We all get overwhelmed from time to time. Work, relationships, goals and even positive events and milestones can leave you feeling under pressure and disconnected from yourself.
When we get overwhelmed, we tend to do one of two things: shut down or speed up. If you’re in the first camp, shutting down may look like emotionally zoning out or physically becoming stuck- that is, unable to do the things you need in the time you planned, leading to you falling behind.
On the other end, your natural instinct may be to speed up, putting you into hustle mode. While you may get through what needs to be done, operating in overdrive usually leads to running out of gas and burning out.
So what’s a girl to do?
Go contrary to your instinct. Instead of speeding up or shutting down, slow down.
Slow down. Breathe deeply. And reconnect with the calm and centred part of yourself. I know it may not feel like you have any calm left in you, but I promise you that it’s there- you just have to slow down enough to connect to it.
Once grounded and reconnected with yourself, then you can go into problem-solving mode. As you plan what to do next, make your goals small and easy to achieve. I suggest this because when stressed and overwhelmed, small wins can help you regain a sense of control in your life and create positive momentum that you can later build on.
Lastly, remember that this moment of stress is also an opportunity for growth, and it too will pass. So go slow, be patient with yourself and reach out to others for support- because life isn’t meant to be lived in isolation, and although you will get through this, you don’t have to go through it on your own.
I hope this helps,
Jenine
