I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed — buried under a pile of work and deadlines and demands, struggling just to stay focused on one thing at a time. It’s a terrible feeling, a lot like treading water in a stormy ocean.* And for creatives, “being overwhelmed” is almost as toxic as burnout.
Yes, I’ll admit it: I get an adrenaline rush out of having LOTS TO DO. But when my creativity and happiness starts to suffer from the amount of tasks on my plate, I know something is wrong. I know that I have to do something to remedy this feeling of being overwhelmed. Am I the best at following my own advice? Nope. But am I going to stop advising you on how to fix your own problems? NOPE.
All creatives hate burnout, right? It’s that feeling of having LITERALLY NO INSPIRATION TO DO ANYTHING except sleep and cry and eat chocolate. But what comes RIGHT BEFORE you feel burnt out?? YOU FEEL OVERWHELMED. So if we can nip this thing in the bud — curb the feeling of being overwhelmed — maybe we can prevent burnout altogether! You ready to give it a try? I promise the following advice WORKS REALLY WELL when I actually follow it. Like, amazingly well. Life-transforming. YOU WANT A TRANSFORMED LIFE?? YOU WANT TO STOP FEELING OVERWHELMED?? Good. Read on, friend.
*thankfully I don’t know what THAT feels like hAHAHA
1. ZOOM OUT
Have you ever seen one of those videos that shows you how small Earth is compared to the rest of the universe? It begins with a tight shot of planet Earth, then it starts zooming out… and pretty soon you can’t even SEE our home planet anymore. That’s the first thing you need to do with whatever is overwhelming you. Create a mental picture of your “universe” — everything that makes up your life. Earth, in this case, is your “now” — your workload, your project, the thing that’s making you feel overwhelmed. Now start zooming out.
What happens? Your problems start to disappear as the other things in your life dwarf them — your passion, your talents, your family, your friends, healthy relationships, mindfulness, joy, purpose, fulfillment. Suddenly the thing that was so “overwhelming” is reduced to a speck of nothingness. When you’re looking at the Big Picture™ it’s easier to put your problems in perspective and determine whether they SHOULD be overwhelming you.
Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed, this is the FIRST THING I DO. I take a deep breath, zoom out, and change my perspective on what’s happening. It’s not easy at first — but the more you do it, the more second-nature it will become, until one day you are able to handle ANY amount of stress with grace and ease.
2. SET BOUNDARIES
Every person is different and every person has limits. I KNOW, IT’S A SAD REALITY TO THINK ABOUT — but it’s true. I have limits, you have limits, even Oprah Winfrey has limits. But it’s okay, because only when we understand and respect our limits can we truly be the best version of ourselves.
I have always been the perfectionist and the over-achiever. Is this a good or bad thing? Eh, it’s a bit of both. On the bright side, I accomplish a lot of things! On the dark side, I often feel overwhelmed, burnt out, or simply too tired to do anything. So that’s where boundaries come in. When you figure out what your limits are, you know when to say “that’s enough for now.” Punch out, call it a day, JUST STOP. Control your work; don’t let your work control you.
If this means you have to reschedule your month, have a difficult conversation with your boss, or even find a new job, DO IT. Do what it takes to improve your life. Your happiness, peace, and creativity should be top priority — without them, you’re no good to anyone. But if you’re a self-employed over-achiever like myself, you might need to FORCE yourself into setting boundaries. A great way to do this is…
3. ESTABLISH A MORNING/NIGHT ROUTINE
Either one but BOTH IF YOU CAN! I had a hard time “punching out” at night* but starting a nightly routine literally SAVED MY LIFE. I recommend setting aside an hour or two for You Time™ — do something relaxing and mindful that improves your quality of life. Or calmly practice something you want to improve at! Here’s what I do with my two hours before bed every night:
- get off the internet
- take a shower
- stretch for 40-60 minutes
- read a book
- spend time with my family
It’s so restorative and relaxing and grounding. This nightly routine has so many benefits, including:
- better, deeper sleep
- increased creativity
- awesome conversations with my family
- reading time!
- letting go of hidden emotions
- increased flexibility!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you probably also have a crazy hectic schedule… and you probably don’t have a designated time of night (or morning) where you say: “I am going to take this time for me.” SO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, PLEASE. It will improve your life and boost your creativity and happiness.
* because why take a break when you can keep working right??? this is why I need help lol
4. REMEMBER YOUR WHY
Being overwhelmed is ironic — because when you’re buried under all this work, treating it like it’s the most important thing ever, you’re also kind of thinking: “what’s it all for?” At least, that’s what I think when I can’t see the forest for the trees. I start to question the point of everything.* This, of course, just adds to the feeling of being overwhelmed which is why you’ve got to REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSE.
This goes back to looking at the “big picture.” Why are you really doing this? How does it serve the world? How is your job helping others, empowering others, or inspiring others? Remember the reason behind what you’re doing. Even if it’s a small step in the grand scheme of things, that doesn’t make it less important! I believe that we are all designed to work on something that provides us with passion and a purpose — which is why you feel the most alive when you are doing something that has a “why” behind it.
*but I do this a lot even when I’m not overwhelmed. EXISTENTIAL CRISES AT 2:00 AM EVERY NIGHT! COME JOIN THE PARTY! (bring your own box of Kleenex)
5. REFILL YOUR CUP
This goes along with step 2 and 3, but IT BEARS REPEATING. If your energy and creativity is a cup, you can’t just keep emptying it and expecting the supply to be limitless. You need to refill your cup if you want anything to come out of it. This will look different for every person, so take a few moments to really consider: what would make you feel the most at peace, restored, and happy? (Hint: the answer is not “Netflix and a pint of ice cream.”)
Once you have chosen the best way for you to refill your cup, DO THAT THING. Carve out some time in your busy schedule and simply refill. This is SO crucial, and it’s sad how many creatives put their own mental and emotional health at the bottom of their priorities list. You don’t serve the world by working yourself to death! Take some time to rest, restore, and rediscover joy and creativity. Never lose your wonder, your curiosity, your passion — that’s what makes you unique and beautiful, and that’s what the world needs.
TALK, BRO
How do YOU deal with feeling overwhelmed? What are some things you do to stay grounded and creative even when you’re stressed out? (I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET LOL) Do you have a morning routine? Night routine? Let’s chat about creativity and stress and ALL THAT FUN STUFF in the comments below!
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