Christmas shopping, putting up the decorations, Christmas parties, dinners out, dinners in, sleeping- what?! Wait, sleeping? when do I fit that in? Oh, the overwhelm!
This time of year is when the most overwhelm occurs due to the buzz of the holiday season. Not only do you have the stress of your regular schedule, but add in all of the responsibilities that we assume due to the wonderful Christmas season and we all end up turning into the Grinch!
What is the answer to overwhelm?! Well, one of the interesting parts to feeling overwhelmed goes hand in hand with looking at the big picture- sometimes this is not always a good idea. When we look at the huge and daunting ‘To Do’ list that filters into our daily lives we can become extremely stressed and in some cases crumble onto the kitchen floor in a ball, crying. Oh wait- that’s just me!!
What I tell my clients is this: there are many strategies for conquering the feeling of being overwhelmed, here’s just one of them that is sure to help you get through the Christmas season, leaving behind the Bah-Humbug and instead happily and joyously carrying that Mistle Toe with you everywhere!
Write down (yes, write them down! Merely thinking will only add to your feeling of overwhelm) everything that you feel that needs to be done, then allow yourself to just think of the first step to completing a project on your list! That’s it! You may have to plan the first step of many different projects on your list, but this is much less daunting than thinking of the projects as a whole.
It’s great to think of the end result but only if it makes you feel good! If thinking of the end result sends you into a panic of hyperventilation – STOP! Take a few steps back.
All that you are required to do with any project/list is to think of is the FIRST or NEXT step- and then do that, and only that! Then allow yourself to acknowledge that you’ve moved one step closer to your desired outcome. Yay for you!!!
If you find that at any time you go back into overwhelm, take a breath, and reflect again on the list that you’ve created or create a new one, then again clarify what your next step is. This can take a lot of practice, especially if you’re used to being in overwhelm- this could be your habit and now you’re trying to change it.
Don’t get discouraged, just continue on knowing that you’ll succeed, because quite honestly what you’ve been doing so far hasn’t been working. There’s no harm in trying something new!
Be curious about this and explore what it feels like to have inner peace and tranquility, all the while conquering your massive ‘To Do’ list. And for crying out loud- put the Grinch outfit away once and for all (except for Halloween).
Calgary Canada Life Coach Arianne Moore, founder of Path of Tranquility Life Coaching for Women, helps clients worldwide.