Hey Guys…
Here I am again… sitting on the couch and sharing some of my thoughts and ramblings. So far, the videos in this series have been a little more unplugged and not quite as high energy or polished as my usual vlogs.
Some days… this kind of post just really fits my energy and I think there can be power in sharing in a way that feels a bit more raw.
Do you have days where you just want to scream because you can’t literally get everything done that you need to?
Yeah… that was me today. I struggle with saying YES too often and so sometimes I get myself into these situations where I think I can just be superwoman and get everything done… but then reality hits and I struggle to hold everything together.
This is something I’ve really worked on and continue to get better at. Part of my problem is that there are so many FUN and AWESOME things I want to do! It’s just that sometimes they all end up piling on top of each other and then I find myself here.
Today I am choosing to take a step back, look that feeling of stress in the face, and get myself to a better place. Below I share my approach. I hope that some of you are able to find it helpful.
Admit that you are at capacity to those around you
There is power in voicing your struggles to those who love and support you. Even if they can’t take anything off your plate… sometimes just saying it out loud can help make you feel better. Stress loves to sit in the dark and stew. By bringing it to the light, you are already diminishing it’s power.
Ask for Extended Deadlines
This one can be a little harder to do… especially for me. I hate letting people down and so admitting that I need more time can be a little tough. I have found that most people are way more understanding than you expect though! They know exactly how it feels to be overwhelmed, and usually can hold quite a bit of grace for you.
Make a List of Priorities
How many of this items really need to get done today?? By making a list from highest to lowest priority, it can help bring a sense of peace and order. Sometimes stress can make everything feel a little jumbled. By clearly stating what you MUST get done today, and what can wait… it allows you to focus on that top item and knock it out, then move to the next one.
I often ask myself “What will give the biggest relief to get knocked off my list?”. By weighting what emotionally feels the heaviest, it helps me to prioritize the order of my to-do list.
Are you Stressing About Things Outside of your Control?
I have found that stress loves to spread like a virus. Once you allow it, it will start to permeate and attach itself to other moments in your day or areas of your life. If you are at a place of feeling a little overwhelmed, it can be pretty powerful to journal out why you feel stressed. Sometimes things have snuck in there that you didn’t even realize, and really don’t need to worry about. Make sure that you are focusing your energy only on things you can control.
If you spend time focusing on things you cannot change… it will only drain more of your energy and take away from your ability to get caught up on the things that really matter.
Schedule Out Time for the Items You Can’t Tackle Today
Inevitably, you will have multiple items on your list that you won’t be able to get done today. First of all, it’s important to acknowledge that this is okay! Second, I like to schedule a time to take care of these items. That way, I don’t have to worry about when I’ll get to them, because I know they will be taken care of in a timely manner.
If you are working with others, be sure to let them know of your updated schedule so that you can be in clear communication with everyone around you.
Sometimes You Gotta Cancel Fun Things to Get Sh*t Done
Part of why I’m feeling this is way is because I have had plans with friends almost every night this week! Although I have loved connecting with these people… I probably should have pushed some of them back a week or two so they were more staggered.
For example… there is a Yoga, Hike, Brunch + Mimosas event that I want to attend with some girls Saturday morning…but I’m realizing that I may need to skip it to get some stuff done. Makes me sad to say that…but sometimes it’s what you gotta do! We’ll see… maybe I can get enough done between now and then so I can still go. That’s some serious motivation, right??
Thanks for Listening to my Ramblings
I know this isn’t my “Usual Programming”, but I appreciate that you guys always seem to hold space for me to be vulnerable when I need it. I love being a part of this supportive community!
I’d love to hear your thoughts… when you are feeling like you are having a hard time staying on top of everything … what do you do?? Does your process look similar to mine, or do you have a different approach?
Xo, Lea
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