The Day When All Your Problems Become Too Much — A Simple Solution.
That’s the day I’m having today. I couldn’t get to sleep last night from all the stress.
Eight months of trying to find the right career; a sudden move of house with only three weeks to find a place and move; an overseas holiday that I’m not ready for.
On some days, your problems will become too much.
Here’s how to deal with the situation:
Cutoff meetings.
That’s right; you’re already overwhelmed. Let’s not make it worse with meetings.
Meetings only give you a bigger to-do list which creates more stress. Stop, breathe and say no to meetings no matter how urgent the meeting may seem — it never is.
Use the “Off The Grid” line.
I’ve told everyone I’m off the grid for the next six weeks while I deal with this shit storm of challenges.
Can you come to my event?
Can you look at my pitch deck?
Can you promote my blog post?
“Thanks for thinking of me. I’m off the grid until X date but let’s connect when I’m back again.”
Off the grid is a way to say you’re metaphorically not responding to anything online.
When all your problems become too much, you need to be a bit selfish. You’re no good to anybody when you’re stressed and overwhelmed.
Telling people you’re off the grid until a particular date is an easy way to win back some time without feeling guilty.
We all have our bad days and people will understand if you use this line.
Turn off instant messenger.
“X opportunity changed my life and it was all thanks to Facebook Messenger/Slack” says nobody ever.
Messenger creates more real-time challenges, questions and decisions that you don’t need when you’re problem pile is taller than an Egyptian Pyramid.
One of the best things to do is not respond to instant messages. Why?
- Responses create more conversation
- No one has the right to interrupt you unless you say yes to it
- Instant messages often come from people who are bored. Using up your time stops them from focusing on what they should be doing.
I’m known to be slow at responding to messages and I do it on purpose. The more accessible people think you are, the more inbound traffic you’ll get. This is the last thing you need when you’re experiencing an overwhelming number of challenges.
Blank space is what you need.
A long list of challenges can be solved. You’ll need time to think about each problem.
Without time to think you won’t be able to solve each issue and that will only compound the problem further. During times of ridiculous problem overload, blank space looks like this:
- 30 minute walks around the neighborhood
- Sitting in the sun
- A date with a spa bath
- Meditation
- Journaling/blogging
Write like the wind.
Writing down how you’re feeling and all the issues/potential solutions is a game changer.
“Having thoughts float around in your head does you no good. You need to sit down and think about each challenge and write these thoughts down”
Somewhere in these written sentences will be the answers you need to break through all the overwhelm and stress.
You’ll come out the other end better for it.
Right now, with all the stress I’m dealing with, this one idea keeps me going.
At the end of all these challenges, I’m going to be stronger for it. I’ll have new coping mechanisms and I’ll have learned something about myself in the process.
You have the same opportunity. In the middle of a crisis, it often feels like nothing more than extreme stress — sort of like you have a gun to your head.
When you breakthrough and make it to the other side, you have experience and perspective.
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