It’s almost the end of January. How close or far are we from the shining resolutions we made before the ball dropped and fireworks marked our celebration of a new beginning –- not just a New Year, but a whole new decade?!

Buried, Helpless, Crushed … my dictionary uses those dramatic terms to define the word ‘overwhelmed’.

Thousands (or millions) of us may spend some time feeling this way – considering the physical, political, or economic conditions of the world, the state of the union, and all of the many things we hope to accomplish in our lives, families or careers.

My ‘plate’ has been very full lately – and heavily seasoned with concerns (which we never seem to run out of). I’m a ‘Mrs. Fix-it’. It’s hard to deal with too much ‘stuff’ that I can’t fix. Watching network news can be hazardous to my peace of mind.

I am also a practicing, relentless optimist. And, I admit, I may be a queen of denial.

Assuming I’m OK, without recognizing my own levels of stress, I can easily fail to recognize when I’m at risk of becoming ‘overwhelmed’. How about you?

Stress (in small doses) can help boost performance for a little while. It’s OK in the SHORT term. But it’s downright dangerous over the long haul. We need to recognize and learn to resolve or release these emotions before they reach dangerous levels.

So, how can we get better at recognizing them? Here are some signs:

• Loss of balance with appetite, sleep, energy and/or movement. This means that we indulge in, too much or too little of these. It’s a change from ‘normal’
• Cravings for things we would normally avoid.
• Brain Fog: It might be harder to focus on or to remember
• Increased sensitivity, and/or mood swings: Maybe we’re more easily irritated or hurt by others.
• Restlessness might become a problem.
• False calm – or even boredom might show up … as the ‘blahs’.

It’s not a pretty picture. But WAIT … the ultimate artist has suggestions for us.

First – let’s take an honest inventory. Do you recognize some of these symptoms? Are you disappointed or frustrated with your results for 2020 so far?

Stop. Take a deep breath and truly focus on what’s RIGHT about you and the New Year so far.

• To begin with – we’re still here. The sun still rises every morning on a brand new day (even if it’s cloudy, sunshine is up there … somewhere).
• God still loves us and He always will. He says His mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-24).
• We can talk things over with the lover of our souls, and ‘tell-it-like-it-is’.
• We can count the ‘good stuff’ in our lives – and give thanks for it. And I do mean all of it. For example: if we can’t be thankful for feeling GREAT – can we be grateful for NOT feeling terrible or having awful pain? If our loved ones are not the most pleasant right now – can we still be glad they’re in our lives?

I know, this sounds like a spiritual exercise … and you may be looking for more earthly suggestions for those shaky moments. Here are a few ‘practical’ strategies:

• USE DISTRACTION: Call or talk to someone. Change locations – get with other people (even if you don’t engage) … Coffee shop anyone?
• MOVE: Go for a walk; hit the gym; dance or play a game …
• ENJOY a glass of water.
• BREATHE: Try inhaling through your nose to a slow count of four. (Your tummy should pooch out as your diaphragm is pushed by incoming air. If your shoulders rise – your breath is too shallow. Relax and try again.) HOLD that deep breath for a four-count – then try exhaling through your lips (like gently blowing out a candle) to a count of six. Repeat this a few times.
• JOURNAL: Make a quick note of what’s happening, how you feel, note what you want and what’s ‘working’. Later, when you’re in the mood, you can review and learn a lot! Write it down. Give yourself credit!

When immediate discomfort is reduced – take a look at what’s ‘overwhelming’ you. Talk this over with God also. Ask for wisdom and guidance. Is there anything you can – or should do (or avoid) to take care of this? Break it down.

Face giant things in small steps. Kathy Lipp, at Clutter Free Academy (www.kathilipp.com), offers strategies that work for de-cluttering our homes, and they work for our hearts/thoughts too. One technique she teaches is called ‘Time Boxing’ – which, for me, gives results that feel close to magic.

Once you’ve considered your ‘giant’ task or concern … and broken it down to individual issues … set up a calendar of ‘promise’ foryourself to invest in ONE of those pieces for 15 minutes of concentrated effort per day.

Rotate your schedule to give each piece of the multi-step task a special 15 minutes of pure focused effort. Box that time out. You might be motivated to do more … but don’t let yourself get ‘overwhelmed’ again. IF you’ve done your 15 minutes … count that as a WIN and give yourself credit.

Kathi says … we can do almost anything for 15 minutes. You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish – and at the Improvement in your clarity and priorities. As an author, speaker and mentor, Kathi has much more to share. Check her website.

OK – it’s only January. There is still time for resolutions. Every day is a fresh start, so … Happy New Year!

Blessings, Love and Laughter to you,

Margaret Lalich

www.margaretlalich.com

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS:

1. What works for you to stay on track or motivated?
2. How do you encourage yourself when things seem overwhelming?
3. What do you find most challenging?