Overcoming Stress

Yet another Monday, the year is on a fast lane. Ensure your running at your own pace and breaking new grounds.

Raise your hand if sometimes it feels like there’s so much to do but not enough time.

Raise your hand if you feel overloaded or overpowered by work or life generally.

This is becoming common especially in our current fast-paced world. Most people have their 9–5 jobs while also running 2–3 side businesses, pursuing a degree or certification, raising children and family, leading/volunteering at impact-driven organizations (small or big), etc. Yes, managing all these can be overwhelming and draining.

I’ve received questions from community members on how I do all the things I do without losing my mind

Here’s what I have learnt:

1. “Work no dey finish”.

2. The reward for good work is more work.

And here’s what you can do so that you don’t go crazy?

*1. Plan on Paper:* Get a notepad and write out all your activities (responsibilities). You could categorize them with titles such as Family, Work, Business, Church, Mosque, School, etc. to help you know what belongs where. I have found that writing on paper creates a lot more clarity than using a phone or computer.

*2. Schedule:* Fix timelines to each activity so that you know how much time you have to achieve them, for those that are time-bound.

*3. Get Support:* Identify activities that require you to personally do and those you can delegate. For those that require you to do them yourself, fix dates and times within which you would do them, while for those that can be delegated, DELEGATE to competent people and pay them where necessary.

*4. Get to Work:* Block out time to work on the different activities. Go off social media, turn on flight mode on your mobile phone to avoid distractions from phone calls, turn off your phone where necessary and just focus on doing the work required to get you ahead.

*5. Take Breaks:* Take breaks in between to relax and refresh your mind and body. This could be by sleeping, watching a movie, (someone like me, I watched anime to relax) listening to good music, eating your favorite food, spending time with family and loved ones, etc. Do something that makes you feel alive.

If the overwhelm persists, please seek professional medical help.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?

Comment and share your suggestions with me.

Halliday Consulting

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