Home
>
Stress Management
>
Overwhelm: Love It or Leave It!

Overwhelm: Love It or Leave It!

Amazing thing, overwhelm!

You don't usually see it coming. It just kind of creeps up on you, doesn't it?

Even those of us who love juggling a million projects at a time get overwhelmed once in a while. And if you're happiest with just a couple projects on your plate? You might be looking at overwhelm a bit more often.

No matter how we like to work, I'd be willing to bet that all of us have been there at least a couple of times. And that we didn't much enjoy it....

So today I'll be sharing some practical ways to get out of overwhelm - fast - the next time you're right smack in the middle of it.

SO WHAT, EXACTLY, IS OVERWHELM?

Overwhelm is not having too many projects on your plate. It's not getting a really tough assignment. It's not having to juggle several things at once. Overwhelm is not being uncertain about where to head next.

Overwhelm isn't about the "what." It's about you.

No matter how many, or how crazy the projects you're working on, they're only a problem when you feel out of control ... or overwhelmed.

So what happens when you're overwhelmed? It's a bit different for everyone, of course. But overwhelm does come with some fairly common side effects.

Take a minute to think of the last time you felt overwhelmed. Which of the following did you experience:

? Physical reaction: upset stomach, headache, tiredness, sleeplessness, lack of energy, wired, etc.

? Mental activity: lots of ideas, pros and cons, worries, plans, possibilities, etc. bouncing around in your head

? Emotional reaction: upset, angry, sad, worried, irritable, detached, needy, etc.

However different our physical, mental, or emotional reactions to overwhelm, we usually end up in one place: stuck!

Which brings us to the next part of this article...

ONCE YOU'RE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF OVERWHELM, HOW THE HECK DO YOU GET OUT OF IT?

Well, there's no easy answer to this one.

I think the best strategy is to have lots of strategies. Then, when you're totally stuck, you can hopefully reach out and find something that'll work for you!

So here goes....

1 - Do something! Anything.

Find one thing that you can do, right away, to get one of the projects moving - and do it.

The key here is that It doesn't have to be a big thing, or an important thing. Just take one small step, right away.

Choose the pen you'll write that article with. Turn on your computer. Fill your water pitcher. Anything you do will help get you out of overwhelm, and into action

2 - Stop at three

I love to have lots of things on my plate. So one of the ways I used to get overwhelmed was to start too many projects at once.

Now (well, most of the time...) I've learned to limit myself to a maximum of three big projects at a time.

If there are more than three things I really want to work on, I choose three to start - and tuck the rest away in my "idea box."

Two benefits from this one.

First, I can avoid overwhelm by limiting the number of projects I'm working on at any one time.

Even better, I always have something to look forward to. And that's a great incentive for me to finish my active projects!

3 - Prioritize

Hey, I know, I know. When you're overwhelmed, prioritizing your projects may seem next to impossible.

So I'm not suggesting that you work out your priority list for the next several months - or even then next couple of days.

Keep it simple.

Just decide which project you're going to tackle first. You don't have to actually do anything. Just decide what you'll do first.

You'll be totally amazed at how much energy that'll free up for you!

4 - Toss something off your list

Which projects can go?

Someone once suggested a rule to me that's worked pretty well, so I'll share:

Every project you work on should have at least three benefits to you or your business.

For example, this newsletter helps me build the smART artist community, and it gives me the opportunity to write regularly (I love to write, so that's a personal benefit).

It's a great way to share information with fellow artists.

And the newsletter also provides a forum for announcing whatever new stuff I'm working on.

So those are my three (okay, four...) benefits.

Next time you're overwhelmed, look at the projects on your list. Which will benefit you in at least three ways? They're the keepers.

And the projects that don't have three benefits? Toss 'em!

Once you're out of overwhelm, come back to the projects you put aside, and see if you're perfectly happy without them - or if you'd like to tweak them so they do have three benefits for you.

