Everything is Okay
Living in the “Information Age“ it’s never been easier to acquire and process information than right now. Want to understand some complex technology? No problem. Ask the question and the internet will give you a full summary without having to dig. Need a solution to a pesky plumbing issue? Bam! In seconds you’ll find videos showing you exactly how to fix it. It’s all right there. However, this easy access comes with a downside. When world events make things feel like they are spinning out of control, it can be challenging to manage so much emotional content.
What to do when I’m feeling overwhelmed?
The human brain has a limited amount of consciousness to use at any given moment. Paying attention to anything uses up that resource and multitasking spreads it even thinner, reducing our focus on everything, increasing anxiety and stress in the process. On the other hand, focusing on only one thing at a time can bring a sense of calm, of being in control and sometimes, even being ‘in the zone’. Making intentional choices about how you spend your limited consciousness is a good way to cope when you feel overwhelmed.
Focus on One Thing
The next time you feel stressed out because there is too much going on, try paying attention to only one thing. You could choose to focus on what is good about this moment right now. You might start to become aware that you and your body are actually safe. That you’re breathing and that you have everything you need to cope with whatever is going on right then. Maybe, you’ll notice that you have a place in this world, that you have important people ‘in your corner,’ and that you’re well — even if things aren’t exactly as you want them to be. Taking a moment to be really intentional about looking for the things that are already good in your life is a sure-fire way to help yourself manage anxiety and realize that everything is okay in this moment.
Do the Opposite of Unhelpful Habits
To counteract unhelpful habits, it’s important to be intentional about doing the opposite. When we feel overwhelmed with more demands, like longer to-do lists and less time to complete them, we naturally speed up often without realizing it. Tuning in, and noticing the habit of rushing can help you to see if you’re inadvertently making things worse. This brief moment of awareness allows you to make a conscious choice: Do I want to keep rushing and stress myself out, or do I want to slow down and do this more calmly?
Calm and relief are never far away. We just need to train ourselves to look for them.