Life has been quite the riot for me the past 4 months and to be honest, I’ve been veering on the edge of burnout. How do I know what the brink of burnout looks like? Sadly, I have been there many times before so I know the signs all too well.
You might be able to resonate with what burnout feels like and if you do, you know that it’s important to focus on not getting to that point. But, it’s hard. Life isn’t naturally slow anymore. It’s fast-paced and all over the place. Sometimes life can be so overwhelming that you never thought that kind of overwhelm existed. That’s where I am right now and really, that’s where I have been for months now.
Busy seasons come and go but the season that I have been in lately has been completely overwhelming and full of stress. I haven’t been able to sleep at night. I toss and turn and have bad dreams, leaving me to wake up in a cold sweat. Getting through each day has been hard and even feels impossible sometimes because I’m just that tired and in over my head. But, I’m done. I’m sick of feeling this way. I’m shocked that I haven’t reached full burnout yet but at the same time, I’m very thankful that I haven’t. So, before that next phase comes, I’m going to do my very best to tackle my overwhelm where I am right now.
[bctt tweet=”What To Do When Life Is Overwhelming” username=”SummerTelban”]
At this point, I know the most important thing I need to focus on to get out of all of the overwhelm is self-care. I haven’t been neglecting self-care these past months but I could definitely be doing a better job of addressing it.
WHAT TO DO WHEN LIFE IS OVERWHELMING:
1. Get To The Root Of The Overwhelm // When you’re overwhelmed that leaves the door open for confusion to sneak in, which is why this is really the first point you should address. When you’re overwhelmed and feel like so much is on you, it can be hard to identify the root of it all. So, take a deep breath. Collect yourself. Step back. Then start to identify each stress one by one until you get to the initial source of the overwhelm you’re experiencing.
Possible roots of overwhelm (from my past experiences):
- Unhealthy work environments
- Being overworked
- Toxic relationships
- Some kind of trauma
- The uncertainty of what to do in a situation
- Unsettledness with yourself
There are so many roots where overwhelm can stem from. It’s important to hone in on the source of your overwhelm so that you can better address it all.
2. Take Steps To Confront The Source // Confrontation… something not many people love to take part in, whether it’s to confront another person or even ourselves about something. That’s because confrontation is uncomfortable. But, it’s needed sometimes, especially in situations of overwhelm! After you’ve found the source of it all, think of ways you can address it in a positive manner.
[bctt tweet=”Confrontation is needed when you have to attack the source of your overwhelm.” username=”SummerTelban”]
This step differs depending on the source of your overwhelm. If the source is an unhealthy relationship, confront that person and share how you’re feeling and how the entire situation has impacted you. If the source is being overworked, get alone with your boss and share how unhealthy your life has come and then offer ideas on how to fix it. If the source is something that you’ve personally been struggling with (past trauma, uncertainty, etc.), have an honest heart-to-heart with yourself. Ask yourself what can you do to change the course you’re currently on.
3. Say “No” To Anything That’s Not Essential // I find that when you step back and attack things with a fresh start, that’s the best way to actually get a brand new start. One of the best ways to do this is to eliminate anything extra and not essential in your life. Exercise your ability to say “no” to things that you can’t have in your life right now. This is the time to focus on yourself and no, that’s not selfish.
4. Take A Day Off For Self-Care // Take a day off and dedicate a complete day to self-care. Get alone with yourself and focus on what you need. Remember to focus on each dimension of self-care. I have a post all about the 5 dimensions of self-care along with free printables to help you find ways to address each area of self-care. When you devote an entire day to self-care, I want to encourage you to unplug and shut off all electronics, eat a healthy meal, take a cat nap, and focus on ways to make yourself feel whole.
5. Talk It Out With Your Support System // Whether it’s your spouse, a group of close-knit friends, or your sister, talk about why you’re overwhelmed and share the entire experience with them. Even if you’re an introvert, be sure to talk through it with someone. I’m an introvert and while it’s good to evaluate a situation on your own, it’s not healthy to have that be the only way you evaluate it. You need others in your life to talk through things with. You need community.
[bctt tweet=”5 Things To Do When You’re Experiencing Overwhelm” username=”SummerTelban”]
What are some ways you attack your overwhelm when you’re close to burnout? Do you unplug? What are some ways you stay healthy and avoid overwhelm? Let’s chat!
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