In this BIT: “I feel overwhelmed” is a statement far too many of us make, far too often. Discover how to stop having too much going on, what to do when overwhelmed, and manage overwhelming feelings.
We all get overwhelmed. With our extremely busy lives, it’s a normal feeling that we all experience. But we don’t always have to feel this way. Some of the most successful people we’ve interviewed know exactly how to ground themselves in moments of overwhelm. And the shift is rarely about doing more. The list is not killing you. The way you are looking at the list is! Here’s what four of our Hack Your Happiness podcast guests have taught us about facing overwhelm differently. The next time you’re thinking “I feel overwhelmed”, think back to this post.
#1 New York Times bestselling author: Marissa has written eighteen books while homeschooling twin daughters. When overwhelming feelings hit, she doesn’t power through. She takes inventory. “Once in a while, stop and look at everything on your plate. Are these all serving me? Are they all bringing me satisfaction? If the answer is no, it’s okay to step back from things.”
Pulling something out is not failure. It’s strategic and smart. The stuck feeling is often your mind protesting that you’re doing too much.
Founder of S’well: Sarah spent the early years of her company drowning in tasks that all felt equally urgent. The shift came when she stopped working in the business and started working on it. “It was important not to feel like a failure because I wasn’t doing everything.”
Notice the quiet trick. Guilt is the part that exhausts you, not the cutting itself. Don’t feel bad about seeking help or putting ‘non urgent’ tasks off.
Self-compassion researcher and author: Sometimes mindset tools fail because we physically feel stuck or stressed. Dr. Bluth offers what she calls comforting gestures: a hand on the heart. Two arms folded across the chest. Rubbing your hands together. “We don’t do those kinds of things for ourselves, even though it comes very naturally when it’s for others.”
The oxytocin those small touches release is the same chemistry a hug gives a friend. You are allowed to be that friend to yourself. Especially when you’ve got too much going on.
Co-founder and CEO of Barre3: Sadie keeps her reset shorter still. The kind of practice you can do at a stoplight, mid-meeting, or before walking through the front door. “Three good deep breaths, maybe five if I have the time, is the quick internal reset that has really profoundly helped me.”
So when overwhelm rises, do not start with the list. Start with your mind and body. Then prune the list. Then ask whether any of it was even yours to carry in the first place.
We hope that these short pieces of advice help you decrease overwhelming feelings and bring you into more control of your life. Share this BITS post with someone in your life to spread a Small Bit of Happiness!
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Featuring quick videos created for teens by teens.
Do you have overwhelming feelings of stress, a never-ending to-do list, and endless needs to fulfill? Rather than resorting to “I feel overwhelmed”, this guide of things to do when overwhelmed can you when you have too much going on.