5 - Come back from the future

Ever notice how overwhelm is usually all about the future?

What you'll do after...

What'll happen when...

How you'll feel if you can't...

How horrible it'll be if you don't...

How soon they'll find out that you...

Stop, stop, STOP!

Take a deep breath, and get a feel for where you are now.

Where are you sitting? What's around you? Are there any particular sensations in your body? Are you warm, or cool? Can you see outside? Are you alone? With others?

Notice what's going on right now. In this moment.

And from this space, think of the projects you'd like to work on. (Chances are they'll be a lot less scary, and not at all overwhelming.)

Where would you like to start?

From "now," you can go absolutely anywhere you like!

Best-selling author Kathy Gulrich helps clients get from idea, to action, to results - more quickly, and more easily - whether they're looking to write a book, develop a new product, or market their product or business. Clients love her direct, no-nonsense approach - and her gentle insistence on great results. Find out for yourself: Check out one of Kathy's teleclasses, or pick up a free worksheet, at http://www.smartbusinesscoaching.com

recurring maid service Buffalo Grove ..

In The News:

Scammers use fake DocuSign emails claiming Apple Pay charges to steal personal information using fraudulent phone numbers and fake receipts.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Farmers Insurance confirms data breach affecting over 1.1 million customers nationwide, exposing customer info including addresses.

The iconic Mary Kay pink Cadillac goes electric with the Cadillac Optiq, available only to the company's top 1% of sales force performers.

Cybercriminals abuse trusted Intel driver to gain kernel access and shut down Windows Defender, enabling undetected malware deployment since July 2025.

Using email aliases for online shopping and subscriptions can protect your privacy by preventing companies from linking your activity across websites.

New research shows AI overlap does not equal job replacement, with knowledge-based roles seeing most integration while physical jobs remain least affected.

Scammers target seniors who avoid social media by exploiting public records like obituaries and real estate filings to steal personal information and money

Recovery team in Italy use AI-enabled drones to detect missing hiker's red helmet, leading to successful recovery after months of ground searches

Google Salesforce system breach exposes business data while scammers use incident to target users with fake security calls and phishing attempts.

Google announces Pixel 10 lineup with Tensor G5 chip and Gemini Nano AI, introducing Magic Cue, Pro Res Zoom up to 100x and satellite emergency support features.

C San Diego study reveals 86% of school safety companies monitor students 24/7 on personal devices, raising privacy concerns.

Users can now add their favorite outlets' coverage to the Top Stories section of Google search results by utilizing the 'preferred sources' feature. With just a few clicks, you can add Fox News.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS shows an unexpected frontal glow that Harvard's Avi Loeb says cannot be explained by sunlight reflection or standard cometary outgassing.

Receiving order confirmations for purchases you never made could mean your email address is being exploited in fraud operations targeting multiple retailers.

First wireless brain implant works with Apple's official protocol, enabling hands-free control of iPhones, iPads and Vision Pro through thought alone.

Data brokers sell personal details that scammers use to target retirement funds through fake financial advisor calls and convincing phishing attempts

Ten innovative tech solutions from gait sensors to smart pill dispensers help adults 65+ track fall risks and prevent injuries before they happen.

Meta AI internal documents revealed chatbots were allowed to flirt with children and engage in romantic conversations until the company was exposed by Reuters.

ChatGPT will avoid giving direct mental health advice under new OpenAI rules following instances where the AI model provided harmful or misleading responses.

Your phone tracks you in more ways than that little GPS icon suggests. Here’s how to find and clear hidden location logs on iPhone and Android.

Authorities in France and the Netherlands have been notified. Meanwhile, impacted customers are being told to stay alert.

Apple just rolled out a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature to specific models, following a recent victory in a legal dispute.

Kidney dialysis provider DaVita experienced a ransomware breach by the Interlock gang affecting 916,000 people in the second-largest U.S. healthcare attack of 2025.

Overwhelm: Love It or Leave It!

Stress Management