Feeling overwhelmed by stress? Find out my 3-step strategy to combat those feelings and regain your equilibrium!
Overcoming Overwhelm: My 3-Step Strategy to Find Calm in Chaos
In this blog post, I want to share some thoughts about combating that daunting feeling of being overwhelmed. During a bracing morning, I found myself engaged in this battle against overwhelm again.
Yesterday, I woke up feeling somewhat okay, even though I was still tired from a trip where sleep escaped me for an entire week. When you’re exhausted, it becomes a lot easier for things to feel overwhelming and stress begins to pile up.
Two unexpected incidents right at the start of my day tipped me over the edge. This resulted in a sense of being completely underwater, which almost paralyzed me. Truthfully speaking, I don’t usually feel this way, and when I do, it doesn’t go unnoticed. My wife and I always take it as a serious signal that something is off.
A combination of events led me to this state: not feeling in the best health, a couple of stressful work-related issues, and some unexpected requests I had to handle. They all seemed to obstruct my much-needed focus on my book. It was as if I retreated into a shell, unable to fully exist in the world as an individual, a father, a husband. It raised the question: What can be done about it?
Over time, I have developed a strategy to deal with these feelings of overwhelm that I believe might be helpful to anyone going through something similar. Here are the steps:
Firstly, stop digging. In the words of Warren Buffet: when you find yourself at the bottom of a hole, stop digging. A common reaction to feeling overwhelmed, especially for ambitious individuals, is to strive harder. We keep on moving and digging, thinking that we can work our way out of the issue. It can be compared to a car stuck in the mud: revving the engine may seem like the best way out, but in reality, it only digs you deeper.
When overwhelmed, the best action (although easier said than done) is to pause and create space. This was advised by Viktor Frankl, who emphasized the power in the space between stimulus and response. This space can be created by simply going on a short walk, or taking a few minutes to sit quietly without any distractions like your phone or computer.
However, I must admit that my ability to follow these steps is imperfect. Yesterday took hours before I remembered to create that space. Though, once I did take an easy jog, it helped me regain my equilibrium.
The next step is evaluation. Determine what part of your environment, whether internal or external, is responsible for the feelings of overwhelm. Is it something internal leading to overwhelm, such as not feeling well, or an external situation that needs a thoughtful response? Once this is determined, the situation can start to improve and those immense feelings can begin to reduce.
Finally, move. Once you’ve identified the problem (whether internal or external), you need to act on it. As soon as you identify the best course of action, take a step. Progress and improvement come through movement. Pause, evaluate the situation, then take a step — that’s my three-step strategy for managing overwhelm.
Remember, it’s absolutely normal to feel overwhelmed. We all have those days where problems pile up and there seems to be no break. In those moments, engage your process: pause, evaluate, and take a tiny step. No matter how small, it’s progress. Before you know it, you’ll be in a slightly better position than you were before. Until next time, keep pushing through, one step at a time.
