The never-ending, running to-do list while trying to manage work and family life amidst a suffocating pile of laundry is no joke. From the realities of a global pandemic, that has affected every aspect of our daily lives to the longing and desire to be surrounded by loved ones, there are many opportunities lately to feel overwhelmed. But there are also many opportunities to meet the feeling head-on, changing the course of the energy around you. Having reliable ways to increase your productivity when feeling overwhelmed will guide you through tough moments.
When all of the above hits me at once, I sometimes feel like the weight of the moment is resting heavily on my shoulders. I have so much to do, I’m feeling so overwhelmed I can’t do anything. I nose-dive into a paralyzing funk where nothing gets done except me trying to will the problems away!
Willing anything away is never a good strategy for success.
What Happens When We Feel Overwhelmed
The physical effects that take place in our bodies when we are overwhelmed can sometimes go unnoticed. But over time the effects such as emotional stress and physical tension, build up and can have lasting consequences. Overwhelmed can look different from person to person, so it is important to value the way it shows up in you.
When we are overwhelmed our bodies are beyond a point of stress and are triggered into a survival mode. It is important to take a step back and recognize the moment for what it is. A moment that, too, shall pass.
How to Increase Productivity When Feeling Overwhelmed
Feeling overwhelmed for anyone is a lot to handle. Feeling overwhelmed as a mom, with a little one relying on me, is daunting. After my son was born, I quickly came to realize that I need tools and strategy at the ready to increase my productivity when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Because if I don’t, things can spiral out of control quickly. Like, real quick.
Here are tried and true steps to take to increase productivity when feeling overwhelmed:
1| Recognize and Respect What You Are Feeling
It is SO important to do this and to do it early on at the first signs of feeling overwhelmed. It is easy to ignore what is going on on the inside, especially when you are taking care of other people. Your own feelings and state of mind are often the first things to be put on the backburner.
But it is imperative to take care of yourself and honor your feelings. We can not take care of others if we do not take great care of ourselves first.
2| Be in the Moment
Focusing on the “what ifs” of a situation and playing out the possibilities of scenarios and events that have yet to take place will add anxiety.
Instead, stay in the present moment and approach what is in front of you one task and one thought at a time.
3| Brain Dump
Brain Dump is a great exercise to get all of the random thoughts, worries, ideas, stressors and anything that is nagging you out of your brain. You are literally decluttering your mind and making way for clarity to take the wheel.
To do a Brain Dump simply grab some paper, pen and begin writing. List anything and everything that comes to mind. This can be task oriented thoughts or just the random thoughts that are nagging you.
After you have done your brain dump, you can either look at your list and use it as a guide for your to do list. Or you can happily set it aside and know that the very act of doing the brain dump was beneficial enough.
4| Prioritize Your To-Dos
To-Do lists can be never-ending which is why it is important to prioritize your list. On your to-do list, identify what is immediate to do today vs. this week vs. neither but would be nice to get it done this month.
This simple process of breaking down your to-do list into priorities will put in order what needs your attention. Productivity is not about getting the most “things” done. It is about getting the right things done and being efficient about it.
5| Time Block Your Day
Time blocking has been a time management game changer for me. This method divides your day into different blocks of time. You assign each block to specific tasks.
Instead of jumping from one task to another as my mind is racing, I only allow myself to focus on a specific task or group of tasks if they go together for an assigned amount of time.
The key to this is time blocking out my week. Anything that did not get done that day can be adjusted into another day of the week. Trust me when I say, I get so much more done when I am diligent about time blocking. And it feels so great to cross things off the list.
6| Declutter Your Environment
Just as we decluttered our mind with the Brain Dump, it is equally beneficial to declutter your space. Our physical environment plays tricks on us. If we look around and see clutter, our minds absorb that stress and we then feel cluttered.
Set a timer for 15 minutes and use that time to just pick up. Using the basic decluttering rule that everything in your house has a home, spend the time putting everything away, back to where it lives.
To do this, I do a quick scan asking, “what doesn’t belong here” and then return the item to where it goes. Or if there is a pile of clean laundry or a dish rack of clean dishes, I will spend the 15 minutes folding and/or putting away.
15 minutes doesn’t seem long, but it is just long enough to reset the energy around you! I sometimes do this a few times throughout the day as a break. It gets me moving and the blood flowing.
7| Ask for Help or Outsource Your Problem
Tap into your community and ask for some help. We can not do everything ourselves. Sometimes we are doing a disservice to the issue if we try and take it on.
There is power in numbers. Ask your spouse, partner, colleague or friend to help with a task. Or break the task down into actionable tasks and outsource a certain aspect of the task.
If grocery shopping made it to your to-do list but that seems unrealistic, look into online delivery which will free up some time!
8| Be Intentional With Your Yes
Value your time. Your “yes” is valuable and what you give a commitment to is valuable. Don’t be afraid to say “no” because when you decide to say “no” to something, you are making room to say “yes” to what you really want.
9| Take 5 or 10, 15 or 20
Give yourself the time and space to reset. Get outside for some fresh air. Take a power nap. Breathe. Mindlessly flip through a magazine that has been sitting on your coffee table untouched.
Set that timer and go at it. Giving yourself permission to do nothing. This little break of doing “nothing” will make room for you to do more of something else.
10| Drink Plenty of Water
Drink plenty of water because dehydration often leads to foggy thinking, low energy and mood swings. A good rule of thumb is to drink half of your body weight in ounces.
There are so many great benefits to drinking more water- I wrote a whole blog post about it which you can check out for some tips! Drinking water will not only help increase your productivity when feeling overwhelmed but will also help clear up your skin!
RELATED: 8 Best Tips to Drink More Water
11| Be Kind to Yourself
Now is the perfect time to grant yourself a little grace. Remind yourself that you are doing the very best you can under the circumstances you are under and with the tools that you have.
Be kind to yourself. We can’t control everything but we can control our approach to situations we face.
Reclaim Your Energy to Increase Your Productivity When Feeling Overwhelmed
Feeling overwhelmed is your body’s way of communicating that it is unbalanced. Take this signal as an opportunity to reclaim your energy and gain back your control.
Implementing these strategies into your life will shift your mindset so you can increase your productivity when feeling overwhelmed.
What works for you when you are overwhelmed? Share your whispers below, I’d love to know!