I am overwhelmed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make a list of things you need to do for work, kid, self, home, etc. Then put the list in order of urgency and start tackling things. It'll relieve so much stress to have everything written down so you'r not worried anything will be forgotten.

Thank you -- yes to lists.

If anyone has tips on how to sit down and write these lists when you are actively avoiding it because you are afraid to actually face the size of the problems please let me know! I can make a daily to do list and a packing list and a "stuff we have to get done this weekend" list but I have been avoiding making this kind of "all the stuff I've got to get done" list for a while.

Just haul up your metaphorical big girl panties and make the lists. Once you make them, they will feel less overwhelming and you will feel less like avoiding. Also, once you make lists, you can see what you can give others to do. Maybe your kid can do some house stuff. Maybe your husband can do some other house stuff. Find their strengths and use them. Maybe you have a list of stuff around the house that needs to be fixed. Once you have that list, you can hire a handyman and just hand them the list to knock out. Carve out an hour to make phone calls or do internet research for specialists for your kid who take your insurance. Make a list of dinners that all take 20 minutes or less that everyone in the family likes. Then each night you won't feel dread at having to figure out dinner. You see? Lists are our friend. Lists give us structure in a chaotic world.

That's a lot of stuff for someone feeling overwhelmed to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make a list of things you need to do for work, kid, self, home, etc. Then put the list in order of urgency and start tackling things. It'll relieve so much stress to have everything written down so you'r not worried anything will be forgotten.

Thank you -- yes to lists.

If anyone has tips on how to sit down and write these lists when you are actively avoiding it because you are afraid to actually face the size of the problems please let me know! I can make a daily to do list and a packing list and a "stuff we have to get done this weekend" list but I have been avoiding making this kind of "all the stuff I've got to get done" list for a while.

Just haul up your metaphorical big girl panties and make the lists. Once you make them, they will feel less overwhelming and you will feel less like avoiding. Also, once you make lists, you can see what you can give others to do. Maybe your kid can do some house stuff. Maybe your husband can do some other house stuff. Find their strengths and use them. Maybe you have a list of stuff around the house that needs to be fixed. Once you have that list, you can hire a handyman and just hand them the list to knock out. Carve out an hour to make phone calls or do internet research for specialists for your kid who take your insurance. Make a list of dinners that all take 20 minutes or less that everyone in the family likes. Then each night you won't feel dread at having to figure out dinner. You see? Lists are our friend. Lists give us structure in a chaotic world.

That's a lot of stuff for someone feeling overwhelmed to do.

It is a lot, but it doesn't have to be everything all at once. Pick an area/issue (e.g., house stuff, medical stuff) and just brain dump some bullet points, however vague, into a document. Come back to it a little while later and pick one, and start to break it down into steps, actions, etc.

OP - I found 'Getting Things Done' (David Allen) to be really helpful in terms of concrete advice for dealing with overwhelm and making (then executing) a plan. It's a great system and very soothing once you get into the rhythm. I have lots of anxiety, and being hyper-organized (along with meds and a good psychiatrist) to be very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Set your phone timer for five minutes and do anything related to any of your goals. Look up a financial account or 2 and write the balances down, make a list or whatever. Anything no matter how tiny it seems that's related to one of the overwhelming things.

It's often the getting started that's the worst. You can sustain focus for five minutes. (Write thoughts trying to distract you down if you have to.) You are free to just do five minutes, but sometimes you get into it and realize it's not that bad and make more progress.

This is what I do when I'm overwhelmed and can't pick a priority. Any of them will be helpful, so just spend five minutes on whatever feels least hard.