Overwhelm: That Quiet Killer We All Know Too Well

Always felt as though you are drowning in a sea of obligations? Indeed, me as well. Does it not sneak up on you? One minute you're gliding along, then—bam!—you're gazing at a pile of chores, emails, and obligations that seem to have multiplied overnight. Whether your business is operating, you are juggling deadlines, or you are attempting to combine family life with everything else (really, how do parents do it?), it seems as though life just keeps piling on.

The worst part is that your brain seems to switch like a circuit breaker at the "overwhelm" level. You turned off. whole. You could not even know where to start; you are standing there starring at your laptop, laundry, or whatever. Not too far off. You are not unique.

Why Would Overwhelm Feel Like Quick Sand?

People I deal with—students, clients, friends—all constantly tell me this. They're caught. Frozen is the word. Not moving. The worst of all is also The chores do not miraculously vanish just because you are overburdled. None at all. Sitting there, they fix their gaze on you, exaggerating the size of the heap. Like trying to pull oneself out of quicksand. Every second you find yourself caught, advancing seems more difficult.

The good news is that this isn't how things have to be. Indeed. Overwhelm is not some force of nature unchangeable. Not quite as real as it seems either. It more of an emotional response than a real issue. And with the correct tools—systems, plans, and a little bit of know-how—you can control almost anything life presents.

Actually, not at all Keep with me. By the end of this, you will have a few fast techniques ready to begin squarely addressing overload.

The Open Loop: Annoying Reminder System Inside Your Brain

Now let's discuss the open loop one of the main offenders behind overwhelm. You are aware of the nagging sensation lurking behind your head? The one who keeps nosing you about all the things you haven't done yet? Indeed, your brain is seeking to be "helpful." Not is the spoiler alert here.

Furthermore lacking in exact time is your brain. It will remind you of your undone chores at the worst of times, such as those related to trying to fall asleep. Ever been resting in bed, and then your brain says, "Hey, remember that email you omitted to send? Alternatively, that action you mentioned to your colleague you would do? Oh, and remember to get milk tomorrow. Ugh.

How then do you shut it down? First: clear all of it from your thoughts. Particularly seriously. Simply brain dump a piece of paper—or your phone, if you're fancy like that. List everything—every chore, every stray idea, every "Oh, I should do this someday".

Something wonderful occurs after it's all gone from your thoughts into paper. You let your brain rest. It seems like, "Oh, yeah, nice. You have something under cover. I will quit screaming at you right now. And the overwhelm starts to diminish exactly like that.

Sort, Prioritize, Simplify, Delegate

Having your brain dump now will help you to organize the anarchy. Review your list then begin to arrange. What is most urgently needed? What is not? Since, to be honest, it's not really vital, what can you erase totally?

And here is a pro tip: assign. You really need not do everything yourself. Hand off what you can to someone else—a colleague, a relative, even a paid assistant.

After cutting the fat, divide the remaining chores into bite-sized pieces. I promise you; this is the magic ingredient.

The Fallacy of the "Big Task"

Another thing that trips us up is complexity. When a project seems too large or too imprecise, it's like staring at a huge, unsizable wall. "Nope, not today," your thinking cries out.

Assume for a moment that your to-do list includes "Create presentation." Sounds really straightforward, right? mistaken. That is a somewhat large chore. It makes sense why it is overwhelming. So divide it into baby steps rather than approaching it as one massive project.

Consider: 1. Ask your manager for ideas. 2. Beginning to list the salient features, 3. Studies bolstering supporting data. 4. Build PowerPoint presentations. 5. Make notes for every slide. 6. Prepare the presentation. 7. Time yourself to ensure the plan fits.

That feels so much simpler, see? You have several little, doable chores rather than one large, frightening one. The best thing is that you get a tiny hit of success with every small stride you finish. Crossing items on your list seems to become its own sort of inspiration.

The Win is Greater the Smaller the Step

So completely buried? Break things down even farther. Your steps have to be smaller the more overwhelmed you are. Ask yourself, "What's the absolute smallest thing I can do right now?" if you are still caught staring at your list.

Perhaps it is just opening your email. Alternatively drafting the opening line of that report. Perhaps even just grabbing a cup of coffee to help you to think clearly. Still whatever it is, start there.

After the initial step, the second one seems a little simpler. And before you know it, you're hacking away at that mountain of chores like the productivity ninja you were always intended to be.

Overpower as a Trigger

Consider this: overwhelm is a signal rather than merely a problem. "Hey, something's not working here," your brain says. Thus, avoid panicking the next time you feel overburdled. Use it instead as a cue to stop, gather, and clear all those whirling ideas from your head.

And should complexity be the issue? Dissect it. Little pieces, few steps, less bites.

You already have this. Actually. Against a well-considered plan and some modest effort, overwhelm has little chance.

Oh, and hang around; I have many more techniques right at hand. For now, though, grab that pen and paper, throw out those ideas, and begin to take charge. Little steps one at a time. Later on you will thank yourself.

For more on managing overwhelm, check out Stress Management on Wikipedia or explore productivity tips on Moz.