Have there been times when you felt life was getting the better of you? As if there are 1,000 different things calling for your attention at the same time and you are just never going to catch up? You’re not alone. It is no secret that you are amongst the majority of people who have had moments where they felt beyond overwhelmed — but there is hope, and with a little work… your light will begin to shine again.

1. Take a Break

There, the best thing you can do is take a break from the anarchy called life (even for just a few minutes). Go for a short walk, hide in a quiet place and sit down or even just close your eyes and take three deep breaths. Taking a moment to clear your mind and check in with yourself can do wonders for your sanity. It could be listening to your favorite jam, or having some time with your pet or even sipping a cup of tea or coffee.

2. Prioritize

You might not even know where to begin when you are feeling completely overwhelmed. It will help you with your prioritization: make a list of everything you have to do, put them in order of importance and urgency. Check the one that matters most and work down. It is okay to let the less important tasks slide. As the list shrinks, you will start feeling better. Value your time and effort and know where to use them.

When your fire of motivation is dampened, the large jobs can seem insurmountable. Which is probably why it makes more sense to simplify them into smaller and bite-sized chunks. You will get there by taking things one step at a time, and it is those steps that you need to focus on if you ever find yourself feeling bogged down by the bigger picture. Even the smallest wins deserve a shot of self commendation. Take your steps towards your goals, every single step is a momentum that will achieve your destination.

4. Delegate

You don’t have to do everything yourself. Don’t be afraid to pass some stuff off if you are overwhelmed.  It could be home chores that you can’t finish because you have tons of other home chores to do.  It’s okay to ask either your family or roommate to take on some of those tasks.  Same thing for work, you should be able to delegate some of your responsibility if you feel overwhelmed. 

If you have a team member that can assist, great! If not, it’s okay, make a list and tackle one thing at a time.  Don’t forget, you don’t have to save the world.  There is nothing wrong with asking for help from those around you.  When you are in need of help and able to speak up, it shows strength and not weakness.

5. Meditation, Mindfulness

The practice of mindfulness techniques and meditation can be incredibly useful in helping you to manage overwhelm. Stress and anxiety can be exacerbated by an overwhelmed feeling so when you bring yourself to the present moment, which at face value represents simplicity for the brain, your body can deal with them together. Even if you are a novice (in fact, that makes this even more important), a couple of minutes a day by day can do wonders on your existence. Embrace the journey of mindfulness rather than looking at it as a destination. Learn to relax the mind and find that place of being still in this time we are in — take it easy on yourself.

Often overwhelmed because you feel like everything is a massive mess and there is nothing in your control. Even a small level organization can help restore some sense of order to your life. So, declutter your space, create a schedule or set up systems to help you keep track and feel in control of what is in front of you. Begin modestly and handle one section at a time. Once you start to see or feel changes, you will be more motivated to keep working and organizing other areas.

7. Reach Out for Support

In your times of being pressured, it is essential as always to bear in mind that you simply do not have to be alone. Whether it be your friends, family, or coworkers. Simply talking to someone who will listen can help you feel better. Finally, if you feel like things are getting out of hand, by all means seek a therapist or counselor who can help guide you through your fears. Stay with the good ones, and when there is a rock in your path let them be your pillow.

8. Set Boundaries

The Art of No — This is a critical skill to learn when you are feeling swamped and on overload. There is no need to be ashamed or “uncontrolling” if it simply cannot fit into your busy schedule. Establishing boundaries on your time and energy protects your vitality and keeps you from burning out. But just remind yourself (I know it should be fine but you still need to be reminded) to put yourself first — if it does not work or makes other areas of life suffer something is wrong and you have all the rights in the world TO SAY NO!

The other poem here, written by David Whyte, reminds us that our time and energy are the most valuable commodities we have — and that at the end who you were relatively will matter an enormous amount more than what you managed to achieve.

9. Take Care of Yourself

Self-care tends to be the first thing sacrificed when we get busy with life. Wow, talk about needing to take care of yourself in the thick of it all. Ensure you get plenty of sleep, eat well and do regular exercise. Your mental well-being and your stress tolerance depends significantly on how you look after your physical health. Self-care is not selfish, it is vital to your emotional and physical well-being.

We all can get caught up in what is not working and what we are missing, especially when times feel overwhelming. Having a practice of gratitude helps to change that mindset and find moments of joy among the chaos. Give yourself a few minutes throughout each day to think about the people, moments, or physical objects you are grateful for. One of the simplest ways to develop this practice is to keep a gratitude journal, which will help you remember all the good in your life.

In other words, feeling overwhelmed is normal BUT it does not HAVE to take over! Incorporating the 10 strategies — taking breaks, prioritizing tasks, redefining projects into smaller pieces, delegating to others who need work experience and delegating the parts of working that suit someone else over you is a good strategy for finding control in life and calm in the middle of chaos. Remember, you’ve got this!