Hello, friends! As you can tell from the title of this post, I’m feeling a tad overwhelmed at the moment, and in full disclosure, I’m writing this post as much for myself as I am for you. You see, life is busy, for all of us, and even when you feel like you have great systems and habits for keeping it all under control, there are still days or weeks, or even months where you get off track.
Between work and life and the fact that it’s rained daily for at least the past week here in Florida… my time outside has significantly been reduced… and I haven’t been in the best mental state.
So, this afternoon, as I’m sipping my second cup of coffee and writing this post, I will do my best to encourage us both!
9 Tips for the Overwhelmed Millennial
1. Prioritize
- Remember that yes, you might have a million things on your mind…but not all of them are immediate concerns. Highlight the few that MUST be done today, tomorrow, or this week, and let the rest go….at least for right now.
- I’m telling you, this has helped me sooo much.
2. Take a Breather
- You know what I do when I’m stressed…I walk or do 10 minutes of meditation. These two things have changed my life, truly!
- Also, I’m currently reading Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferriss and the book is made up of interviews with successful/interesting people and you know what two of the things that they keep mentioning over and over in the book? You guessed it, walking and meditation. So, if you don’t believe me, believe the uber successful people who are on a first name basis with Tim Ferriss.
3. Remember the phrase, ‘This will pass’
- The best thing about difficult seasons is that they generally get easier and don’t last forever.
- It also helps to think back on other difficult seasons and remind yourself that you’ve done it before and can do it again!
4. Plan a Trip/Something to Look forward to
- Even if it’s just a day trip, having something to look forward to is great motivation.
- Also, before you go to bed, think about 1 thing that you are looking forward to the next day. For example, meeting a friend for coffee, pizza for dinner, an episode of your favorite show, etc.
- There have even been studies that show that workers who actually use their vacation days tend to be happier and more encouraged employees! Something to think about.
5. Take a Shower
- Not only is it relaxing, but taking a shower tends to put you in a more creative state of mind where your mind can wander and often solve problems.
- And, if nothing else, you’ll feel clean and relaxed…which is never a bad thing.
6. Say no, often
- Sometimes when we feel overwhelmed it’s because we’ve said yes…to too many things.
- Believe me, I’m saying this because I’ve learned this the hard way.
- If someone is asking you to do something, please don’t say yes purely out of a sense of obligation. Now, there is a time when we should say yes, but most of us take this to the extreme by saying yes to EVERY request that comes our way.
- Practice saying no at least once a day and see how you feel.
7. Make a List
- The Rory Gilmore’s among us (hand raised) will love this one.
- This goes along with point #1 of prioritizing but try list making. I even try to have different lists for different areas of life. Otherwise, you can end up with a single list that is a mile long.
- For example, here are some of mine:
- Grocery List
- Weekly Work Task List
- Daily Work Task List
- Morning Routine List
- After work Activities List (Yoga, Reading, Journaling, Working through a course)
- For example, here are some of mine:
8. Do Something Fun
- I know…this seems counterproductive. If you’re feeling overwhelmed then you probably feel like you don’t have any time for fun. However, making 30 minutes or an 1 hour of fun can give you energy and clarity to do hours of productive work afterwards.
- Think about some of your favorite things: playing basketball, going shopping, reading, swimming, walking, watching Netflix, cooking, it could be anything!
- Preferably, try something that gets your mind off of your worries!
9. Talk with a trusted friend or family member
- Our problems always seem so much worse in our minds than they do out loud.
- However, know what you’re looking for…if you just want someone to listen, ask a sister, your mom, or a female friend. Whereas, if you want advice or action steps ask a male friend, husband, brother or Dad.
That’s it! I hope this was encouraging and remember that we can do this! Just take it one step at a time!
9 Tips for the Overwhelmed Millennial
