Below are 12 tips to help you when feeling overwhelmed:
1. Pause and breathe
When you feel overwhelmed, stop for a moment. Take deep, slow breaths. This simple action can help calm your mind and body.
2. Talk about your feelings
Don’t keep your feelings bottled up inside of you. Lighten your emotional load by sharing them with a friend or family member.
3. Practice mindfulness or meditate
Engage in mindfulness exercises or meditation to help bring your focus back to the present and reduce feelings of overwhelm.
4. Be gentle with yourself
Remind yourself that it’s okay to feel this way. Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you’d offer a good friend.
5. Make a “no” list
Identify things you can say no to. This list can help you prioritise and reduce the number of tasks or commitments you have.
6. Delegate tasks
If you have too much on your plate, see if there are tasks you can hand off to someone else. Sharing the load can be a huge relief.
7. Journal your thoughts
Writing down what you’re feeling and thinking can help clear your mind and organize your thoughts.
8. Prioritise sleep
Make sure you have a regular sleep routine and a comfortable environment for good quality sleep.
9. Focus on what you can control
Concentrate on the things you have power over and try to let go of worries about things you can’t control.
10. Get moving
Physical activity is a great stress reliever. So, take a short walk, a dance break, or any type of movement that feels good to you—it can make a big difference in how you feel.
11. Break tasks into smaller steps
If you have a big task, break it down into smaller, more manageable steps to make it feel less overwhelming.
12. Schedule worry time
Set aside a specific time to think about your worries. Outside of this time, try to keep your focus on the present.