Do You Know the 3 Main Symptoms of Being Overwhelmed?

By Brian Maynor

 

Christmas is just around the corner, and everyone I know is complaining about loosing time and not being prepared.  Those are recurring problems every year, but this year seems particularly fraught with people feeling exhausted, high-strung and procrastinating.

It’s not unusual to feel extra pressure and stress, especially around the holidays when you are juggling more than your usual load of work and social obligations, but did you know these symptoms are the first ones to appear when you’re reaching your breaking point?

Before you crash completely, check out these helpful tips on how to acknowledge and combat those feelings of becoming overwhelmed and focus on being present in the moment:

1.    Pay attention.  We all have default behaviors we slip into during periods of high stress, and most of the time we are completely unaware of them because our focus is on all the things we have to do.  Some of the most common habits are jumping from one task to another or rushing around, often in circles.

2.    Press pause.  If you find yourself just running around with no clear direction or goal immediately take a seat and just stop moving.  When we stop distracting ourselves with useless activity, we can actually acknowledge and process how we are feeling to better get a grip on dealing with it.

3.    Recognize the urge to be in control.  Feeling overwhelmed is a direct result of feeling out of control.  Whether control is real or simply an illusion is not really the point.  What’s important is the fact that it’s hard to feel both overwhelmed and in control simultaneously.

4.    Regain some sense of control.  Whether you are a list maker, or prefer to establish routines and systems, these are great ways to establish accountability as well as marking progress towards your goals.  Without these anchors, it’s easy to feel lost and floundering.  These techniques also help you narrow your focus from everything you have to get done to the things you can actually do in one day.

5.    Support yourself.  Whether it’s savoring a fresh cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate; slipping into a cozy pair of slippers you keep behind your desk, or practicing your favorite meditation technique, taking a few moments for yourself will help you relax and less anxious about tackling your never-ending list of tasks.

We may never feel completely in control of life and everything it throws at us, but that doesn’t mean we have to surrender to an eternal feeling of being overwhelmed.  The next time you feel things are spinning out of control see if these tips will help you regain some order and stability.

 

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I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.