Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Is “Overwhelm” Your Middle Name?




If you answered “yes” to the question above, then this article is definitely for you!  As women, we know how easy it is to become overwhelmed.  With all of the responsibilities and roles we face each day, it’s no wonder that many women feel like juggling performers at a circus.  How do we get from feeling “in control” and excited about our lives to feeling overwhelmed, and close to burning out?  Most importantly, what can we do to shift ourselves back into a feeling of calm, predictability and purpose in our lives?
If you’re anything like me, you enjoy when everything is flowing well, even when you’re busy with lots to do.  There’s a nice rhythm that many of us feel, when things are getting done on time, and you feel like you’re “on top of everything”.  It’s a great feeling to look at the to-do list at the end of the day and feel a sense of accomplishment and pride at all that you’ve done.  Then (this is where the Jaws theme song starts playing), there’s that whole other side of the coin when things are insanely out of control, nothing is going well, there’s WAY too much to do, and you’re this close to calling in the army for support for the crazy battlefield that’s called your “Life”.  Okay, maybe that’s a little far-fetched, but you get the point, right?
So, how does overwhelm affect us mentally, emotionally and physically?  Let’s take a look:
Mentally-When we’re overwhelmed, it becomes increasingly difficult to concentrate, stay focused and make good decisions. We feel distracted by the many things we have to do, our thinking becomes muddled and scattered.
Emotionally-Feelings of overwhelm can quickly lead to feelings of frustration, disappointment and anger.  We may become short-tempered with others and experience a general feeling of anxiety and pressure.
Physically-Our bodies treat overwhelm as a form of stress.  Our breathing may become more shallow, our hearts may beat faster.  Some people lose their appetites, while others binge on unhealthy foods when they’re feeling overwhelmed.  Digestion may slow down, and our energy can begin to drop as well.
How does overwhelm affect you? 
Thankfully, there are many different ways that we can deal with periods of overwhelm in our lives.  We can start by recognizing the areas of our lives that seem to bring on overwhelm the most, and really pay attention to how these feelings affect our levels of energy and productivity.
If you would like to go deeper with this topic of overwhelm, you’re in for a special treat!  I would love for you to sign up for a FREE teleseminar on Tuesday, April  3rd, ”The 3 Biggest Mistakes That Busy Moms Make That Keeps Them in Overwhelm”.  For more details, please visit:  http://3biggestmistakes.eventbrite.com.  You’ll receive a special link for the teleseminar closer to the date.  Busy moms, this teleseminar is for YOU, so don’t miss it!

Milissa Harding is a Certified Holistic Health Coach at www.healthystartcoaching.ca.  She works with busy moms who struggle with tiredness and energy, and who would like to experience a greater level of energy to be successful at raising a family and working.  Milissa provides unique coaching opportunities to support busy moms in reaching their health goals.  To schedule a complimentary Health Consultation, please visit www.healthystartcoaching.ca or contact Milissa by email at milissaharding@gmail.com.