I can’t begin to count the number of times that I have felt overwhelmed. And when I get overwhelmed, I shut down. And there goes any chance of being productive! So, let’s discuss one of many solutions to overwhelm.
Take a moment away to breathe, think, don’t think, plan, whatever helps take your anxiety level down.
For me one that helps tremendously, going outside. Make a place of retreat, relaxation, and tranquility. The best news is it doesn’t take much, but oh what a difference it makes. I have lived in many places. My husband and I have been quite the nomads in our almost eighteen years of marriage! But you know what? We have always found a place to go outside just to step away from it all.
The very first place we ever lived was Biloxi Mississippi, directly outside of the gates of Keesler Air Force Base. It was a one bedroom furnished apartment, my guess 500 square feet. We didn’t even have a balcony or patio. We would go outside to the grass area outside our front door to hang out. A change of scenery you could say when you can see all of your apartment from your kitchen table. ????
Solutions to Overwhelm can be easy and inexpensive.
Fast forward to today. We have a covered patio with room for a small patio set (even when it’s raining so long as the wind isn’t crazy). Compared to other patios and outdoor living spaces it isn’t much, but that’s the point. It doesn’t have to be.
Of course, those nice outdoor living spaces are dreamy, and no doubt does the trick, just having a place to step away from it all and decompress is all it really takes. You need something to sit in, maybe something to put your feet up on, a side table, sunlight, and fresh air. That’s it. I’m going to show you mine so you can see how simple indeed it is.
My space for sure is small, but it is all I need to step away from everything else, collect my thoughts, and re-engage.
The internet is filled with solutions to feeling overwhelmed. Some simple, some not, some cheap, others quite pricey. Most of us though are looking for simple and inexpensive. I need help now, and I don’t have much time or money to spend to get there. My blunt opinion is it shouldn’t cost a lot of time or money to find ways to calm the chaos. You can always improve on what you create, but its basic functionality is your first and immediate goal.
So you’re thinking…
I have this space or I can make this space. What am I suppose to with it?
- Read
- Craft
- Art
- Music
- Sleep
- Tech/Social Media Checkout
- Drink something yummy
- Plan/Strategize
- Braindump
- Meditate
The list goes on and on. It’s pretty much endless. You do whatever you find that helps you regain control over your day, whatever gets you back on track to press forward with confidence. Know this though…You are stronger for identifying these overwhelming moments and finding your special method to address them so that you can carry on managing what matters most to you.
Do not:
- Feel guilty
- Feel rushed
- Feel unworthy
- Settle for being overwhelmed
- Ignore the feelings
As moms, we are tasked with more responsibilities than we can manage while being the best for those we care about most. It all comes down to what we choose to care about and what we let go of completely. You know what I have learned, even when we let things go and focus, sometimes what is left is still a lot. You don’t have the choice to let more go (well you do but let’s be realistic). So you have to find a way to handle it all while allowing yourself a lot of grace.
Get rid of the unnecessary tasks and expectations, then find tips, tricks, strategies, and systems to make the rest of it as effortless and streamlined as possible. Set a timer on your phone if you must and remind yourself to breathe.
Take a step outside for as long as you need. What you regain by doing that is worth every second it took.
Solutions to overwhelm are everywhere and different things work for different people. Find what works for you, but I think it is fair to say we can agree, when it is all said and done the only overwhelmed we want to be, is overwhelmed with joy!
What kind of things do you do to decompress when overwhelm hits a high?
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