Life can be pretty hectic at times, the stress of work and family can wear you out to the point of tremendous overwhelm. However, as long as you know how to deal with this stress, you will be able to bounce back in no time.
But, how do you recognize you’re overwhelmed in the first place?
Does it come to the point of breaking down and crying for you before you realize you are overwhelmed? What about freezing and not being able to do anything? For me, it’s a mix of all of that plus feeling like the world is all crashing down around me. I know, not fun at all! And then I can’t function and feel like anyone trying to help me is actually attacking me, making the situation much worse. Sometimes I need to take a sip of my own advice, so here we go with that and I hope you will also take a bit as well.
10 Signs You’re Overwhelmed and How to Fix it
1. Erratic Sleep Patterns
One of the primary signs that show you are overwhelmed is either when you have difficulty sleeping or when you start
2. You always feel exhausted
Another sign that you are overwhelmed is when you feel tired all the time, no matter how much sleep you get. The remedies suggested for problem 1 can also be applied here. Additionally, consuming healthy food and engaging in regular exercise also help.
3. Loss of Appetite
You are overwhelmed if you experience a loss in appetite or start overeating. This is huge for me. I already struggle with ensuring I eat enough and often enough, but overwhelm makes it so much worse! Remedy this by eating at fixed intervals during the day, and eating only healthy foods that provide nutrition to your body. I like to set a timer on my phone to go off every couple of hours so I actually take a break to eat and that helps with the overwhelm.
4. You are not in control of your emotions
If you are feeling excessively moody or emotional, it could be a sign of stress. However, it’s advisable not to take this
5. Anxiety
If you are feeling anxious and stressed out, try to avoid or limit caffeine and alcohol in your diet. Exercise for your mental as well as physical well-being, and try to take small breaks throughout the day to help you relax your nerves. I have been exercising and meditating everyday for 2 years, sometimes as much as 90 minutes and others as little as 5 minutes. The important thing is being able to quiet the mind and for that amount of time, I can focus on not being anxious or the to do list or the not good enough thoughts that run on repeat when I’m stressed and overwhelmed.
6. You Lack Energy
When you are stressed out, it’s natural to feel depleted of energy. All of the tips mentioned above will work to solve this. Exercising regularly can also keep you fit physically and mentally, as exercise triggers the release of dopamine AKA “happy hormone.”
7. Lack of Motivation
When you are overwhelmed emotionally, you tend to lack the motivation to work or go about your day. To remedy this,
Maintain lists and check items off the list when you finish the job. Break your large tasks into smaller ones so that you feel less overwhelmed. And take small breaks throughout the day to recharge your batteries. Taking a break to exercise or even walking away from the task can help get you the motivation you need to start and finish. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
8. You are Highly Stressed
When you are overwhelmed, stress levels run high. You overreact at the smallest of problems, and what once was a minor complaint, suddenly turns into something major.
To avoid this, try to bring about more balance in your life. Try to establish a balance between work and personal life, and as mentioned, break up your tasks into smaller ones so that you are not overwhelmed by work. If you can, leave your work at work. If you work from home, set boundaries with time and space to shut off work. And if you are an entrepreneur or a C Level Executive, sometimes this is difficult as I know as an AirBnB host who gets calls and questions all hours of the day. But it can help with giving a little balance if it can be left to the next day if after your set time.
9. You Keep To Yourself
You may have observed that you keep more to yourself these days. Because the act of socializing with others itself seems like a heavy chore that you are least interested in doing. You feel it is taking too much of your energy.
It’s okay to take time alone to recharge your batteries. Spend this time meaningfully by doing activities you actually enjoy like reading a book, etc.
10. Difficulty in Focusing
Too much stress can lead to experiencing difficulty in focusing and concentration. To remedy this, you need to lead a well-maintained and balanced life.
Apply the tips mentioned for #7, that is, break down chores into smaller tasks. And treat yourself to small breaks throughout the day. Implement the proper self-care activities to regain your focus and concentration.
To conclude,
When you recognize the signs of stress early on, you nip the problem in its bud and immediately work on restoring your physical and mental well-being. Leading a balanced life and investing adequate time in self-care are the key to living a stress-free life in today’s fast-paced world.
Exercising regularly and eating healthily also play a significant role in maintaining your physical, mental, and emotional health, and keep you stress-free.
I hope this article helped you in some way. How do you cope when you feel absolutely overwhelmed and burned out?
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