This will get you started just a little earlier but isn’t such a huge deviation from your normal routine that it will disrupt your sleep patterns.

I have found that this extra 20 minutes gets my day started much better because I am ready and fresh earlier than I’m used to, so I can get started on my “To Do” List and my MIT right away. This little change can be such a big help to get your day started proactively so that you don’t become overwhelmed.

Go to Bed Early

I’m usually a burn the candle at both ends type of person, but because I was feeling so overwhelmed lately, I decided that I would actually follow my own advice and make these small changes in my life.  So, against my usual choice of staying up too late, I consciously went to bed early.  This isn’t to say that I went to bed extremely early, but I did go to bed early.  Again, this is about small changes in your life that can help you get more done and be less overwhelmed.   Being properly rested and relaxed can decrease the stress you are feeling tremendously.

I suggest that at first, you try to get ready for bed about 15-20 minutes early, this will make up for waking earlier.  I know that it doesn’t make much sense since you haven’t actually gained much time, but getting the earlier start helps you get your MIT sorted right away no matter how busy your mornings usually are, and getting to bed a little early will help you relax some so that you will be sleeping soundly much quicker.  If you intend to make these small changes permanent, you make up for the extra 20 minutes in the morning by settling down a bit early.  Even if you hit the mattress only 5 minutes early, you’re there early and getting settled down for bed.

Put it All Together

Take as many of these suggestions as you think can help you with your life and use them.  I have had great success with them, and I have found that the life changes that I have instituted have made quite a difference in my energy levels, my productivity and my overall feeling of overwhelm.

If you are feeling even a little overwhelmed, take a look at your life and find out where you can make some small changes that will cause a big difference.

I hope this finds you well,

Ryan M Hall

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