Tired of Feeling Overwhelmed? Start Here.
You may have heard that the first step to change is awareness. Awareness of what?
Sometimes it's noticing you're:
Feeling restless, jumping from one task to the other 😵💫
Thinking about the past, ruminating on what ifs and what could've been, or what you should've done differently
Thinking about the future, wondering what ifs, worried about what won't happen, or what will happen
Distracted when someone is talking to you, not listening to them
Sucked into a game or your phone, delaying eating or showering
Wandering mind as you're washing the dishes
What do you do in these moments? The first step is to become aware of these moments.
Oftentimes, we can walk around without noticing what's going on with us in the first place. Pausing and noticing those moments is a milestone in itself! Celebrate this milestone 🎉
After you catch yourself and become aware of what ‘s going on, practice having a soft focus on your current state.
Can you notice what your body is feeling when you're feeling restless?
Can you notice what it's like for you to jump from one task to another?
Is there tiredness? Is there joy in doing them? Or are they a burden?
What do you need?
Can you notice your breath?
Is it shallow? Deep? Slow?
Where do you feel your breath in your body the most? Your chest, your belly, your shoulders?
Can you slow down your breath?
What are you noticing in your body?
Can you feel the ground with your feet?
Can you feel where your clothing is making contact with your body?
If you're interacting with someone, can you notice their facial features, maybe something you haven't noticed before? Can you notice their voice?
Before you grab your game controller or your phone, can you go first notice your breath and your body? After you check in, is playing a game or scrolling on your phone still something you genuinely want to do? Or is there an element of escaping or avoiding?
If you’re doing "mindless" tasks like washing dishes, can you bring a soft focus to the bubbles, the sound of the water, and the temperature of the water?
Sometimes, when we’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s easy to jump into auto-mode and do endless tasks. When actually, what’s healthier for us in the long-run is slowing down and tuning into our breathing and bodies.
This practice of returning to your breath and body is what can soothe that overwhelm, and can lead you to “doing” based on being in flow rather than “forcing” yourself to do.
If you’re not sure how to implement this, schedule a free call with me because you’re ready to add some super handy things in your toolkit asap!
