As psychological research has shown time and time again, feeling overwhelmed is almost universal among working adults. We’re all susceptible to feeling overwhelmed from time to time, a natural reaction to the many demands on our time and the challenges inherent in balancing work and home life.
But when we feel overwhelmed, it can feel like something’s wrong. We feel like we should be able to handle everything that’s coming our way, and we feel that we’re being pressured by our circumstances to succeed. In the face of so many challenges, we may feel like we’re falling short.
We might feel frustrated and unsatisfied, and wonder whether we’re even cut out for the job. We might doubt our ability to make the right decisions, our ability to delegate tasks, our ability to handle the stress of our responsibilities, and our ability to meet our own expectations.
But no matter how overwhelming it feels, it’s actually perfectly normal to feel over and over again. Feeling overwhelmed is a natural reaction to the many demands on our time, and it’s something that most adults experience from time to time. Here are a few tips to help you deal with the dread that comes from feeling overwhelmed:
Realise That Feelings Of Overwhelm Are A Normal Reaction
It’s important to remember that feelings of overwhelm are normal. They are not a sign that you are incompetent or that you don’t have what it takes to succeed. And feeling overwhelmed is not a bad thing.
It’s a sign that you have a lot on your plate and that you are trying to do too much with too little help. Feeling overwhelmed can also be a sign that you are pushing yourself too hard. Over time, it’s likely that you’ll be able to manage your responsibilities more efficiently and make better use of your time.
Don’t Let Feelings Of “Overwhelm” Overwhelm You
We’ve all had moments when we felt overwhelmed and got caught in the spiral of negative thinking. You may have ruminated on how you don’t have what it takes, how you don’t want this job, how you don’t want to do this, how everyone else has it easy and so on. It’s completely natural, and these feelings will pass.
Take A Step Back And Try To See The Big Picture
Many people get sucked into the negative thinking that comes with feeling overwhelmed. They start to think that they have failed in their roles or that they have no right to have the things they have or that they have no right to be where they are in their lives.
One way to get out of this spiral of negative thinking is to take a step back and try to see the big picture. Try to put what you are feeling in perspective, and try to think about the bigger picture of your life and roles.
Talk To Someone You Trust And Share Your Feelings
Feeling overwhelmed can be a difficult and hard to talk about. But sharing your feelings with a trusted friend can be helpful. It can help you sort out what you’re feeling and let you get feedback from someone who has been through similar experiences.
Talking with someone you trust can also be a good way to get perspective on your feelings. You might notice that you have some feelings that you think are your own, but that someone else has also experienced the same, in a similar way.
Set Small Goals And Work Toward Them
It’s important to remember that feeling overwhelmed is a temporary condition. It’s something that is going to come and go, and the sooner you recognize that it’s going to pass, the sooner you can get back to work. The key to dealing with feelings of overwhelm is to keep moving forward.
You can’t let yourself get stuck in a place where you feel overwhelmed for too long. But you can use that as motivation to set small goals. Maybe you can make one decision today that will help you move forward. Or maybe you can take one small step toward a goal that you’ve been putting off.
Don’t Let Feelings Of Overwhelm Stop You From Reaching Your Goals
It can be tempting to let feelings of overwhelm stop you from reaching your goals. But you can’t let them. And even if you do, you’ll have wasted a lot of time and energy. The key is to remember that feelings of overwhelm are temporary and to keep moving forward.
Being overwhelmed can feel like you’re failing, but it’s actually a normal reaction that most people experience from time to time. The key to dealing with it is to recognise that it’s a normal reaction, and to get back to work as soon as possible.