Overwhelm is often defined as “very strong” and “in great amount.”  Overwhelming situations typically produce an emotional response – positive or negative.  A less than desirable overwhelming feeling is one that stops a person in his or her tracks, inhibiting their ability to think or move.  This heavy “stuck” feeling is a massive road block to well-being and work-place productivity.

Overwhelm, like most undesirable conditions, must be recognized and then managed.

How to Recognize

We can live and work in a dominant state of overwhelm without giving it much consideration—until one day, we feel like we’ve hit a brick wall.  When this happens, we’re given an opportunity to evaluate another way to work and live. There is no need to wait until we are completely blocked to find a new way. We can do it right now.

Living and working in a state of overwhelm is unproductive, unhealthy, and exhausting. Common signs are dread, anxiety, indecision, avoidance, procrastination, and inability to focus. Any and all of these steal joy and satisfaction.

How to Manage

  • Get Perspective

    Give yourself 10 minutes to step away from the chaos on your desk or in your mind.  Settle the anxiety running through your veins with several minutes of repetitive, long, deep breaths OR go for a walk outside.  While outside, focus on settling your mind by distracting it with long, deep breaths.

  • Talk to a Good Listener

    If #1 doesn’t work; seek out a trusted co-worker of friend. We often have the answer to our problems but we can’t see it. Talk to someone who can ask you the right questions.

  • Do a Brain Dump

    Grab a pen and paper and simply list all the random thoughts pinging your brain – work projects, daily tasks, errands, phone calls, grocery items,…

    • Circle the work related items.
    • Put a star next to everything else.
    • Create two separate lists.
    • Put all the circled items on the “Work” list; put all the starred items on the “Personal” list.

    The simple act of unloading all the thoughts running around in your head will release a surge of control over what feels like an impossible situation. The lists will become the basis of an action plan.

  • Let Go

    Before you proceed with taking action, review the lists one more time. Did the brain dump reveal anything you cannot control? If so, eliminate it. Let. It. Go.

  • Prioritize

    Identify the most important task or project for the day. Choose what must be done asap. Focus on these only.  Remember, your goal is to get unstuck. Everything else can wait.

  • Prepare for Progress

    Overwhelm is anchored  in too much coming at you at one time – task density, over stimulation, people talking, notifications alerts, … The solution is rooted in eliminating multi-tasking. Focus on one task and one screen at a time. Shut down open tabs, turn off notifications, silence the phone, and prepare for progress. Doing so will calm your mind and heighten your ability to focus.

  • Take the First Step

    You’ve heard the saying, “The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time”. So apply the wisdom to work projects and daily tasks.

Ask yourself, “What is the single most important, valuable, or pressing task on my list?”

(Go with your gut.)

Then ask, “What is the one, smallest possible step I can take right now?”

Then — and this is the important part — DO THAT STEP.

Once that small step is done, do another single, small step.

Do this 5 times, or 30 minutes — whichever comes first.

After 30 minutes, step away from your desk. Regroup. Then, repeat the process.

You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish with a series of single, smallest possible steps.

With a new perspective and these mindful strategies, you can get unstuck and out of overwhelm.
It all starts with one, small step.

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