What to Do When You’re Super Overwhelmed

There’s something about winter being over where everything seems to pick up. Social engagements happen left and right, work gets a little more intense. I feel like I’m coming out of hibernation in a way, and with that can come a feeling of being overwhelmed. Maxie is here today to share some advice for what to do if you get overwhelmed!

What to Do When You’re Super Overwhelmed

Guest post by Maxie McCoy

It happens to the best of us– when days become weeks of having SO much to do. Too much to do. And while you know you’re busy, and you know there’s a whole heck of a lot going on… eventually, it feels like it’s just too much.

“When it rains it pours,” they say. But the pouring of responsibilities, and changes, and unknowns can leave even the best of us feeling just SO overwhelmed. Soon, we are literally making everything a big deal because it feels like there’s just no way to handle all that’s on our plates.

Sometimes, we get here because we’ve said yes to too many things at once. Or because we don’t want to ask for help. Or because life is life and it handed us some major transitions, setbacks or obstacles that we have to figure out how to deal with. Whatever is causing you to be super overwhelmed… it will subside. And you will get through it. You’ve made it through so much in the past, and you’ll make it through this. But here’s some ideas to hopefully make that process a wee bit easier.

First, take it one thing at a time. When you look at everything on your plate it can literally feel impossible. I-M-P-O-S-S-I-B-L-E. Which is true if you try to solve everything at once. But don’t. To the extent that you can…take it one item, one step, one problem at a time.

Second, get it all out of your head and onto paper. Often when we’re overwhelmed it’s because we are sitting in the swirl of our own thoughts. Get that swirl out of your mind and onto your journal in the form of an actionable to-do list. Prioritize urgent matters, and get going. Eventually you’ll be feeling better.

Third, have some self-compassion. Typically, that holy buckets I have so much going on feeling is because you genuinely do have SO much going on. Maybe it’s big life chapters happening, maybe it’s because you’re growing and expanding. Maybe it’s just because this is the season of all your hard work and planning bearing fruit. Whatever is happening, try loving on yourself instead of beating yourself up about feeling overwhelmed. It’s OK. You’re doing great. And this too shall pass.

Lastly, call your pals. There’s nothing better than some time with people who get you to remember what you can’t right now – that next week will be better than today. And that this mountain you’re traversing isn’t actually as big as it seems. Hug them. Take your mind off things. Laugh over facetime. And while it may not take anything off your plate, it will remind you that you’re fine. So fine.

Feeling completely overwhelmed happens sometimes, and it sometimes happens often, and often it happens to the best of us. But whatever you do, quit thinking about how overwhelmed you are and start moving forward on crossing off things that can make you feel better tomorrow than you do today.

Get more weekly advice from Maxie here.