How to Reduce Feelings of Overwhelm: Slowing Down in a Busy World

A new year has arrived. The festive season has passed, normal life resumes, and a wide-open path lies ahead. For me, that feels both liberating and, to be honest, a little overwhelming.

My to-do list is overflowing, my head is full of creative project ideas, and I’m putting pressure on myself to be productive and get it all done. So how do I make slowing down a priority? And why is that important?

When we push ourselves at an unsustainable pace to do it all, everything can suffer:

• The quality and enjoyment of what we’re doing, which fades when we’re rushed.

• Our health, as stress and burnout drain our energy and threaten our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

• Our relationships can be impacted when we’re distracted, often by things that don’t really matter.

  
  

Collage Snail - for me collage is a slow process, but very fun

Here are 10 ways to help you through the process of reducing feelings of overwhelm by slowing down in a busy world. This is NOT about wasting time or being LAZY!

Acknowledge Your Feelings: Recognising that you feel overwhelmed is the first step to finding relief and taking action.

Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Instead of tackling everything at once, divide tasks into manageable parts to make them less daunting. Focusing on one task at a time reduces mental fatigue.

Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness techniques such as meditation or deep breathing to help centre your thoughts and reduce stress or simply try observing your surroundings quietly without distraction for a few minutes.

Start your Day with Intention: Take a few moments for yourself to breathe, stretch and calmly face the day. There is no need for go-go-go as soon as you open your eyes in the morning!

Connect with Others: Become more present and engaged in your interactions with others - it allows for deeper connections and more satisfying relationships. What people truly crave is time and attention.

Reach Out for Support: Don't hesitate to ask friends or family for help or a comforting hug, as social support can significantly alleviate stress.

Set Priorities: Identify what is most important (hint: not everything is important) and concentrate on those things first, which can help you feel more in control. Allow yourself space to take your time with decisions and responses.

Reconnect with Nature: Spend time outdoors to recharge and find inspiration. Nature can help ground you and provide a sense of peace. Things like going for a walk, interacting with pets, spending time in a garden or near water are all beneficial.

Rest when You Need to: Our bodies are designed for bursts of activity followed by periods of rest, not relentless motion. Even two minutes with your eyes closed is a good start.

Embrace Creativity: This could be engaging in physical activity, writing, brainstorming without judgement, altering your usual routine, reading or, for me, it is enjoying the process of painting or creating art and letting go of the expectation of producing a tangible result.

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I hope some of these strategies can help you manage overwhelming feelings and regain a sense of balance in your life. In my case, it is an ongoing process, one I've had to embrace after a life changing injury, one that's not necessarily been easy to accept, but has been absolutely crucial to thriving in a fast-paced world. Some of these plans seem obvious and simple, and yet I need to constantly remind myself of them to keep myself on track. They have all worked for me.

Everyone is different, and your health and circumstances will be different to mine, but the message remains the same. It IS possible to slow down and lead a fulfilling life. I encourage you to start intentionally incorporating moments of stillness and reflection into your day for a deeper sense of peace, clarity and connection with the world. The art of slowing down is a valuable practice that can transform our lives.

Feel free to share this with anyone you think might benefit from these gentle reminders - and let me know what you do to s-l-o-w down.

Aroha nui

Jo

Laundry on a Sunny Day - this is my FAVOURITE chore