Everyone is busy, which may be a positive or a negative thing depending on your character and what you want out of life. Some people find that the busier they are, the happier they are since they always have something to do and something to concentrate on.
For others, having more and more to accomplish makes them feel overwhelmed and incapable of being productive. If you fall into the latter type, keep reading to learn some helpful hints for when everything seems to be becoming too much for you and you feel utterly overwhelmed.
4 ways to cope when you are overwhelmed
Don’t self-medicate
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, the last thing you should do is self-medicate. Taking drugs, drinking, or taking medications may help you feel less stressed for a short time, but it will make matters worse in the long run, costing you your health, family, career, and, of course, money.
If you are concerned that you attempted self-medication and now have an addiction issue, inpatient drug rehab may help you get back on track. Speak to an expert as soon as possible to find out more and see if it’s the right thing for you.
Take a time out
When you start to feel overwhelmed and realize you’re not being as efficient as you used to be, it’s time to take a break. Take a step back from whatever you’re doing and forget about it for a time. This may seem easier said than done at first, but once you try it, you’ll see that it works.
Read a book, watch TV, go for a run, make supper ahead of time, or do anything else to distract yourself from the chore that was making you feel horrible.
When you return to what you were doing, you should feel more relaxed and calmer, and you’ll be able to see the situation with new eyes.
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Be thankful
Another technique to cope with overwhelm is to turn it around and consider why you are so busy, then be thankful for those things. You may be continually transporting children to various clubs and activities; you could therefore be grateful for a caring family or for a car and the ability to drive it.
Perhaps your job is becoming much busier; be grateful for having a job or for being well thought of by your boss, who knows you can do the tasks they assign to you.
Being appreciative will help to alleviate the first sense of overwhelm, but it will not fix the situation in the long run. However, if you’re feeling better, you can consider what adjustments you need to make to avoid being overburdened in life or at work.
Talk to someone
It is not a good idea to have your thoughts and emotions pent up inside. For one thing, you’ll never get things resolved since no one will understand how you’re feeling or that there’s an issue. For another, by acting as if nothing is wrong, you risk making yourself psychologically and physically ill.
Talking to someone is a terrific way to unburden yourself, and you may even be able to figure out a solution to help you improve how you feel or what you do. Depending on how you’re feeling, you could talk to a professional therapist, a loved one, or a friend.
