Overwhelmed

I am overwhelmed.  There are lots of wonderful good things going on in my life- lots of good things to come.  But there are also lots of not so good things happening that are causing me stress.  Today, I am going to focus on mostly the not so good things...mainly because the good things haven't really happened yet- at least not enough that I can talk about them. 

In the last post- that I wrote what? a year ago?- I briefly mentioned how crazy busy I had been with my job responsibilities at work.  I accepted these responsibilities willingly.  I did this thinking I would be happier this way, that it would be something I'd really enjoy.  I chose to make this change because I thought perhaps this was the answer to how much I really hated my current job responsibilities.  The first couple of days it was fine.  I was happy.  I was excited even.  The first couple days, I had help.  Once I decided I was trained enough, I took over.  Me.  ALL.BY.MYSELF.  To say I was in over my head would be an understatement.  Immediately, I knew I had waded into the deep end before I truly knew how to swim. 

A few weeks later and I have gotten things under control.  I'm still not used to being so busy I forget to eat lunch, pee, or drink water.  (Don't worry, I have started to get those under control too.)  I haven't been that busy in quite a long time.  There was a time in my life where I thrived on being this busy.  Call me old.  Call me tired.  Call me lazy.  But if this doesn't slow down a bit very soon, I might go out of my mind.  Not to mention the effects it has had on my reading your blogs and writing in mine.  And, yes, I know that I probably shouldn't be spending company time doing these things, but that's what I did and now that has changed. 

SO, I will make it a goal to write at least once a week.  If I get to write more, great!  If not, I hope you'll forgive me.

My point in telling you all this is what I've learned from the past few weeks.  I have discovered that I can do much more than I thought I could.  I have discovered that it's possible to go home and feel like you really accomplished something that day and to feel so tired after work that you just want to go home and go to bed.  (Not sure that I needed to learn those two.)  I have also learned that when life overwhelms you, it's best to take things one step at a time.  If you try to accomplish everything in your path all at once, it will chew you up and swallow you whole.  By taking things one step at a time, you cannot always get ahead of the obstacles in front of you, but you can tackle them one at a time you are able to get past them and move on to the next.  While I fear this metaphor has gotten away from itself, allow me to continue a little further.  I have realized that the weight of your stress depends on whether you allow it to crush you like a boulder all at once, or whether you chisel it away, a little at a time, until you work your way through.  That is what I'm trying to accomplish right now.  So far, it seems to be working.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?

Comments

[sexy choco]

Wow! amazingly, we are going thru the same feelings in our lives, although mine involves school and yours involves work. I agree with you. I too have learned many things these past few months about dealing with feelings of being overwhelmed. I too try and take it one step at a time, little by little--I have learned if I let it consume me--if I allow myself to think about all those things I need to get done--I go crazy. I become unstable and ironically I cannot find "equipoise"--balance. The best and most important thing is to honestly take some time for yourself. Do things you love and are passionate about. Reward yourself for your hard work. That's the only way I deal with it. Not sure if it works 100% of the time, but I try. That's what it's all about--growing and learning, right?! :) Love ya!

[Rendie]

All of your words are words we should live by. i always find that when I am productive at work I am more productive at home and happier in life.

lol - when I am overwhelmed? HA HA what I do wont help you much. I get a BIG bottle of wine and sit in my chair and drink till its ALLL gone. usually in there at some point I laguh, cry and think shit out and VWOLA, tomorrow is a better day.

HUGS