I had a different post completely ready to go for today and then I waited to hit the publish button. Not because there was anything wrong with it, but because I felt that I needed to share something different today instead of my typical how to or recipe post. The other day I had a bit of a rough day. To be honest with you I can’t even pinpoint what exactly made the day so bad in my eyes. It started off with something going the opposite of what I expected, along with a very strong-willed toddler, a house that needed serious attention and a body that didn’t physically feel great. All these events had me mopping around most of the day. I was overwhelmed.
It was so bad that I texted my husband at work and mentioned that I wanted to stop working altogether. I figured if I gave it up, all my problems would be solved. “I can’t do it anymore. I just can’t”, it’s what I remember writing to him. He found a way to reel me back in without upsetting me some more. It may sound silly and in fact it is when you consider those that are having REAL life issues to deal with. However, it doesn’t mean that we can’t and won’t feel overwhelmed at various points of our lives. And ignoring it won’t help.
So I want to share with you some things that I’ve done in the past that have helped me. I’m not perfect, FAR from it. I struggle everyday with my attitude and thoughts. However, when I make a conscious effort to be the wife, mom and friend I want to be, it makes a huge difference in the way I react.
What To Do When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
Take a break
You may want to yell at your spouse or kids if you feel like they are not helping the situation, but now it’s not the time to react. You will hurt them and could wind up causing emotional scars for allowing your feelings to lead the way. Instead, take a time out for yourself if you feel that you’ve reached a breaking point.
Pray
I find this the most helpful when I feel overwhelmed and want to give up. Talking with God and knowing that He will take care of my needs is truly the ointment my soul needs. Is it easy? Not at all. I won’t lie, when I’m not feeling joyful it’s hard to conversate with God. However when I do, I find that I wind up feeling at peace and with a different mindset. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Talk to a loved one or friend
Reach out to someone that you can trust and simply talk. Why? Because sometimes just discussing our situation can make us feel better. I find that when I talk to my mom, her words of wisdom help me see that it’s not as bad as I think. That we all go through these stages and it’s how we deal with it that makes a difference.
Look at the positive things in your life
Make a list of all the positive things in your life. Is the laundry behind? Yes, but at least your family has clothes to wear. I remember feeling this way one day until God reminded me of a time in my life that I only owned the clothes on my back. It definitely put things in perspective for me. Are you stressing about finances? Again, think about what you have been blessed with (a home, food) that others may be doing without. Being content with your circumstances is not easy, but being intentional about it can be life changing.
Simplify your life
This won’t necessarily help in the moment, but I still think it’s important to prevent it from happening again. One of my goals this year is to live with intention and cut back on the irrelevant things that drain my time. This can be as simple as swapping TV time with a book I’ve been wanting to read or simplifying my home. Whatever you choose just make sure that it matches up with what you value in life. Once you remove it, let it go and don’t seek something new to replace it.
I know that this busy life we live in can be overwhelming, but take the time to simply unwind and enjoy your family. Your babies will grow up before you know it and your spouse needs you now, not when it’s too late.
What helps you when you feel overwhelmed? I would love it if you shared!
Sometimes I have to just let myself cry. I find that it releases the tension and stress that are gripping me. Also, deep cleansing breaths. I tend to take shallow breaths(???), so I need to intentionally fill my lungs every so often.
Yoga works for me. ‘Gentle Yoga’. Completely overwhelmed in walmart one day, I took a deep breath and recalled that feeling of peace from yoga class…it totally worked!
Absolutely to all of this – I think prayer and letting it go, giving it to God and knowing that you are being taken care of is key. Thank you for sharing this xo
Warm Regards,
Alexandra
http://www.littlewildheart.com
This could have been written by me about my day today – except add in a cranky baby who didn’t nap. I sent my husband some (ah-hem) frustrated texts, too. Prayer first, and realizing that this too shall pass. Oh, and some chocolate! Chocolate never hurts in situations like these! 🙂
Simplify is always a good answer! When things get overwhelming, it’s easy to say “I should be able to deal with it all”, but really, nobody can deal with everything all the time. If you have to step back from a few things for a bit, that is okay. I’ve been seeing the idea of allowing yourself grace about the internet lately, and I’m quite fond of that. We all want to be awesome people, and that’s great, but we all can’t be awesome all the time! We all need to remind ourselves that this is okay!!
I no longer make New Year’s resolutions but New Year’s Intentions instead. It helps me keep my mind and body focused on living each day intentionally and purposefully. It can be difficult to simply but when you do, it is a game changer. Thank you for this post 🙂
I love that Jenn! Intentions instead of resolutions. I made mine super simple and stuck with living intentionally (similar, no?). Not going to feel guilty like I have many years for not meeting my long list of resolutions. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