What to do When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

The feeling of being overwhelmed is something that kind of creeps up on us very slowly, then hits like a ton of bricks. It often starts subtle making us feel rushed. Then once we’re pushed out of our comfort zones we start losing control bit by bit. We then lose sight of what we are trying to do and most importantly we end up struggling with what we need to get done.  As a result, we become negative and start complaining and blaming everyone and everything, but ourselves. It can often leave us feeling stressed and depressed at times. When you find yourself feeling like you can’t handle or cope with circumstances give one of these coping methods a try.

Take A Timeout

Step back and take a deep breath and remove yourself from the overwhelming situation for an hour or two. Take the time to remember that there’s more out there, and maybe put yourself back into perspective. So next time you are feeling overwhelmed grab a good book and go to your local park or coffee shop and take a break.

Excercise

Same idea as taking a timeout, but with a physical aspect. Hit the gym or go for a run or a swim or whatever it is that you do for exercise. Try and work it into towards the middle of the day so you can separate a difficult morning from the afternoon.

Talk About It

Talking for a few minutes with a friend or family member helps to make things less stressful. Others may have experience in the area that you’re having trouble with so you can bounce ideas and get a different perspective on the issue.

Map Your Progress

Creating a to-do list that includes things you’ve already completed is a great way to put into perspective how much you’ve accomplished during a rough day. At the end of the day, you can go back and cross the things you’ve accomplished and the progress you’ve made. Rather than focusing on all the task didn’t carry out.

Write it Down

Sometimes things become more manageable just by writing them down. Take the time to write about how you feel and try to organize your thoughts about the event that caused you to feel overwhelmed.

Tidy Up

Clearing out the clutter of your living and working spaces can have a calming effect on your mood. Take a few minutes to straighten up your desk or something that’s bothering you. And you might see things in a whole new light.

Know When to Say No

It’s alright to say no, sometimes you have to. But, you certainly don’t want to make it a practice either. For that reason, you do not want to be a person who says no all the time. Still, there are some situations, where it’s better to say no. It’s better to stay no instead of saying yes and becoming overwhelmed by saying yes.

Take A Nap

Things tend to look a lot better in the morning after a good night’s rest. They also look even better after a cat nap. This isn’t the most practical suggestion but it is something to consider during periods of feeling overwhelmed.

If you or someone you know is feeling depressed or overwhelmed check out these resources for help.

• Half of us
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• American Foundation of Suicide Prevention

Related post: Healthy Choices For Depression

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