Being overwhelmed is a universal experience at one time or another in every person’s life.
Whether it arises from having too much to do or it comes from feeling so stressed out, emotionally drained or mentally fatigued that one cannot move forward, the effect is the same – you feel indecisive, confused, and stuck.
When this occurs, it is very difficult to function at that moment. It develops into anxiety, frustration, fear, depression and endless worry.
One of the main reasons the overwhelmed state develops is the habitual process of getting lost in the storyline of life.
The process goes like this:
Something comes into your awareness, you start thinking about it, those thoughts lead to a commentary or narrative about the situation, and before you know it you’ve created an entire storyline that has not even happened. It only happened in your mind. This tendency to interact with thoughts and ideas instead of reality is the main reason the overwhelmed feelings start.
Just focus on what has to be done next.
Try not to engage the mind by thinking about all the things that have to be done and how you’re ever going to do them. This will save you a lot of stress.
Moment to moment, task to task living is the way.
Like a jazz musician contributing to a song by adding his or her particular riffs to complete a musical performance, stay in the moment and complete your task with the supports that already exist around you.
All that matters is the next thing that must be done. The present moment is all there is. The future has not arrived yet and the past is over.
Remind yourself each day to just do the next thing, and watch your stress level decrease.