How To Deal With Feeling Overwhelmed: 7 Great Tips

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of life or the responsibilities that accompany it then it is time to help yourself feel better. Feeling overwhelmed can be very challenging and push your limits when circumstances are extreme. This need not happen, however.

A lot of times feeling overwhelmed is actually the result of lifestyle factors and choices we have at least some control over. It’s true that life occasionally obligates us to take on responsibilities and we cannot always say no. But we can take control where possible and ease the burdens that come with being a responsible person.

Ways to stop feeling overwhelmed

Here are some tips that can help you stop feeling overwhelmed:

1. Find out what makes you overwhelmed

Are you stressed because of taking care of kids? Are you going through a busy time financially? Maybe work is getting more and more hectic. No matter what the cause or causes behind your feelings are, try to pinpoint them and understand them. Try to write them down on paper so as to to lay out a plan for them and be able to work towards resolving them without forgetting anything.

2. Address the causes

Don’t pinpoint causes for feeling overwhelmed just for fun – make your goal to deal with them. Okay, so you might not be able to avoid some things (i.e. do not try to scratch everything off and just go into full not caring mode). When you deal with the reasons behind your overwhelming circumstances try to find ways to make them more manageable. If something is not necessary then by all means stop doing it. Otherwise, use a paper to jot down some ideas to make life’s tasks easier to bear. You may notice that you’ve been overcomplicating some very simple tasks in life.

3. Schedule your time reasonably

Try using a scheduler either on an electronic device or on paper. Set reminders for yourself and make sure you firmly adhere to your schedule except in extreme circumstances. Scheduling your time can help you prioritize what you need to get done. You can also account for more time-consuming tasks by rearranging your schedule or dividing those tasks up over a span of days. Importantly, make sure you schedule time to unwind in order to help you alleviate your overwhelmed mind. Scheduling can also help you prevent procrastination by encouraging you to make time for the less entertaining things that need to get done, which brings us to our next point.

4. Don’t procrastinate

Look at it like this, when you procrastinate a responsibility that you must eventually take on and complete then you are simply leaving it for another time when something or many things might come up as well. In the end you could find yourself doing more than you can handle and feeling overwhelmed because you are stuck with what you should’ve technically done before. The simple fix is to just not procrastinate.

It might be easier said than done but do keep in mind there are ways you can encourage yourself to get things done. First off, make sure you schedule time for things even if they are not due immediately. Try to get them out of the way as best you can. If you struggle with getting yourself to work on something you know is not due until later then put your will power to use. Oblige yourself to get to work and progress on something that needs to be done. You may even find that the reward of getting tasks out of the way reinforces your attitude and motivates you moving forward.

5. Be organized

If your late to an appointment and you can’t find your car keys because you constantly change where you put them then you will most likely feel overwhelmed. Keep your home, office, desk or wherever you spend time organized and clean. Make sure things are accessible and stored in such a way that you will be able to find something you need quickly. Consider purchasing file folders, little baskets or drawer organizers. Even the mind tends to work better in clean and organized spaces.

6. Build your tolerance to work

Build yourself mentally to be able to tolerate more stress and work. Do this in a controlled manner, though, by making sure you are not in high stakes situations. The goal here is to build your ability to tolerate a list of responsibilities and the feelings that come with it. Try to take on more work, practice not procrastinating so it becomes easier, try to find ways to keep yourself calm when you are overwhelmed so you can more easily bear your feelings. The brain is like a muscle and with training and practice you can strengthen its capabilities.

7. Take breaks

Working constantly with little to no leisure time is a near certain way to achieve burnout and become overwhelmed. Even the smallest tasks can turn into unbearable burdens when you don’t allow yourself time to rest. Just like sleep is a way for the body and mind to recharge, so too are rest periods important for recuperating energy and tolerance.

Take frequent breaks in between tasks whenever you can (5 to 15 minutes). Make sure you sleep at least 8 hours (sleep is like a break itself). Give yourself approximately an hour in the day to do nothing (not even checking your phone). It is also important to take a rest day or rest days where you do nothing in the week. Every few weeks of work, try to take a week off. If you have responsibilities that you cannot take breaks from, try your best to work your breaks around them. Ultimately, rest is huge but simple when it comes to avoiding the feeling of being overwhelmed. Find ways to rest as best you can.