Getting Over Overwhelm

Hi, boys and girls!So I'm busy.If you've been following the blog for the last few months, you'll know that I went on a surf retreat in Costa Rica, turned 28, traveled to New Hampshire for Thanksgiving, traveled to NorCal for Christmas, re-launched my blog, started Strong Inside Out fitness and wellness coaching, went to Paris, and got engaged... in the last 3 1/2 months!Life can be a whirlwind, and it's exciting when it is!  But things can fall out of place, people that are important to you are accidentally ignored, and your email inbox becomes the pit of despair.Chaos, my friends, is no fun to come home to.So how do you even start to pull everything back together?  How do you get your life back in order?  At least enough to feel comfortable in your mess?Here are some tips I am currently using to keep my  business and social life from getting lost... even when I lose my mind:

1. List Everything

This step is a scary one, but oh-so helpful when you're feeling overwhelmed.Writing down every task you have to do is a way to take power away from the tasks, and empower yourself instead.This way, you won't forget anything important.  If you remember something later, simply add it to your the list.Remember those note-taking skills you learned in school?  Apply them here: make subcategories, different steps within a task, and what you need to do to complete it.  Be as specific as possible to make the next step easier.

2. Prioritize

When you are faced with the daunting task of filtering and writing back to 200+ emails, planning a big event, or getting caught up on your taxes, start by prioritizing your to-do list.One tip that my friend and fellow blogger, Alejandro Reyes, recommends is to get the most daunting task out of the way first.  This way you're not dreading it while procrastinating with other less-important tasks.Use a yellow highlighter to mark the things that must get done this week or that you are dreading the most.Done with that?Now use a different color to highlight the things that must get done within the next couple weeks.That's it.  Don't try to color code any more than this.  Instead, when you're done with the tasks that you've highlighted, cross those tasks off your list and begin with the yellow highlighter again.I find the yellow highlighter gets my attention more than blue, pink, orange, or green, probably because it's the brightest.If you're prioritizing techy-style, just select and move the tasks to the top of your list in order of what is most important.  Check them off or delete them as you finish.Another note: consider moving tasks that involve people you are close to higher up on the list.  These people are your support: they will do you a lot more good than picking up the dry cleaning.  This especially applies in times of stress and chaos!

3. Siri Is My V.A.

It's amazing that I can tell my little black rectangle to "remind me to call my coaching client in half an hour," and it does!My iphone has been a life-saver when it comes to remembering to do things.I personally have to set alarms, otherwise I will probably forget what I was supposed to do, or when I was supposed to do it by.These things are the ones that keep you up at night.Oh my gosh!  I was supposed to pay that bill today!...or...Oh no!  I didn't order the cake for my kid's party this weekend!Set reminders with something that you have on you all the time, whether this be a phone, ipad, watch, whatever.This makes it easier to take note of anything you randomly remember during the day... or night.  You know what I'm talking about list-head insomniacs...

4. Do It!

The time is now!  You know what you need to do by this step.  So take action and let the relief start to wash over you as you cross more and more off your lists.  It's a wonderful feeling!You're not going to finish the tasks you don't start on.  You have to do it yourself... or hire someone if you have the funds!

Here are some examples of daunting tasks broken down into do-able ones:

What I would highlight with yellow is surrounded by **, what I would highlight in the other color is surrounded with *PLAN A PARTY

•Set a budget

•Hire a coordinator (if budget allows)

•Book a venue

•Set theme

>flowers/decor

>games/activities

•Set date

•Book performers, staff and entertainment

•Set Guest List

•Send out invites

>have invites printed/sent by email with directions to RSVP or include RSVP cards

•Hire caterer or decide on menu

>decide on drinks

•Prepare decorations (time to get crafty!)

•Prepare seating arrangements after receiving RSVP's

•Week of

>Order cake!

>Shop for drinks, last-minute decor, and anything else you might need

>Prepare food if you are doing it yourself

>Set decorations

>Prepare a program for yourself: When is every event supposed to happen?  Does it matter?

•Day of

>Arrange food, drinks and last-minute decor

>Be close to the phone in case anyone gets lost or can't make it

>Make sure your coordinator is there and managing so you can have fun!

HANDLE THE EMAIL ACCOUNT YOU REFUSED TO OPEN OVER YOUR VACATION

•Resolve to make an away notice for your email next time you leave!

•Rid yourself of every daily deal or sale email- they're probably over by now anyway

•Go through every newsletter and other automatic email you receive and determine which you would actually like to read.

>Delete the rest

•Read the emails from the people you are closest to and those flagged important by work

>Respond to those that you need to.  Many of the ones from work may have blown over by now.

•Continue reading and responding to the most important emails first, and work your way down to the less-pressing ones.

...You get the idea!There's something empowering about looking at that to-do list.  Put in writing, it's grip on you seems to loosen.  Then there's the fulfilling and relaxing effect that crossing things off of it has.SEEING that you're making progress is motivation to take more action.So even when I feel like everything is going to crash down in a chaotic mess, I take action and show myself the proof that I am making progress so that my nerves don't get the best of me.Are you ready to get over your overwhelm?  What can you start doing TODAY that will help bring order back to your life?  Is there anything that you would recommend we add here?  I'm all ears!