The truth is, feeling overwhelmed is something that happens to us all from time to time.
We all experience anxious, or stressful situations occasionally, whether it be related to job, school, social commitments, or just life in general. When you’re experiencing these emotions, it’s crucial that you look after yourself and give yourself grace.
We recognise that recent events, including the COVID-19 pandemic have certainly complicated things, and amidst all of this, it might be challenging to continue to balance all of your responsibilities at once.
When you start to feel a little overwhelmed by everything, it’s a good idea to revisit your personal self-care routine. In addition, try these five tips to help you bring back balance to your life:
1. Take a deep breath
Step back and inhale deeply. Breathing exercises are a quick technique to start calming yourself down if you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed. If the overpowering situation is in front of you, consider moving away from it to put some distance between you and the source of your feelings. Exercises that deepen your breathing are a great method to relax and reduce your stress response.
2. Make a ‘NO’ list
You might feel more in control of your schedule by taking steps to protect your time and space. Never feel obligated to participate in an activity that you don’t want to do. Instead, where possible, change the activities you don’t want to do with ones that you love doing. You must have healthy boundaries if you want to be happy!
3. Take care of yourself
Be gentle with yourself. Keep in mind that feeling overwhelmed is normal. It also helps to keep in mind that feeling overburdened is likely to be temporary. Give yourself some wiggle room – why not ask for an extension at work to finish that task? Your mental well-being should always come first.
4. Speak to a friend
Ask a loved one for assistance. No doubt you can count on your social support system if you need to vent or work things out. Call a relative or friend on the phone or reach out to a mate for a virtual meet on Zoom. Alternatively, you can speak to a therapist who can offer coping mechanisms and support to help you work through your feelings.
5. Journal
Another excellent (and often overlooked) strategy for overcoming overwhelming or worried feelings is to write them down. Unstructured writing allows you to express yourself more freely, and it will be a relief to get those thoughts out of your head!
Remember that feelings of overwhelm are only temporary and with the right strategies you can overcome these emotions. If you feel that you need to talk with one of our psychologists, why not give us a call on 1800 327 477 (AU) / 0800 327 477 (NZ) or click here to make an appointment online.
