Do you want to stop feeling overwhelmed? then this article will help you.

With everything that goes on around us, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes. We have a lot to do every day, too many chores and responsibilities to take care of. More importantly, there are so many things we want to do but can’t; and too many things we regret not doing in the past. Everything, together, makes us nervous of the future, wary of the present and remorseful of the past. 

But life isn’t meant to be lived this way. We may exist in a perpetual state nervousness and worry, but it’s neither very healthy nor very happy. Life is supposed to be full of happiness and contentment, where you can live every moment to the fullest. 

So, if you are feeling overwhelmed with your commitments and anxious about everything, here are some tips for you to stop feeling overwhelmed.

  • First of all, accept your feelings.If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, accept these feelings as a part of who you are. Some people can breeze through life, but others have to battle with nervousness about everything. Accept that you are the kind of person who will overthink and hyperventilate through every problem life throws at you. This may not solve anything, but accepting your feelings as “normal” will give you the strength to deal with them. It is certainly better than to think “there must be something wrong with me!” 
  • Secondly, rethink the whole process. When in a situation that’s making you anxious, think back and try to pinpoint exactly what it is you’re dreading. Is it a difficult and important examination that’s looming over, or a doctor’s appointment, a job interview, a problem with your partner/spouse/significant other? Suppose you have too much to do and not enough time or energy to finish them; or, it may be that you’ve hit a rough patch in your life and can’t see a way out. The problems may be many, but you need to find the one that’s overwhelming you the most. 
  • Ask yourself, what can you change about it? Is there anything that you can change about your problem? If you can, then make the changes you need to make your situation better; if there’s nothing you can do, you have to change your own mindset rather than try to change the whole world. An exam might be important, but it’s not going to define your life; if you fail at the job interview, there’ll be more in the future. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself regarding what’s going to happen nevertheless in your life, and everything will seem better to you. 
  • Stop feeling overwhelmed by focusing on the moment you are in, always. If you are too busy being nervous about the future, you won’t be able to live fully in your present. It’s in our nature to be immersed in thoughts of what’s going to happen in the next 5 minutes or the next 50 years, so much that we bypass our present and miss out on a lot. No matter what is waiting for you in the future, you have to stop and be mindful of the present moment that you are in. We might plan for the future but this is actually a decision that you need to make in your life, to be “fully present in the moment that you are living”.The more you decide to embrace the present and live in the moment, the less time you’ll spend being anxious of the unknown future. 
  • Whenever these feelings overwhelm you, take a few deep breaths. This may seem like a very simple technique, but a few deep breaths can help you relax more than any other exercise techniques. Sit down, close your eyes, empty your mind and take a few long breaths, taking as much time for each as you can. Your body will start to relax after a few breaths, even when there’s too much on your minds. 

There are some other relaxation techniques that can also help, namely progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness, guided imagery, etc. You can find all the information online but a counsellor can also help. 

  •  As much as you need to accept your situation, you also need to make some positive changes in your life. Not just theoretical changes to make yourself feel positive and energetic, but practical changes that will help you to take control of your own life. We often feel overwhelmed when you start to lose control on ourselves and our life; the best way to deal with this problem is to take control of our actions, be the master of our own future. 
  • If too many responsibilities are overwhelming you, learn to commit to less. If you know you neither have the time nor the energy to deal with someone, don’t take the responsibility. Don’t force yourself to do something you hate doing, or something you’ll regret agreeing to. Don’t set unrealistic expectations for yourself and agree to do something you are well aware you can’t. Don’t be overconfident when you’ll only end up feeling nervous and overwhelmed. Learn to say no to people; don’t agree to something just because they’ll be disappointed if you say “no”. Think of yourself first before committing to something. 
  • Also, set your priorities first. When you are a student, your commitments should be to your education, and not on making a good impression on friends. When at work, all social engagements can wait; when you are spending time with your family, work problems shouldn’t be on your mind. Wherever you are, your present life and company needs to be your first priority; everything should be compartmentalized in your life to avoid feeling overwhelmed. 
  • Simplify your life, emotionally and materialistically. Let go of people who bother you or don’t understand you; let go of expectations you know you can’t achieve. Donate or throw away the excess belonging you don’t use anymore. Stop thinking about the mistakes you have made in the past and focus instead of what you have right now. Approach your life with a sense of simplicity and life will start to look better to you. 
  • Finally, stop feeling overwhelmed by worry less. It may seem hard, but excessive worrying isn’t going to take you anywhere. Worrying won’t make something easy to accomplish; rather, the more you worry, the more you’ll be afraid to take actions. Remember that “what will be, will be”. The outcome will be the same whether you take a level-headed decision or worry the whole way. 

It is easier to feel overwhelmed and anxious when life presents us with a problem, but it is also easy to not to worry about everything. Your life can be much easier if you can just let go of worrying too much, and focus more on the present. Use these tips when you are feeling too overwhelmed about something and you will find a better, easier way to deal with any problem.