What to do to stop feeling overwhelmed

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Do you feel that your strength is at the limit, and your work has not been going well for a long time? Find out why this is happening and what to do to fix the situation and enjoy life again.

You have a lot of things to do, but critically little time to complete them. Too many people want you to pay attention to them, and you cannot, because you are always in a hurry somewhere. You do not understand how you can do everything on time, and even so that you have time for your personal life. Familiar situation?

At the dawn of the digital age, we firmly believed that gadgets would make our life much easier and allow us to stress less. It seems that we have never been so wrong.

We have started to work much more than before, and we cannot stop even if we really want to: smartphones, Skype, instant messengers and e-mail have become an integral part of modern life. Plus, there are colleagues from different time zones who want to be in touch around the clock. We are bogged down in work. It is not surprising that at such a frantic pace of life, we often feel unwell.

Reasons why people feel overwhelmed

Sometimes it can be difficult to understand what exactly caused your depression. It seems that everything has piled up at once. But think about this: fatigue is just a feeling that sooner or later will pass, you just need to identify what caused it and eliminate the cause.

Here is a small list of the most common causes of depression.

• Someone is constantly using you to their advantage, and you do not know how to handle the situation and get rid of unpleasant obligations.
• You are very much afraid that you will find yourself in a compromising situation and will not be able to get out of it with dignity.
• You are too responsible and afraid to admit to yourself that you are no longer able to deal with the accumulated problems on your own.
• You do not understand what you are asked to do, but you are afraid to admit, and this weighs on you.

What to do if things go awry

When it seems to you that everything in the world is infinitely sad and hopelessly bad, then it is quite natural that you start to feel the same way. It is absolutely normal to be depressed and tired from time to time, but if this state has become your constant companion, then you need to take appropriate measures.

• Understand what is the real reason for your bad condition. What really upsets you? Or who?
• Think about what specifically you can change. Look at the problem realistically, honestly assess whether the situation can be turned for the better, and do whatever is necessary to do so.
• Make a plan. Draw up a to-do list with several points that will help solve the problem you are experiencing. Record the changes as you progress. Feel free to ask for help.

It also happens that you simply cannot influence the current situation. Then you just need to accept it. Yes, this is not easy, but it makes a valuable contribution to the treasury of your life experience.

The general recommendations are over. Let's move on to specific actions that you need to perform daily in order to feel much better.

1. Delegate

Do only what you are really good at. Sometimes people take on additional tasks just because they are simple enough, done quickly, and do not require a lot of effort. Sometimes - because of distrust of other people or because they believe that no one else can cope with them. Sometimes it's just out of habit.

All these tasks can be easily delegated to someone else, so that you stop feeling like a loaded donkey. Ask yourself: Am I really the only person who can do this? In most cases, the answer will be no.

2. Question

Too often, we do certain things just because we have to, or because we have always done them. But are they really necessary? It is quite possible that we regularly spend a lot of time on absolutely useless activities. To stop wasting precious minutes, ask yourself two questions: Do I really have to complete this task? Will something change if I don't do it? If both answers are negative, feel free to cross this item off your to-do list.

3. Pause

Take time to take a break. No matter how busy your schedule is, it is quite possible to allocate at least 15 minutes in it. This time will be enough for your brain to take a break and start working much more efficiently.

Imagine that these 15 minutes are the kind of mini-vacation that you miss so much. Close your eyes for a couple of minutes and allow yourself to relax a little. And then, as if from the outside, try to look at the problem that bothers you. We can assure you that there will definitely be a solution.

4. Ask for help

When we feel overwhelmed and overwhelmed, we need support more than ever. We look to friends, family, and even colleagues for it. Complaining about life within reasonable limits is quite acceptable, but know when to stop: if you start constantly telling everyone about how difficult it is for you, you will achieve exactly the opposite effect. You don't need a reputation as a whiner, do you?

It is often helpful to look at a situation through the eyes of another person.

Tell someone about your concerns and ask for advice. Ask how your interlocutor would act in a similar situation and what actions they would take. Sometimes a fresh look helps to find rather unexpected ways out of a critical situation. And in general, maybe you are unnecessarily winding yourself up and the problem is not as terrible as it seems?

5. Learn to refuse

Evaluate your capabilities adequately: if you cannot cope with a large amount of work on your own, do not burden yourself head over heels with chores just because you are uncomfortable with refusing. Set reasonable boundaries and finally learn to say no. Every time, before you agree with something, think twice about whether you can really cope with the obligations entrusted to you.

Not sure how to politely refuse? Be diplomatic. If your petitioner is a boss or an important client, try saying something like, “This will be quite difficult given our current priorities. Let's try to find other ways to solve the problem?"

6. Think about the people closest to you

If you can't cope with the growing tension, think about your closest people and how they would support you if they were suddenly there. Instead of worrying about what a new coworker or someone you don't know will think of you, think back to those whose opinions you truly value. It will give you the strength you need right now.