Coping with a busy life is not always easy. You may find yourself multitasking between deadlines at work or school. There are also many errands, chores, and unexpected emergencies as part of your routine. It can be stressful to take care of multiple priorities at once. As the pressure mounts, the feeling of being overwhelmed can happen to anyone.
Often, we feel overwhelmed due to the responsibilities and expectations at home, work, or school. Each task comes with a certain amount of strain and stress, which can accumulate over time. Unknowingly, we may take on too many obligations, exceeding our capabilities. When that happens, we will experience increased stress and anxiety.
If you are feeling overwhelmed all the time, this emotional response signifies there might be imbalances in your daily routine. Start by taking a step back and reassessing your priorities. What causes you the most stress? Is there a way to alleviate the burden? You may also want to consult a counselling service for additional guidance. The counsellor can analyze your situation and offer coping strategies to lower stress levels.
The key is to find an optimal balance between your self-care and responsibilities. Let’s learn more about how to stop feeling overwhelmed with life, school and work.
1. Show yourself kindness and forgiveness.
When you struggle with your responsibilities, it’s easy to experience negative emotions like disappointment or frustration. However, you don’t have to be so harsh on yourself. Remember that life can be challenging, and everyone has a breaking point. It’s understandable to feel mentally or emotionally exhausted over your workload.
If you feel overwhelmed, be kind and forgiving towards yourself. Shift away from the criticisms, regrets, or negative thoughts. Instead, focus on tolerance and positivity. Recognize that you are only one person, you can only do so much, and that’s perfectly alright.
2. Ask for help when you feel overwhelmed.
We all need a little help from time to time. When your schedule is overloaded, know that it’s okay to ask for assistance. Leaning on family, friends, or coworkers can ease the stress of a situation. They may provide advice, support, or take on the delegated work. You may be pleasantly surprised by their eagerness and generosity. Afterwards, you can return the favour by helping them whenever they feel overwhelmed.
3. Learn to say no to some requests.
Know that it’s okay to say no. Many people are uncomfortable with turning down requests, even if it causes significant inconvenience. However, you don’t have to take on additional tasks when your capacity is already at its limit. After all, you have to protect your time and mental health.
A part of saying no means creating boundaries between your professional life and personal space. Sometimes, there might be issues at work that require calling you during off-hours. These unexpected calls can be stressful, causing you to feel overwhelmed. Instead, set clear boundaries on your availability. Although establishing these separations may not be easy, doing so can help your mental health.
4. Create an orderly routine.
In life, your tasks can quickly blur and jumble together. An unorganized routine can be chaotic, increasing the likelihood of feeling overwhelmed. Instead, create a quick calendar that summarizes your schedule for the day. This itinerary will help you manage deadlines, identify priorities, and set aside the appropriate time to complete tasks.
When developing a schedule, focus on a single activity at a time. For example, your work hours should not overlap with personal activities. When you aren’t supposed to be working, close your mind to anything job-related. You shouldn’t check your emails or communicate with coworkers outside of your scheduled hours. This routine ties into the previous point of establishing clear and comfortable boundaries.
5. Rest and relax when you feel overwhelmed.
When you are too busy, it may feel like there is no time to rest. However, you should not reduce your sleeping hours to accommodate urgent deadlines. Sleep is essential for replenishing your body and mind after a hard day’s work. You will have an easier time thinking clearly with enough rest every night.
In addition, you may want to include various relaxation activities throughout the day. Breathing exercises can be tremendously helpful whenever you are feeling overwhelmed. Other ideas include yoga, tai chi, or taking a quick walk outdoors. These mindfulness activities can relieve stress and anxiety without overburdening the body.
6. Take a break and enjoy your favourite activities.
For many people, it’s not like we can walk away from our obligations at school or work. Those are ongoing commitments with importance attached. However, it’s okay to take a temporary break to recharge and rejuvenate mentally. A self-care plan is about replenishing your morale, which will help you feel motivated for future tasks.
You can achieve self-care through various means. For example, set aside time during your day where you can enjoy your favourite interests. Take an hour to do something you like, whether that’s a hobby or a television show. During this personal time, don’t worry about any interruptions or responsibilities. Just focus on cherishing the present moment.