Feeling overwhelmed
When it feels like your to-do's are piling up, there's a new stressor around every corner, and all of the problems have to be solved right this second...
Don't do anything. Just pause.
When you're overwhelmed, it's almost impossible to respond with wisdom and compassion. It can, sadly, create a vicious cycle — you instinctively react, which amplifies the stress, which increases your overwhelm.
Instead, try this.
Take a breath. Close your eyes and imagine all of those tasks, stressors, and worries all stacked up in a big pile, weighing you down.
Then, imagine pushing that stack over. Watch as they fall in a row across the ground. What's the one that has fallen closest to you? That's the only one you need to deal with right now.
You physically cannot do it all at once, and it's unkind to expect that of yourself. Just take it one by one, picking up each item and dealing with it the best that you can.
