Overwhelmed? Hit the Pause Button Now!

The phrase for the week is "Stop, Prioritize, Act.”

When clients or friends share they are feeling overwhelmed, I understand that it could stem from exhaustion, anxiety, worry or a feeling of helplessness. In my line of work as a consultant and executive coach, it is usually a 'things to-do list' that has gotten totally out of control. There are countless reasons for a person to feel overwhelmed.

One solution is to reframe what we tell ourselves. Instead of saying, “I’ll never get all this done in time,” reframe the story to list all the things you know will get done. Negative thoughts are just not helpful in this situation.

Now is a good time to press the pause button and set two or three priorities for today, three for tomorrow and so on. Taking deep breaths really help. If you can’t jump into a yoga class, take a quick walk around the block, put on some relaxation music or just move to another location with something fun to read for 15 minutes. Clear your head.

I always stop, prioritize and act.

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