Handling overwhelm and too many things on my plate
What to do when the plate becomes too full
Last few weeks have been overwhelming at work. Multiple different projects, tight deadlines, too many calls, and too frequent shifting of gears - if you resonate, then read on!
I wrote this article in the middle of a working day (unlike my usual late night writing) because I was way too overwhelmed. This actually helped me and I hope you might find something valuable in it.
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
There are days when there’s just so much that needs to be done, to be managed, to be tackled - many fires to put down, many emails to reply, many meetings to attend, many tasks to complete and to delegate, many decisions to take and choices to make, and then you wonder where did the day go, where did the week go.
I’m amidst such a day today, which is just one day in the string of many yesterdays and upcoming tomorrows. Weekend came and went and I could hardly differentiate between Friday and Monday. Today is Tuesday and I’m already done with a few meetings and a series of more meetings have made my calendar all blue. Most of the days are like that and I jump from one meeting to another, one project to another, hardly pausing to notice the overwhelm that’s building in me.
In this busy-ness, I’ve been shutting down the desire to write, saying back to my heart that I don’t have time, the to-do list is way too long.
But today I felt I HAD to stop. I know very well that letting this overwhelm build is not a good feeling and will exhaust me by Friday and another set of days will just pass by. Today I felt I HAD to write, even though I know the to-do list is very long and I have another call starting in the next 20 minutes.
But I need to do this, for myself, and for others.
I need to pause and sit with this feeling of overwhelm. I need to feel it, acknowledge it and embrace it. I need to take a few deeper breaths and remind myself of the true “essence” of what I’m doing, of what lies ahead, of my to-do list, and of all the choices I am making. What’s the bigger picture?
And yes, that’s liberating!
The overwhelm is still there. The to-do list is still there. But now I see myself much bigger than the overwhelm, much bigger than the to-do list. They are a small part of me, not the other way around.
The Invitation
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with professional or personal responsibilities - doesn’t really matter whether at work or at home with your family - take a pause and ask yourself “what’s the true essence of this?” and “why am I doing what I’m doing?”.
Usually, there are deeper and meaningful reasons behind our conscious choices, which sometimes are hidden under the stress and overwhelm of the situation. Look for and remind yourself of those reasons. And remember, you are much bigger than the overwhelm or any to-do list.
Have a miraculous day!
With love and joy,
Namrita