Are you overwhelmed? Do you feel like there is so much to do, and no way to accomplish it all? If overwhelm sounds familiar, you're not alone.
Many of our clients share they feel overwhelmed. They try to do the impossible in the little amount of time they have each day. Clients express feelings of frustration with never-ending workdays brought on by a sea of never-ending messages and tasks.
We are completely disconnected despite living in an overly connected world. Even with our technology and information wisdom, we push ourselves at a faster rate than ever before. The fast pace we receive information clutters our mind and creates so much noise leaving us feeling relentlessly overwhelmed and ultimately burned out.
Even when these feelings are internalized, others sense the chaos beneath the surface. It threatens our level of influence as it seeps into our messages and body language. The energy we put forth shifts, dampens our interactions and affects people’s perceptions of who we really are.
Overcoming overwhelm requires mindful planning and open communication. Here are four ways to rise above the noise and overcome overwhelm.
Honor time
We all need a break. Technology makes it far too easy to message others when a thought pops into our mind, often spilling into downtime when we need to decompress. If you think of something you wish to share, write it down. It will clear your mind without creating clutter for others. What you have to say can wait until the next workday.
Establish boundaries
Harvard Business Review found that cognitive impact and fatigue effects our ability to organize thoughts and communicate clearly. Not only does our sanity require down time, our minds need it to remain sharp.
Set aside specific time throughout each day to step away from the noise. Use this time to clear your mind and do something meaningful. Spend time with family or read a good book. Go for a walk or listen to music. Either way, turn off the notifications, text messages, and emails. They “probably” can wait.
Say ‘no’
Overwhelm often comes from over-commitment. We set unrealistic deadlines to complete tasks, over-saturate our calendars with meaningless meetings, and over commit what little time we have.
Consider everything on your plate. Decide what is a must-do versus a nice-to-do. Prioritize a list and determine what you can say ‘no’ to. Will you risk disappointing someone, maybe. But no level of disappoint is worth your sanity.
If you want to have influence in the workplace, you must exude calm collectedness that honors yourself, honors others, and puts you in control of your day.
