Overwhelm isn’t just having a lot of things to do. When you’re overwhelmed you often feel stuck because there’s so much to do you don’t know where to start. Being overwhelmed can keep you going around in circles.

Strategies to help you cope with being overwhelmed

Ask, “What is the most important thing to do right now?” Focus on that one thing. Many ‘urgent’ things are not as important as you think.

I suggest you step back and view the big picture. What exactly are you trying to do? It is possible to get so caught up in the detail that you lose sight of what really needs doing. If the task seems too big, break it down into small easy to do steps.

If you are struggling to make a decision, just do something, it doesn’t really matter what, do the first thing that comes to mind. You will soon know whether it is the right decision for you. Simply change your mind if it is obvious that you could make a better choice.

If you are faced with too many distractions make a decision not to check your email or answer the phone for the next two hours. Take control and give yourself the treat of uninterrupted time so that you can focus.

Focus on one thing at a time, and complete the task before starting something else. Switching between tasks can be an energy drain and time waster.

If you genuinely have too much to do tell your boss or your family how you are feeling, you may be pleasantly surprised at the support you get.

Ask yourself,

• Do I really need to do this?
• Does it need to be done now?
• Is it a job that could be done less often?
• Who can help me get it done?

If you need to do it now and you can’t delegate it, we suggest you do it sooner rather than later. The longer you wait to get started, the more energy you will spend thinking about it and the more overwhelmed you will feel. It’s better to spend your energy actually doing the job and then get to experience the reward of completing it.

Take action

If you have been putting things off and are feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done, we suggest you review this article and decide exactly what your next step will be. Remember – all you have to do now is take the best first step you can to reduce your experience of being overwhelmed.

Ask yourself: “What is the best use of my time right now?” This will help keep you on track and nip overwhelm in the bud.