10 Steps To Overcome Overwhelm
Photograph by Markus Spiske for Unsplash
Do you ever go through phases where your to-do list just keeps getting longer to the point where you can’t figure where to start?
You need to write one more chapter for your book, but you also need to tweak your social media profile and you need to get in touch with collaborators to prepare for your next project… and you also have to get up to date with your accounts, find a new laptop and plan your next trip to visit your family.
You look at your list with a sense of defeat. Rather than pick the first task to tackle, you simply add more elements – apply for passport renewal, get new photos – when you should really just start with something. Anything.
But when you finally decide what to prioritise and get to work, you trip over at the very first obstacle. That book chapter you were going to sit down and write, well, it actually requires a lot of research. That’s going to set you back by several days. You tense up. You just want to feel some relief from the burden of all the things you need to do. So you pick another task – admin. You’ll deal with accounts. But then, you realise that it’s not all about spreadsheets and calculations, this time, it also entails chasing outstanding payments. You get on the phone and all your calls go through to voicemail. You give up. This isn’t working at all.
So you go back to the drawing board and try to plan the sequence of tasks. In order to write my chapter, I need to do more research, and to do that, I need access to some archives, and to do that, I must get in touch with one of my connections. So, the first step is to prepare an email for them explaining what I need.
You draft the email but for some reason, you can’t quite finish it. It’s a big ask, and you feel the email isn’t strong enough so you set it aside. Days go by and you beat yourself up for not having finished a single thing. Suddenly, you’re quite happy to spend more time at the gym or to deal with petty errands – anything that’ll help you dodge the beastly tasks.
Over time, it becomes impossible to see a way out of this mess. Everything seems important and everything is becoming urgent. And yet, a little voice keeps telling you “Don’t bother even starting!”
All it takes is one little win for you to get back on track.
Here are 10 ways to get you out of the vicious cycle of overwhelm and move on:
Call someone – a friend, a mentor – anyone who can listen, without even necessarily giving you advice. Tell them about your concerns and why you’re stuck. Take time to go into detail and see what comes out of it. What fears are holding you back? What solutions haven’t you noticed, that were sitting at the back of your mind? You may suddenly find answers as you articulate your question. You may even come up with solutions later on, when you’re having a shower, for example.
Commit to spending 10 minutes on one of the tasks you most dread. Just 10 minutes. See if more work ensues. If not, spend another 10 minutes on it tomorrow and carry on until it’s completed.
Have your to-do list ready every night before going to bed. Make a list of the top three tasks you want to achieve. Visualise completing them calmly the next day. Sit with the feeling of pride, relief and satisfaction. Let that image give you the impetus to get to work.
Write down the one task you find the most daunting of all. If you can, prioritise getting it out of the way. It’s likely to keep causing you anxiety until you’ve dealt with it. It may not seem like the most important, but somehow your mind keeps drifting towards it. Go into fight mode with it. It might not be fun working on it, but the time you spend on it is time saved worrying. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can flow into deeper work. Just check that you’re doing it to create space for the important work, not just as a way to procrastinate.
Aim to tackle the first and most challenging task first thing in the morning, with a calm mind. Block the time. Don’t allow for any distractions. Commit to the task ahead of time and don’t allow yourself to question whether you should be prioritising something else (unless it’s an absolute emergency.)
Alternate difficult tasks with more enjoyable ones. Surround a tedious item with easy wins or satisfying work. Chasing payments could be followed by a trip to the photo booth for your passport photos, for example.
Create a sense of momentum by setting a deadline if you don’t have any. You might want to enter a competition or a challenge. If you can’t find an organised framework, you could also just ask a friend to hold you accountable. Let’s imagine you’re writing a novel. You could ask “Can we speak next Tuesday so I can talk you through the first draft of my chapter?” While you prepare for the call, if you realise you’re stuck on something, make it the focus of the call. For example, “By the end of the call, I want to have decided which storyline to focus on in the week ahead.” Your friend might have guidance, but the simple preparation work should help you make huge progress. You may solve quite a few issues before you even get to talk to your friend.
Reassess the importance of your tasks. If you’re still stuck after having tested the tips above, then start striking things off your list. Be ruthless. Do you really have to write that book review for the club you joined when you were trying to build a network, only to realise you have nothing in common with the other members? Do you really need your social media profile to be perfectly on brand before you start posting? Delete, delete, delete. Make space for the things that really matter.
And if you’re really stuck after all this, stop everything you’re doing. Go for a walk, go to the cinema, switch off completely. Pauses are extremely important, especially in the creative process. Consider them as an integral part of your work. They allow your brain to process ideas and information. That’s why eureka moments so often happen when you least expect them.
Sometimes, it’s a good idea to be naughty about a task, to ignore it until it’s almost too late. Creating a sense of urgency can help some of us to be more assertive, especially perfectionists, who are often master procrastinators.
Whatever happens, don’t beat yourself up if you’re feeling overwhelmed. It often just signals that you’re worried about something. Things get much easier when you can share with a friend or a trusted advisor, so be sure to reach out for help.
So, tell me:
How do you cope when you’re feeling overwhelmed?
Do you have any tips you’d like to share?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Email me your answers here.
Wishing you all the very best with your creative endeavours!
Charlotte