A Brain With Too Many Open Tabs

It's time to stop looking at the top of the mountain and instead, look at getting to basecamp first. In other words, STOP attempting to do so much. That isn't working out for you is it? This is an important point because it means you have to take a step back and FOCUS on the next step. The things that need to be taken care of first. So with whatever it is, look at the INTENTION or the PURPOSE of doing it, and then break it down into smaller steps that are more easily achievable. Remember the thing that is REALLY in your control is to do the steps you have decided to do... This week, today, tomorrow.

The 'have a plan' concept is one I personally have found to be invaluable. I'm a real 'have-a-list-and-tick-it-off' kinda gal, so I'm BIG on plans. That's not to say things always go according to the plan, it simply means I have more direction and don't have to think about what's next. AND I also look at possible things that may (or may not) get in the way, come up with a strategy, then I'm on my way. So I no longer have to worry about the 'what if' drama.

Once you're clear on what needs to be done... and remember is it a must do, should do, or nice to do... WRITE IT DOWN. All the stuff, truly, a good old brain dump works wonders. Once it's all down on paper you find the fog clears and you have more clarity, which means far less overwhelm. This is because you're not attempting to remember everything all at once (think back to the top of the mountain). You can then look at your list, prioritise most to least important, and then work out a step by step plan. Remember also, your self-care must be built into your plan so it becomes a daily habit which of course will help set you up for success in all the other areas of life.

Now this might all seem a bit much. Here's the thing, in today's fast-paced life, we have to know where we're going. If you can have a little structure to your week, then you can truly sit back and relax on the weekend, wouldn't you agree?

If you're setting life goals, then you have to have a plan, AND you have to work that plan... step by step. Weekly and daily goals are exactly the same. When it is written down, you engage all your senses... you SEE it, you verbalise it, so you HEAR it, you FEEL it and that means it is going to be easier for you to do.

​Taking an hour or so out each week to plan the week ahead is definitely going to remove some unnecessary overwhelm and stress from your life. Look at how you can simplify things, put things in place that are going to free up time during the week. What can you delegate, stop doing (or at least do less of)? This is a great exercise to assess whether your overwhelm (and probably some associated feelings of exhaustion, resentment and being taken advantage of) is worth maintaining and accepting as 'normal' or is it time to take check, recognise and accept that perhaps you just can't do it all (and that's okay), and that one step at a time is what is really (and sensibly) doable. Once you've got your plan, put it up so it's visible to all, hang it on the fridge, mark it on the calendar... whatever it takes to have that plan visible. Aim for hitting basecamp first.

​Close all unnecessary tabs in your brain, allow for clarity and direction, and you'll find you will totally kick overwhelm in the butt.

If this whole concept is foreign to you, check out my 7 Day Self-Care Kickstart. It will give you some direction into how you can start to clear the path, highlight what is actually priority and what is simply clutter. Time to close those tabs.