Like the majority of us, I imagine, I was very happy to wave farewell to 2020. Nothing much changed on the 1st of January, of course. The Covid pandemic rages on, businesses are still struggling, jobs are still being lost, and people are unable to see their loved ones in many corners of the world—many people feel overwhelmed in life.
That certainly didn’t change when I woke up on the first day of a brand new year. But there’s something about the first day of a new year that brings a renewed sense of focus.
But how do you stay motivated on anything—whether it’s resolutions, healthy eating, running a business, or getting out for a run—when the world is practically on fire around you?
So, let me share some of the things that I’ve found most successful to help you stay focused on what matters to you regardless of what else is happening in the world.
List What’s Overwhelming You
Lists are very powerful things. I often find that when I’m feeling overwhelmed in life, I lose sight of specifically what is causing me to feel this way. When I feel like this, I list what is making me feel overwhelmed.
The list is very often not as long as I expect it to be and often, feelings of being overwhelmed come down to just one or two things on my mind.
What Can You Control?
With a list in front of you, it’s time to take a look at what you can influence.
For example:
- If too many pressing deadlines is something on my list, I will speak to clients and I will see if I can change some things, or perhaps I’ll stop taking work that month
- If I’m feeling overwhelmed by non-work commitment, I work out what I can cancel and just cancel it
On the other hand, if it’s something I cannot control (like a pandemic), I grant myself the permission to sit with it—to just be OK with not being OK with it.
I go through my list and I take action to change anything I can change (even if it’s just an email to delegate a task or move a deadline). It’s something that helps me feel a little more in control, though I accept this is something that will be different for everyone.
Set Micro Goals Each Working Day
Feeling overwhelmed can really lower productivity and stop you from doing things you need or would ordinarily want to do. One way to overcome that, I’ve found, is to set very achievable micro-goals for each working day.
So, if one of my goals for the day is to complete a lengthy report, I will break it down into sections and segments that might only be 30 minutes of work as opposed to a whole day of work. I can then visibly see progress towards this goal (and I’ll be honest, I do love ticking things off a to-do list).
Take Some Time for Yourself
This is the thing I always find the most counterintuitive. When you’re busy, the last thing on your mind is probably taking time to just go and do something for yourself. But I find that getting away from my desk and walking for 30 minutes clears my mind, and I return more focused and more able to be productive.
Some people like to run. Some like to play games on their phones. Whatever your thing is—something that you enjoy and makes you feel better—take time out to enjoy it for yourself no matter what’s going on and how busy it seems you are.
Stop Multitasking
Multi-tasking can reduce your productivity and increase feelings of being overwhelmed in life. The reality for most of us is that concentrating (or trying to) on multiple things at once means we don’t really get to focus on any of them. We’re slower, more stressed, and tick less of our to-do lists. So, tackle one thing at a time.
Have an Accountability Buddy
A close friend of mine and I both embarked upon some health and fitness goals last year. We caught up regularly on video calls or similar to talk progress and gave one another updates of our activities.
Having an accountability buddy is very helpful in reaching goals. We encouraged one another on those days when we just weren’t feeling it. For me, it has been one of the single most important factors in me sticking with these changes.
Don’t Be Afraid to Share
Are you feeling overwhelmed in life? It’s normal and acceptable, particularly in times like these. Talk about it, share your feelings with a trusted contact and ultimately, be kind to yourself.
Please like, share and comment if you found this helpful.
No comments:
Post a Comment