You had a plan. And now that plan is out the window…and a car ran it over. You’re so far off track that you’re not sure how you’ll ever get back on track. Yeah, we’re talking about those times you feel completely overwhelmed. In this episode, we’re sharing some practical ideas to break through overwhelm as a small business boss.
Here’s the scoop from Episode #76:
Overwhelm. It happens to all of us.
Yup, even those people who make it look easy. It’s a natural reaction to being a boss. But if you’ve been there lately, you know it’s not something you want to feel for very long. The key is to have ways to break through quickly – and we’re going to break down some of our faves.
But before we dive in, we want to talk about the fact that overwhelm is a signal – so you don’t want to ignore it. Denying it exists is not an option. LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE.
So what does that mean and how do you listen? Pay attention and determine:
- Is there a pattern to when it happens?
- Are there specific things/people/situations that send you into overwhelm mode?
- How often does it happen?
- How long does it typically last?
When you’re overwhelmed, taking note of what’s happening can go a long way. Because all of the ideas in the world on how to manage it are not going to matter if it just keeps happening. We have a few ways to help you keep that feeling at bay:
- Time Blocking: This is nothing new and sounds so obvious but we often forget to do it. Put time aside to do what you need to do. Clearly block out the time on your calendar to do the stuff that needs to be done. Whether it is the beginning of the day, end of the day, after lunch (or all three!), be realistic about how much you need.
- Meditation: Whatever this means for you, make time for it. Sometimes 10 minutes is enough. We suggest the Headspace App if you need somewhere to get started.
- Brain dump: Love it. Just get everything out of your head and onto paper, or your calendar, or your journal, or whatever works for you. Get it all out of your head so it gives you permission to let go. If it’s on paper, you don’t have to worry about remembering to do it. You can also plan better if you see it all in front of you. You can do it several times a day if that works for you.
- Walk: This is a surefire way to press the reset button. Bonus points if you can get outside. Fresh air does wonders!
- Take a break / the day off: Even if this seems counterintuitive, it works! If you aren’t productive and know you aren’t going to be productive any time soon, then walk away. Whether it is for an hour, or a day, do it. It isn’t a waste of time if it gets you to reset and recharge.
- Take a vacation: And if a day off isn’t going to cut it, then take a vacation. Seriously. It doesn’t have to be for a month, just a few days (and unplugging!!) will make all the difference.
- Remove the source of the stress if possible: If it is a specific person, place or thing that is causing you the problem, then start the process to get it/them out of your world. It doesn’t mean they are a bad person, it just means that you are not compatible.
- Workout/sweat: Sometimes a good workout with intentional sweating, that can totally clear your mind. Focusing on something else will mean you can’t think about the stress. It will remind you that you are so much stronger, physically and mentally, than you give yourself credit.
- Boil down to bare minimum: Things are going to happen when you need to go into survival mode. Move some things around and just focus on the key things. Sometimes you need to ask your clients for compassion and, 9 times out of 10, they are going to be completely understanding.
Thanks for listening! Join us next week for more great discussion!
Links for this show:
- If you need some help with meditation, we suggest the Headspace App – it is awesome!
- If you want to learn more about getting more productive and getting past overwhelm, check out the Small Business Boss Society.
- If you missed any podcasts and want to get caught up, you can click here to find all of our previous episodes on the Podcast landing page.
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