Simple Ways to Get Back on Track When You Feel Overwhelmed

You guys, back to school time is no joke!  It's so busy and chaotic and crazy!!  We are trying to get used to our new normal schedule of going to and from early morning seminary, school, sports practices, meetings, church activities etc.

My son also tore a ligament in his knee which has required many dr appointments.  And since it's his knee, he can't drive.  So I'm having to drive he and his sister to and from school again.  Man...I miss him being able to drive!  

The point is:  LIFE can be quite OVERWHELMING!  


Check out these

Simple Ways to get back on track when you feel Overwhelmed



simple ways to get you back on track when you feel overwhelmed



Did you know that being overwhelmed is all in your head?  I know, I know...go with me here. Being overwhelmed is just thoughts.  It's not the busy schedule, the dr appointments, or driving kids around that is overwhelming, it is your thoughts about it.


Ponder that for a sec...


When I am busy, I don't do the thought work I need to remain calm and keep things in perspective.  I always forget that I have the power to stay calm even in the midst of the crazy.  Because I always have power over my thoughts.


I have learned that in order to have better control over my thoughts, I HAVE to be organized. So when I am in a busy season of life, which seems like all the time, I have systems in place to beat overwhelm and help me control my thoughts.



 11 ways to beat being overwhelmed



1.  Make a TO DO list




Put everything on it, seriously everything. If there is a task you need to remember to do, put it on your list. Your to do list is a great place to keep track of all appointments, school dates, sports practices, etc.  Trying to remember all the things takes up a lot of brain space.  Free up that space by writing it all down on a list.  I keep a running list on the notepad on my phone so it's always with me.
But I also keep a list in my planner because I like to write things down.



2.  Prioritize


No matter how hard you work, how late you stay up, or how much you try, you will never get it all done.  There will always be more to be done.  It is essential that you prioritize your time to get the most important things done first.


3.  Cut Clutter




For me, clutter = stress!!  With 5 people in our home, we have a lot of stuff!  If I'm not careful that stuff can get out of control!  The best things to do is make sure that everything has a home and is put away- regularly.

Edit your possessions often. The less stuff you have, the less clutter there will be.  More cleaning and organizing ideas here.


4.  Clean as you Go

Take shoes/back packs off and put them away right when you walk through the door.  When you get the mail, sort it into file and trash immediately.

As you make dinner, clean up as you are cooking. Put dishes in the dishwasher (or hand wash them)
during prep so it's all done by the time the meal is done.

Don't let things pile up.  Clean as you go.

5.  Make a Meal Plan



No matter how busy we are, our families still need to eat.  Planning meals ahead of time and shopping for the ingredients all at once makes dinner time about 10000 times easier! See more meal plan ideas here


6.  Be aware of time wasters


Do you get sucked into the black hole of social media and before you know it, 2 hours have gone by?
Do you watch too much tv? or Netflix?  Identify what makes you lose track of time.  Set a timer or an alarm so you don't lose a large chunk of your day.



7.  Keep a win list




At the end of the day, it's easy to remember all of the things we didn't do. So I've started keeping a list of the things I did do.  See more info here



8.  Have clear boundaries


In this day and age, we all have many things competing for our time and attention.  It's important to decide what is important to you and your family, and then decide how you want to spend your time.
You will never make everyone happy, but that is not your job.  Your job is to do the very best you can with the time, talents and energy that you have.



9.  Take care of yourself



Get exercise. Get enough rest. Eat well. Drink a lot of water. Pursue a hobby that brings you joy.

It is not selfless to put yourself last. And it is not selfish to take care of yourself.  Only you can make you happy and only you can keep you functioning at your best.  See more self care ideas here.


10.  Use kind self talk


How are you speaking to yourself?  Are you being a cheerleader or a bully to yourself?  Listen girl,
you are trying as hard as you can, (aren't we all?) so give yourself a break.  Say encouraging things to yourself.  Build yourself up.  Repeat positive affirmations.  If you make a mistake, fix it, then grant yourself grace and move on.


11.  It is just thoughts


Remember that "overwhelm" is just thoughts. And you can change your thoughts.  Put systems in place to help. You'll have to remind yourself of this over and over again.  But these are great ways to beat overwhelm!


You can use these 11 ways to get back on track when you geto overwhelmed!