The frustrating part of being overwhelmed is not knowing when it started. As ambitious and productive adults it's important to us to show results and to help those around us. It's so easy to say yes to small favors and tasks. When someone asks for help, at the moment you might think "that would be so easy for me to do and I want to help". Helping others is not the problem and saying no isn't necessarily the solution either. Being aware of what's already on your plate is a much more effective way to gauge if you have the capacity.
The real problem is a lot of us aren't keeping track. We keep moving through our day to day taking more and more on until eventually, the list seems endless. If someone asked to borrow a dollar from you I bet you'd say yes. A dollar isn't going to throw your finances off and it's a quick easy way to help someone. Now imagine that everyone knew you'd be willing to lend them a dollar and they all start asking. A single helpful gesture is now becoming pretty pricey. You have to think of your capacity the same way. Our energy both mentally and physically is finite and if we don't budget it correctly we are going to be running on empty.
Becoming overwhelmed is not an obvious change of state. I honestly feel it can even be hard to identify because it happens so gradually. As I work through my days handling what needs to be managed at home and at work I generally feel confident about my ability to tackle whatever comes my way. I love feeling productive and I love helping others. I want to say yes when a new project comes my way and I want to say yes when someone needs help.
A few months back I felt myself slowing down. I felt like I wasn't as productive as I usually am and I was feeling anxious about my to-do list. I felt like I lost my momentum and it was taking me longer to accomplish the same amount of work. This was so abnormal for me and I was frustrated with being stuck in this rut. I realized I was spending so much energy worrying about what needed to be done it was slowing me down. I was overwhelmed and honestly a little frustrated it took me so long to see it.
Now that I knew what the problem was fixing it was my number 1 priority. What operations-minded person doesn't love a good problem to solve? I approached it the same as just about any challenge I face in my work or at home with 3 simple steps:
Inventory - Make a list of everything that needs to be done and everything I want to do. (I promise you have to make room for the fun non-work related stuff too or the overwhelm creeps right back in!)
Plan - You have more time than you think you do! If you take the time to plan out your week you'll see that you can get your work done and enjoy some fun time whether that's a hobby like gardening or catching up with friends you've been telling you are too busy to see.
Stick to the plan! - It really is that simple. Knowing what needs to be done and knowing I've already planned time to tackle it helps me mentally let go of the burden of the task until it is time to handle it. A lot of us waste more time than we think by allowing the nagging thought of our to-do list swirl around in our minds. When I know I've planned it out I know it will get done and I don't have to waste any energy worrying anymore. I know life throws curveballs and we can't predict some of the challenges that come our way, but taking the time to map out your week on a regular basis will help you stay in tune with what's on your plate, what your capacity is and what can be shifted around to make room for those unexpected challenges.
I've created a template to help you tackle the overwhelm that has been holding you back. I highly recommend doing this exercise once a week and dedicating 15 - 30 minutes to be thoughtful about your upcoming week. Feeling overwhelmed and anxious can be paralyzing, but taking a step back to look at what needs to be done and breaking it down into digestible chunks is incredibly empowering. Reply in the comments or send me an email to let me know how this works for you!