Overwhelm Be Gone!

Hi Everyone!

This week's blog post comes to you from the East Coast - I've arrived at a Canadian city named Halifax. The air here is incredible, humid and filled with ocean based smells and nutrients.

To get here has been nothing short of a marathon of overwhelm.

So much to do, and not enough people to get it all done. Or so it felt. But we are here at last, in Halifax, after just slightly over 4 hours of flying time today.

I tell you, once we were seated on that plane, we all sighed a big exhale of relief. And promptly fell asleep.

So let's talk about overwhelm. I've had a few friends mention it this past week, as I myself was experiencing it as well. Somehow, it appears to come along with a distinct lack of focus because too many demanding voices are yelling at us simultaneously.

Let's break it down shall we?

Overwhelm is the lack of prioritizing the 5 W's of our worlds: What, Why, When, Where, Who (and How).

We learn these elements as part of our writing courses to aid us in the specificity of our writing. Now let's take these W's to the next level, let's stretch them in to life lessons, especially during times of overwhelm.

Overwhelm needs to be caught and tamed as soon as we feel its demoralizing approach. The results of overwhelm are lack of focus, a complete end to productivity and, ultimately, the discouragement that can lead us back to a depressive state.

Try to raise your awareness and pinpoint the onset of overwhelm. When you feel its approach, work your way through the following ideas (these are not all-encompassing, but offer a strong start).

Try this - if you follow this process, it will guide you in to productivity as opposed to overwhelm:

1. Take a deep breath. Seriously, it's okay. The world can pause for a second for you to breathe. Remember without oxygen, the brain can not think clearly. (Have a glass of water too, hydration does wonders to our bodies and minds.)

2. Write down everything you wish to accomplish this week (not in one day, that's too stressful for your neural pathways, let's stick to a week, maybe even a month - or better yet, both)

3. Go back to your list now, and see where your 5 W's of details and information can be added.

4. Break down your list according to time budget needed to complete these deliverables you've laid out for yourself:

~ 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes and more if necessary.

5. Write your tasks in to new lists now, sorted by time needed to complete.

6. Put stars next to the items on your list that fill you with happy excitement as you read through the list. Those get to be added to the top of your list, because they will fill you with the encouragement to keep moving down the list. Putting the life giving (or exciting) tasks to the top of your list also will have the added benefit of taking you further toward dreams - the butterflies you feel when you look at these line items, are a signal that these are closest to your heart's purpose. So yes! Let's remember to feed your heart in the process too.

Get your daily planner now:

7. Schedule your absolutes in to your time line for the day. Find the little 5 and 10 minute time slots, where you can begin to complete those tasks.

8. Be sure to slot in at least one to two times to meditate on a daily basis. Your spiritual nurturing is a strong element of your productivity and we should try to keep it as a priority within our daily schedules as much as possible.

9. Choose two days this week where you will choose to fit in one 30 and one 60 minute tasks. There aren't likely that many. If there are, see if those can be divided in to smaller time commitments, and become more attainable.

As you journey through your week, see how both your confidence, your peace of mind, and your productivity grow as you cross more and more tasks off your list, and get closer every day to your goals you've laid out for yourself.

Okay! Back to Halifax and the list we've laid out to make sure the tasks we are here to accomplish are completed in time. And, of course, we need to gift ourselves the time to explore the stunning beauty of the Canadian East Coast!

As always, shoot me a note to let me know how these steps help you in your journey ...

Have a great week everyone!!

~Jewelle