How to disrupt the overwhelm of life
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the constant hustle and bustle of life, you're not alone. Many people struggle to keep up with the demands of daily life, and it can be easy to get lost in a sea of overwhelm. But there is a way to disrupt the overwhelm and find some much-needed peace and clarity.
What is overwhelm?
Have you ever had a feeling of being overpowered by something? Feeling unable to cope or deal with the situation at hand? That’s overwhelm. It makes life feel like hard work, a chore, a fight, a duty. Something to get through rather than to savour or enjoy.
Common factors that can contribute to overwhelm are: difficult or complex tasks, a heavy workload, global events, climate change, political uncertainty, COVID and the never-ending stream of information that we consume every day. Scientists have measured the amount of data that enters the brain through TV, computers, phones, tablet, billboards and many other gadgets, and found that the average person processes as much as 74 GB in information every day. That’s as much as watching 16 movies and every year it increases with 5 %.
Only 500 years ago, 74 GB of information would be what a highly educated person consumed in a lifetime, through books and stories. It might not be a surprise that living in this fast-paced world can totally overwhelm us when we don’t have the right tools to deal with it.
How does overwhelm affect you?
Overwhelm can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, and even burnout if not managed properly. You might also experience: tiredness, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, unable to concentrate or focus, irritable or agitated, impatient, short tempered, blaming others, notice a change in eating/ drinking habits, seeking numbing activities such as drug or alcohol use, gambling and binge-watching Netflix.
It's important to recognize when you're feeling overwhelmed and take steps to address the situation so that you learn how to cope in a healthy way.
“Rushing is a state of mind."
What can you do to reduce feeling overwhelmed?
We can make some changes to our life and external pressures — we often have more options than we think we do. Mindfulness is a great tool to disrupt the overwhelm of life. It’s the practice of bringing your attention to the present moment, without judgment. It involves focusing on your thoughts and feelings in the here and now, and letting go of any worries or concerns about the past or future. By doing this, you can begin to let go of the overwhelm and find some much-needed peace and calm.
Journalling or quiet reflection time can help to give you the space and clarity to discover new options and choices to make alterations to your life that will make an impact. But the most significant thing we can do is to change our perception. HOW we show up has more of an effect on our experience than WHAT we do.
Your mindset is the most powerful tool you have for taking charge of your emotional state. Imagine having exactly the same day, two days in a row. But on the 2nd day you decide to show up differently, to be curious instead of judgmental, to be grateful instead of blaming, to want to improve instead of prove. By intentionally inviting different characteristics to your day, you can feel completely different about doing the same tasks.
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If any of this resonates with you, feel free to book a call with me to talk about how I can support you so that you’ll feel able to face whatever life throws at you with clarity and calm.
