Overwhelmed? Here’s the remedy.

overwhelm remedy

Do you feel like you’re overwhelmed, drowning or being buried alive? Do you know anyone today that doesn’t feel this way? Anyone? Neither do I! Well okay, maybe the neighbor’s dog!

We’ve lost the ability to feel consistently calm and relaxed.  

We only have ourselves to blame. 

There are more cell phones than people in our world and we’ve convinced ourselves that we have to be connected at all times. 

We have a false sense of self-importance as we bring our phones into restaurants, movie theaters and even restrooms and bedrooms. We’re willing to risk killing each other in order to send and receive texts while driving.

We’ve convinced ourselves that there is not enough time in the day.

We are losing our ability to pay attention. 

We are in touch with Facebook friends and out of touch with the most beloved people in our lives.

We are a culture out of control. We are addicted to a false sense of importance and connection. We are addicts. We have become slaves to technology.

Overwhelm is an illusion.

It’s a story that we tell ourselves. It’s an excuse. It allows us to be victims; we don’t have to change. We tell ourselves stories of overwhelm  in order to continue our bad behavior. It lets us all off the hook.

If you are tired of the roller coaster ride, if your world is spinning out of control, and if you want to feel less overwhelmed, here’s what you can do.

Completely unplug.

Do it for 24 hours, once a week. Fast from your computer. Don’t return email. Turn off your phone. It CAN wait. Turn off your television. You can watch it tomorrow. Give up the idea that you have to be connected 24/7.  Take control of your availability and your life.

Create face-to-face and skin-to-skin time with your family and friends, sans technology.

No technology can ever replace the quality and uninterrupted time you spend with those you love. When you’re truly present, miracles happen. Love and connection change who we are as people at a cellular level. Replace overwhelm and work with love.

Know the difference between urgent and important.

The thing that needs your immediate attention and action is what’s urgent. Do it in the morning when you have the most energy. Completely forget about what’s important until everything that is urgent is finished.

Do nothing. Stop the doing, doing, doing.

Stop planning every moment of your time. Constant busyness feeds your ego and narcissistic tendencies. Let go of chaos. Get comfortable with peace.

Create time for meditation.

There are an unlimited number of ways to meditate. You can listen to a guided meditation, focus on a mantra, an object or your breathing. Choose something that resonates with you. Begin with three to five minutes a day. Increase your time in five minute increments, up to 20 minutes.

Remember sacredness.

We’ve forgotten how to connect with our higher selves, a Higher Power or God. Connect with a power greater than yourself. Connect with yourself. We are sacred beings. It takes quiet time, so create it. It will not only change your day, it will change your life.

Build community.

Find someone to serve. Give of your time, talent and money. Do things for people who cannot pay you back. Go out of your way to visit the elderly.  Teach a child to read. We’ve forgotten what’s important. It’s time to remember.

Practice deep breathing.

Breathe in very slowly. Take in more oxygen. Breathe out very slowly. Release tension. Focus on your breath and you’ll feel less stress and overwhelm, and more calm and peace. You can’t go wrong.

Take a mental break.

Walk away from your desk or work. Mentally bring up past memories of good times. Revel in a happy place. Get into the feeling. Bring the feeling back to your work.

Do a worry dump.

Write down your negative thoughts and worries. As you empty your mind, your mind calms down. There’s a release that comes from putting it on paper. When you realize that most of what bothers you is unimportant, out of your control or will never happen, you’ll feel an instant relief.

Shift your perspective. Be willing to see things differently. We forget that we can’t see the whole picture. We don’t know what anything is for. We don’t have all of the answers. Life’s a mystery. 

Get a mantra.

A mantra is a statement that is repeated frequently in order to center yourself. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All is well.  Release and relax. Oh well, so what. Repeat your mantra when you’re feeling overwhelmed, when your thoughts are out of control.

Focus on right now.

There is no past or present. Anytime you feel overwhelmed, bring yourself into the present moment and focus only on the task at hand. Then move on to the next. Do one thing at a time. Life happens moment by moment. That’s it.

Take a walk in nature.

Escape the stressful situation. Blow off steam. Clear your head. Reframe the situation and relax. You’ll get a natural high from released endorphins. Nature is healing. Nature teaches us that no matter what, life goes on. 

Overwhelm is a choice. It has become a lifestyle. Remember you have the freedom to change. You don’t have to live in overwhelm. Ever. 

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My best work is my course, 30 Days of Bold: Feeling Excited And Ready. Check it out. Today is the best time to begin something new!
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Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Sebastian Aiden Daniels August 6, 2014, 1:26 pm

    Thanks for this helpful list Tess. You have inspired me to try the 24 hour complete technology fast this Friday. We shall see how it goes. May I focus on the present and do some meditation during it also : D.

  • Tess August 7, 2014, 10:43 am

    Sebastian,
    Let me know how it goes! I love to leave my phone behind;)

  • Rachel S. Heslin August 7, 2014, 9:56 pm

    I used to joke about having my phone being surgically attached. I no longer feel a need to always have it with me — but now I occasionally forget where I left it, which my husband finds unnerving when it starts to buzz at him when I’m not around! 😀

  • Peggy August 8, 2014, 12:19 pm

    Oh Tess…you have hit a nerve in just about everyone (except your neighbor’s dog!) It’s time for me to turn off technology for the better portion of my day. The distraction is really maddening at times. I think the first to go is Facebook off my phone…again. I’ve done it before, I can do it again!!

    xxoo
    Peggy

  • sherill August 10, 2014, 4:59 pm

    Hi awesome list you have there, definitely helpful. It is so true that no technology can ever replace the quality and uninterrupted time you spend with those you love. I’ll try doing this now, Thanks for sharing. great post!

  • Kara Lane August 19, 2014, 7:54 am

    You are so on point, Tess. I remember when my middle stepson was going to teach in Ghana. He left his cellphone at home, because he didn’t want to take his phone to a place where others might not be able to afford them. When he got there, he told us he was the only one there without a phone!

    I have noticed, too, that with so many programs, apps, and devices; just managing the technology becomes a full-time job. Technology can help with productivity, but it can also really slow it down (especially when you throw in the inevitable troubleshooting).

    I’m going to try the 24-hour/once a week unplugging. I may even do another silent retreat to totally unplug! Thanks for the much-needed post!

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