Cure overwhelm: make an appointment with yourself
Do you live for the weekend, or desperately count the days until your next vacation? Day-to-day life should not be so draining that you daydream of rage quitting your job, throwing your phone into the ocean, or disappearing off the grid without a trace.
If you are a designer or creative thinker, chances are that you’re really great at identifying problems. Much of your expertise lies in providing solutions. But why is it so difficult to apply those same proactive solutions to your daily life and personal ambitions? And what happens when you see problems everywhere—from politics, to family dynamics, to your expanding waistline, to bills, to clutter, to a worrisome health diagnosis, to someone cutting you off in traffic? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, powerless and stuck.
To feel more energized and reduce overwhelm, try some of the following tips:
Change your perspective.
Instead of looking for problems, look for what you need. Think about the last time you had an exceptional work day. When did you last feel excited, or in the flow?
Take steps to set yourself up for success and recreate the scenarios that have you feeling your best—from wearing your favorite jeans, to meal planning, to calling your best friend or taking a walk.
Prioritize sleep.
At the end of 2020, I hit a wall after a year of prioritizing work, family and external obligations over any sort of self-care. I was finding it hard to fall asleep at night, and when I did eventually fall asleep, I would literally dream of scheduling meetings and managing fictional project tasks (on loop). After months of restless nights feeling desperate for sleep, I decided to take action.
My sleep rehab non-negotiables?
Taking daily walks outside
Eating more nourishing foods
Limiting sugar
Nightly meditation with the headpace app
Limiting wine and alcohol
Within a few weeks, my sleep was back on track. After months of sleep desperation, it felt amazing and brought so much more calm to my days. I encourage anyone to be the researcher of your own experience. After experimenting with solutions I found that daily walks outside, and limiting alcohol (a major stimulant and contributor to sleep disruption) were key for me. Others may have better luck with reducing their caffeine consumption, or limiting screen time before bed. The key is to experiment and find what works for you.
Make an appointment with yourself.
If your calendar looks anything like mine, chances are you are over-committing yourself. Maybe you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, tired or just bored. Take some time to identify what sort of activities energize you and bring you joy, and then build those into your weekly schedule.
One thing that has helped me maintain some balance this past year is to block time on my calendar for my physical well-being. Simple things like getting outside during my lunch break, walking my daughter to school, or going for an evening run have been life-giving. Holding time on my calendar helps me keep a commitment to myself and not lose myself behind a computer screen for hours on end.
What would make you feel better… if you only had time?
Exercise. Is there a dance or yoga class you love? Do you need to find time to go for a run? Do you feel better when you are weightlifting regularly? Our physical well-being is so important, and perhaps one of the most important things we can invest in. Planning out when you will go for a run removes the guesswork and stress. Add it to your calendar and treat that time with yourself with the same respect you do an important meeting invite from a colleague.
Sunshine. Regular time outside can help stabilize your mood and energize you. Take a look at your schedule: are there any meetings that you can take outside, or while walking? How might you feel to take your morning coffee or lunch outside?
Connection. Whether it is connecting with yourself or others, it’s important to prioritize that time. Consider planning some earlier mornings to give yourself bandwidth to wake up slowly with your favorite coffee or tea and a good book, journal or meditation. What relationships do you want to prioritize? Now find time on your calendar for a coffee date with your favorite colleague, a pottery class with a new friend, or a special breakfast with your niece.
