Have you had the experience of hundreds of thoughts and tasks circling around your brain and not one feels achievable? This sensation of being overwhelmed is not pleasant or productive. When you’re stretched too thin by responsibilities and too much to do, it’s difficult to be calm. Try these strategies to break free of the burnout cycle:
Plan ahead. If you anticipate that busy times are coming, instead of thinking about what can go wrong, visualize success and the steps to achieve it.
Set Boundaries. Don’t over-commit yourself. Avoid scheduling too much and prioritize.
Break it down. When your to-do list is full, break each task into smaller more manageable tasks and handle them one at a time.
Self-talk. Tell yourself you can get through this. Comfort yourself as you would a friend. You have the power to relax and focus yourself.
The goal is a balanced life with time for work, relationships, relaxation and fun. Experiment with resilience techniques and find out what works best for you.
Avoid a Downward Spiral
- Take a deep breath.
- Recall past instances of anxiety and when you were able to master them.
- Think rationally instead of fixating on bad outcomes.