When You're Facing Overwhelm
What can we control?
There's very little in life that we can actually control. The best way to deal with the overwhelm of running a business is to focus on those things that we can control or at least set boundaries around, right?
When you’re looking down the barrel of a panic attack from overwhelm, here are some things to focus on that you can control:
The content that you consume. In the day of social media feeds and 24-hour news, you can decide not to consume things that make you anxious, upset, or stressed. Focus on following people and organizations that will be good for your mental health, your business growth, or your sanity.
Educating yourself. Knowing what brings you joy and what does not is a huge skill. Prioritizing your overall health and wellness is going to be so important. I know people say self-care and mental health are so important because when you let those things go when you don't think about those things and they're not a priority, they get pushed to the wayside.
Making sure that you have time to create. If you're like me and you have a service business that is mostly about tech and support and admin and numbers and data and typing, we still have to be creative. I have to think of ways to market my business, to help my team, to take care of my clients really really well.
Showing up consistently. As a small business, that's almost going to be the number one. Always concentrate on showing up consistently for yourself, your clients, your team, and your family.
How much time you spend scrolling. I don't care if it is social media, news, the newest website, or a movie — when you scroll, you've got to slow it down because you have to have time for other things that are going to fill you up. I know that watching TikTok videos and Instagram Reels are awesome, but it's not going to fill up your bucket, and you’re not going to be as productive as you want to be.
Now that we’ve covered what you can control, let’s focus on what you can’t control and shouldn’t waste energy trying to wrangle:
Anyone else's opinion of what you're doing. That's something you just can't control. Be your authentic self and try to let the negativity slide down your back. Please don't focus on the negative algorithm updates, oh my gosh, that's a huge thing. We can't control it, and it changes all the time.
How quickly other people are growing. If people are seeming to pass you in business. That is something you can't control and honestly, you shouldn't be focused on that anyway. All right, how many people are following you, watching your videos, and all of that, those numbers are good to know, but you cannot focus solely on that.
Trolls, hateful comments, and other social media negativity. It's so hard to take and so hard to read, but you cannot focus on that because you can't control those things, they're going to happen. And the bigger you get and the more good that you do, there's always going to be people that are going to try it and bring that down.
When I'm trying to deal with overwhelm, I focus on the things that are important — my boundaries and my schedule. Try this exercise: Think about what else you can’t control, and make a list of those things. Then, rip them up and throw the list away. throw them in the trash. Now, focus on what you can control, which is almost always shorter than the list of what you can’t.
How to Deal with Business Overwhelm
When it comes to dealing with paralyzing overwhelm, it’s all about self-care. So, how do I deal with some overwhelm that creeps in every single week? I'm a business owner, I'm a mom, I'm a wife, I'm a friend and a daughter, and a sister and…
What are the things that are cluttering up your mind? What tasks are important and you need to prioritize? If your mind keeps reeling with all the things you shouldn't be doing, it prevents you from doing the things that really matter.
Here are some things I try to do every week to keep the overwhelm at bay:
I always try to plan something new. I need some things to look forward to during the new week! I tend to do my planning on Mondays. In my goal setting and planning, I think of the week ahead, and as a family, as a business owner and manager what are some fun things that are going to be happening for everyone?
I always like to try out new businesses. As new things are open up, I like to check out the latest coffee shops, new restaurants, or new little boutiques. I always try to put at least one new stop on my list to visit for a change of scenery. It’s led me to so many of my favorite spots!
I love being outside. I feel like I probably am a sun worshiper, which is really not great, but I love being able to sit outside to work, to eat, or just to hang out. Sometimes it's a little difficult to work with the screen and the sun and all that, but when it's nice out, guess who's out there with me — my dog Teddy.
I made my office a space I want to be in. I firmly believe in keeping your workspace and living spaces separate when living at home. But it doesn’t mean your office should be as sterile as a hospital! I have a smart device on my desk that always plays my favorite music without losing my work focus. I also love calming scents, so candles, essential oil diffusers, and good smelling flowers can usually be found on my desk. Need a moment? Keep a bottle of your fav lotion with a special scent on your desk.
I have a firm stop time for work. I could work 24/7 if I was a single woman again without a husband, children, and a dog to care for and be with. To control my drive, I literally have on my calendar every single workday “stop work” in big red bold letters. It gives my work-from-home time a firm stop so my kids know I’ll be ready for time with them.
Healthcare and self-care are crucial. And then, of course, healthcare which we've talked about a lot as well and everyone seems to be buzzing about it. It's really important, having time for mental breaks for self care, and just unplugging from the world is great.
What do you do for your simple self care to get ready for the week and organize your tasks? Let me know!