Weekly: When you’re overwhelmed
Old Happy: "I have to do it all right now."
New Happy: “I can take it one step at a time."
When it feels like your to-do's are piling up, there's a new stressor around every corner, and all of the problems in your life and in the world have to be solved right this second...
Do me a favor: fight that impulse and do nothing instead. Just pause.
There's a very good science-backed reason to do this. When you're overwhelmed, it's almost impossible to respond to your challenges with wisdom and compassion, which are exactly what is needed to help you get through them. Instead, we react instinctively, which tends to lead to chaos, which makes the overwhelm worse, which leads to more impulsive behavior... a vicious cycle that can leave us feeling even worse than when we started trying to tackle the feeling!
This week, let's do something different. When you're feeling overwhelmed, start seeing it as a sign to pause. Take a breath. (And maybe another one.)
Once you feel more centered, use this little visualization. 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.
Remember, 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.
Tips and Tools
1. Be the bridge — This week's animation.
2. Break the cycle — The Three C's.
3. It takes time — Be gentle with yourself.
4. Start small — How to change your life.
5. Today you will feel — Coping with your emotions.
More from TNH
Book — Order New Happy today to find true happiness.
Podcast — Get a daily morning pep talk — in five minutes or less
Speaking — Book us to speak to your team about well-being, resilience, and productivity.
Articles — Read more articles on our website.
Community
What are you feeling stressed about?
“Next week my husband is traveling and I’ll be with my kids alone.”
“My career.”
“About what my life is going to look like in the future.”
“The uncertainty of health problems.”
“Feeling pressured.”
“Surviving under capitalism without doing further damage to my soul.”
“Upcoming medical appointments.”
“My future, personally and professionally. I don’t know what it is going to look like.”
“Feeling lost.”
Before You Go
The Definitive Guide to Happiness
A groundbreaking new approach based on a decade’s worth of research and brought to life with beautiful artwork, New Happy shows you the proven path to happiness.
No spam, just joy.
