Therapy in Chester, NJ
You have a thousand things to do, all at once, not even including the long overdue manicure, a trip to the gym that you're paying way too much for considering you barely have time to attend, or the lunch you promised your friend you would make it to this time after cancelling last week and the week before. Your sleeping is compromised because something's gotta give, and you are eating fast food because who has the time to cook? There just aren't enough hours in the day, and you are starting to feel as though you are losing your mind. How do you handle it all without falling apart at the seams?
Sometimes life feels way too overwhelming. There is just so much to do, so little time, and you simply do not know where to start. Here is some good news:
You are not alone in feeling stressed out and overburdened by life and all that it is asking of you.
If something does not get done on time, if something does not get done perfectly, or if something does not get done at all, it is very likely that it's not the end of the world. Life will go on, and you will be just fine.
Stressful times like these are temporary. They won't last forever, and as much as it feels like your list of to-do's is never-ending, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, that is not the case, and usually that becomes clear when you least expect it to.
While keeping all of the above in mind, here are some ways to handle everything so that you can be productive while also maintaining your happiness and well-being, or at the very least feel less overwhelmed:
Think one step at a time, and do one step at a time. It's impossible to do everything at once, and if you try, you don't accomplish anything. Write everything that you have to do down, and check off each task one at a time as you complete them.
Let go of whatever is out of your control. Chances are when you do this, you will take a lot off of your plate. We often don't even realize how much we are harping on and worrying about that is out of our control. Spend your energy on the things that you can control, and let everything else work itself out, or you will work it out once it is in your control.
Try to make your home or workspace as clean and organized as possible. When trying to accomplish things, or even trying to relax in a cluttered space, it is way more difficult and aggravating to get things done. While it may seem like yet another thing on your to-do list, before trying to tackle everything, take 20 minutes to create a workable and livable environment.
Everyone goes through times when sleep gets compromised--the full 8 hours becomes 5 hours. It is understandable that you are staying up later or getting up earlier to create more hours in your day so that you can accomplish everything, but there is a good chance that by doing this, you are actually accomplishing less. When you are trying to function on such little sleep, you are not doing things to the best of your ability or as efficiently as possible. Plus, everything gets magnified when you are tired. Problems that are easy to solve seem impossible to solve. Tiny bumps in the road seem like disasters. Sleep is probably more important than squeezing in that last task that could truly wait.
While the overdue manicure seems pretty low on the priority list, try to squeeze it in. Taking that hour to yourself could provide more benefits than just prettier hands. This is called self-care and needs to be a priority on your to do lists. In order to continue on with your busy schedule, you need to have some relaxation time too in order to be more productive.
Again, remember that it's probably not the end of the world if you don't get something done at the time you wanted to. It will get done, and things always work out. Just the same, when you have a thousand things to do, and everything seems to be happening at once, just power through, and remember that eventually the tough times will end.
If you need help with time management I am always here to help!
Contact
Risa Simpson-Davis, LCSW