Are you feeling change in the air? We're always told change is good, right? We can often see after the fact that change was good, however being in the midst of change is quite difficult.
One of the reasons change is so difficult is that it is often accompanied by feelings of overwhelm. With Spring approaching, even if your life doesn't look like it's changing on the outside, you may be feeling an unsettled sense of overwhelm on the inside.
I've certainly been feeling it and most of the people I've spoken to lately are also feeling overwhelmed. They often feel like there's too much to do and not enough time or that things are unclear and they aren't sure how to proceed.
This month, I'm dedicating these Monday Minute newsletters to this topic of change and overwhelm . We'll discuss how to combat overwhelm, how to bring focus and ease to your day, how to increase your efficiency and also how increasing your emotional intelligence makes you a better leader in dealing with change.
What To Do
This week notice whether you're feeling overwhelmed. If so, simply acknowledge it and realize that you're not alone. This can bring peace of mind and also help you to understand what's possibly going on for those around you.
The second step is to consciously take deep breaths throughout the day when you realize overwhelm is increasing for you. You can also say to yourself, "I realize I'm feeling overwhelmed. I'm breathing to calm my nervous system and my mind."
As I'm writing this, I'm realizing this doesn't just apply to adults. I've noticed my sons are acting with much more intensity these days (i.e., fists are flying). In fact, yesterday my son said, "I need to go run around the block a few times to get some of my energy out." This was after some intense wrestling and Nerf gun fights.
Let me explain that my son has NEVER volunteered to go outside and run around the block. We used to make them run around the house when they were really small to get their energy out. The only time he's run around the block is to get in shape for the next Pop Warner Football season with intense peer pressure from his brother.
He came in after the run and said, "I feel so much better. I'm glad I ran to get my energy out."
So, we're all feeling it, adults and children alike, and if we breathe and perhaps even run it off, we'll feel a lot better.
Result
The first step to feeling better is always becoming aware of what's causing discomfort for you. Now that you know it is highly likely and completely understandable that you are feeling unrest or overwhelm, your acknowledgment of it and breathing will bring you more quickly to a place of calm.
Next week I'll share specific techniques to combat overwhelm.
Blog
I'd love to hear how these tips are working for you. Feel free to add your thoughts/questions to this blog.
Warmly,
Jacqueline