Episode 5-8 Ways to Obliterate Overwhelm

What this episode covers

8 WAYS TO OBLITERATE OVERWHELM Let’s make sure you are in control of “overwhelm” because it is only a feeling. It might feel like it’s the end of the world, but I promise you, it’s only in your head… it’s not real unless you make it real. Does any of this describe some of the feelings you have experienced when you felt overwhelmed? Clenched stomach with a sinking feeling of dread Not wanting to get out of bed to face (yet) another day Going to bed and pulling the covers over your head Stuffing your face with your favorite junk food (ice cream, whole bar of chocolate, whole bag of chips) Paralyzed and unable to stop racing thoughts of how you can run away Feeling like you were in a super thick patch of quicksand slowly watching yourself go under Feeling like you’re suffocating and unable to breathe These are just some of the feelings I’ve experienced personally, and those that friends, family and clients have expressed feeling as well. What is this mysterious overwhelm anyway? The Merriam Webster dictionary defines overwhelm as: to cause (someone) to have too many things to deal with. Such a short description for a word that causes such intense feelings of physical, mental and emotional discomfort and pain. My goal is to simplify the feeling of “overwhelm” for you, and to match the short and simple definition of this crazy word that can feel so ominous, overpowering and create such agony in your life. Is the task just too big or does it ONLY seem that way because there is no plan In the past, if I had a big task to accomplish, one which seemed to be overflowing with lots of moving parts, I would feel completely overwhelmed. Especially if I didn’t have a written plan, if it was something out of my comfort zone, if I had procrastinated or if I didn’t have a good working knowledge of the work required for me to complete the task – lack of clarity. That is called fear. Fear of the unknown. And that is one of the most massive triggers of overwhelm for us all. My mind quickly went to, who can help me? I would feel frozen and paralyzed with panic and overwhelm. I always thought, maybe somebody else would be better at this than me and my mind would rush over all my likely victims I could shove some of the work onto and get it off my plate I was looking for ANYTHING that would cure it and get me back to the safety of my comfort zone. So I came up with a solution, a magical elixir- one that will work for you, just as it does for me! And believe me, it’s not anything you haven’t heard before – but, it is something that you need to put into practice to avoid the overwhelm monster. The MAGIC Antidote to the Overwhelm Monster Here’s the magic elixir. When I neglect to take my own advice (my elixir), the overwhelm monster tosses me into its bag, throws it over his shoulder and carries me away kicking and. In life, in business, and in relationships- overwhelm happens when these elements are missing or are present: * Boundaries haven’t been set (you don’t know when to say no, even to yourself) * A realistic and attainable time frame to accomplish a task hasn’t been set * A situation is thrust upon you without any prior notice, could be from an authority in your life, sudden death of a loved one, * When you don’t have a clear strategy and timeline for accomplishing what needs to get done. My magic elixir  Keep this in mind so you can obliterate overwhelm and the overwhelm monster. * Number One Asset – Know and nurture your number one asset -YOU! It is highly discouraging when I ask people what their number one asset is and I get these long pauses as they think about all their physical possessions. The answer is easy. If you don’t take care of yourself,