Overwhelmed? Here's How to Reclaim Your Life and Find Work-Life Harmony®
Overwhelm is the uninvited guest that overstays its welcome in our lives. I've seen it in the eyes of countless leaders during our group consulting calls—that frantic energy, the endless to-do lists, the feeling that there's never enough time. Sound familiar?
Overwhelm is about more than just having too much to do. It's about losing touch with ourselves in the process. The key to breaking free from overwhelm isn't about doing more but reconnecting with yourself.
The Intuitive Mind: Your Inner Compass
We all have an intuitive mind—that quiet voice inside that knows when something's off. But in our rush to get through the day, we often ignore it. We push down those feelings, telling ourselves we can't afford to slow down.
But ignoring your intuition is like ignoring the check engine light in your car. You might keep going for a while, but eventually, you'll break down.
The Power of Presence
How do we tune into that intuitive mind? It starts with getting present. You're probably thinking, "I don't have time to sit and meditate for hours!" Good news: you don't need to.
Here's a quick reset technique I use:
Set a timer for two minutes.
Close your eyes and focus on your breath.
Count your breaths: inhale, one, exhale, two, and so on.
When your mind wanders (and it will), gently bring it back to your breath.
Two minutes. That's all it takes to reset and reconnect with yourself. Try it right now—I'll wait.
Facing the Overwhelm Head-On
Now that you're present, it's time to tackle that overwhelm. Grab a piece of paper or open a spreadsheet.
We're going to create what I call the "Overwhelm Inventory:"
In the first column, list everything that's overwhelming you. Work stuff, home stuff, that weird noise your car's been making. Get it all out. Don't judge, just write.
In the second column, mark whether you have control over each item. Yes or no, simple as that.
For the items you can control, add a third column: one action you can take to address it.
From Insight to Action: Setting SMART Goals
Now comes the crucial part: choosing what to focus on. Pick one or two items from your list that you have control over. These are your focus areas for the next 30 days.
For each focus area, create a specific goal. Let's say one of your overwhelm items is always working late. Your goal might be: "Leave the office by 5:30 PM three days a week for the next month."
Now, break that goal down into actionable steps:
Set a reminder at 5:00 PM to start wrapping up
Create an end-of-day checklist to ensure critical tasks are completed
Communicate your new schedule to your team
Shifting Your Energy
Here's where many people stumble: they set a goal but don't prepare for the emotional hurdles. When you first leave the office "early," you might feel guilty or anxious. That's normal. Prepare for these feelings by creating a positive mantra: "By taking care of myself, I'm better equipped to take care of my work and team."
The All-Important Check-In
At the end of each day, take five minutes to reflect:
What went well today?
What challenges did I face?
What will I do differently tomorrow?
This simple practice keeps you accountable and allows you to adjust your approach as needed.
Remember, the goal isn't perfection. It's progress. Some days, you'll nail it. On other days, overwhelm might creep back in. That's okay. The key is to keep returning to these practices, adjusting as you go.
Your Invitation to Harmony
Overcoming overwhelm and finding work-life harmony is about creating a life where your work, personal interests, and relationships enrich each other, rather than compete for your attention.
As you embark on this journey, be patient with yourself. Celebrate the small wins. And remember, you're not alone in this. We're all works in progress, learning to conduct the beautiful symphony of our lives.
Ready to take the first step? Choose one practice from this post and commit to it for the next week. Let me know how it goes!