How To Manage Stress And Overwhelm When Life Gets Too Busy

Do you ever feel like you don’t know if you’re coming or going? When life gets busy, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, put pressure on yourself and wonder how you’re going to get everything done. In this track, I share my own experience of feeling this way and discuss why our thoughts about time and everything we need to do can add to our stress. I also share some practical ways to help you feel less overwhelmed and regain a sense of control when life feels like it’s getting on top of you.

Transcript

How to manage stress and feel less overwhelmed when life gets too busy. Do you ever feel like you don't know if you're coming and going? That is exactly how I felt last week. I felt like I was going from one thing to the next without any time for myself. The only time I stopped was when I was asleep and even then I knew my brain was still trying to figure things out. I know many of you can relate to how I was feeling. You have things to do, People who need you and responsibilities that don't seem to end. You keep going because that's what you do. Then, Before you know it, You feel overwhelmed and wonder where you'll find the time to do everything. And yes, I'm a coach, So you might think I should have it all sorted. The truth is I'm human. Sometimes life gets on top of me. Most of the time, I can recognize what's happening and manage my thoughts. Other times, I'm so caught up by the busyness that I give in and roll with it. So why does everything feel so overwhelming? When you have too much to do, It's easy to focus on everything you haven't done, Instead of acknowledging all that you have achieved. You tell yourself there's not enough time, You're failing, You're falling behind, And you should be doing more. Before long, You're putting pressure on yourself to get through an endless list of tasks. And even when you stop, Your mind keeps going. So I ask you. How much of your stress comes from what you need to do and how much comes from what you're telling yourself about it. You've heard me say it before, That our thoughts influence how we feel and behave. When you keep telling yourself there's not enough time, You can end up feeling anxious, Which makes you rush through your day trying to get everything done. If you're feeling overwhelmed and you want to regain control, Here are three things you can do. Number one, Stop beating yourself up for what you haven't done. When was the last time you looked at your to-do list and acknowledged what you'd achieved rather than focusing on what you hadn't? It's easy to tell yourself you should have done more or you should be able to manage everything without feeling overwhelmed. Instead, Show yourself compassion, Which means recognising that you're doing your best with the time and energy available. This is about treating yourself with the same understanding you'd offer someone you care about. The next time you feel overwhelmed, Stop. Take a moment and acknowledge what you've already done. Remind yourself that you don't have to get everything done today. Just remember how different your day could feel if you stopped criticizing yourself and started recognizing your efforts. You'd have less pressure on your shoulders and more space to focus on what mattered. Number two. Focus on your three most important priorities. You might have 20 things on your to-do list. How many genuinely need your attention today? When everything feels important, It's difficult to know where to start. You jump between tasks and end the day exhausted, Wondering what you've actually achieved. Here's what I want you to try. Choose the three most important things you need to accomplish today. Identify the tasks that make the biggest difference to your work, Personal life or progress towards a goal. Then focus on those. Look at everything else and decide whether it can wait, Be delegated or even not done at all. This helps you to make decisions rather than reacting to everything that demands your attention. You can then finish the day knowing you've taken care of what matters the most, Rather than feeling like you failed because you haven't completed an unrealistic list. And number three, Change the way you think about time. How often do you hear yourself saying, I haven't got enough time? We can become so used to thinking this way that we accept it as fact without questioning it. I'm not suggesting you can magically create more hours in the day. However, The belief that you never have enough time can influence your decisions and how you approach your day. Instead, Start asking yourself, How can I make time for what's most important? By telling yourself you haven't got enough time, You are focusing on what the lack is and narrowing your focus. By changing your focus to finding time, This encourages you to look for other opportunities and expands your focus. Over time, You can also change this belief by repeating regularly, I make time for what matters most. It's about catching yourself saying you don't have time, So you can pause and ask yourself, What's a better way of thinking? Over time you'll become more intentional about how you use your time, Rather than feeling as though your day is controlling you. So you don't have to do everything to feel in control. Instead of focusing on what's just happening in your life, I want you to explore how you're thinking about the situation, The beliefs influencing your decisions and the habits that might be keeping you in those same patterns. You see, Sometimes what seems to be a time management issue is actually about the pressure that we are putting on ourselves or the belief that should be able to do everything. Once you understand what's driving those patterns, You can then start making different choices. So if life feels too difficult, Too busy right now, Take a breath. Be kind to yourself, Focus on what matters, And question the thoughts that are adding unnecessary pressure. You don't need to have everything sorted. You just need to start with what you can do differently today. Take care.