Overcoming Overwhelm: A Journey to Self-Care and Worthiness

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s all too easy to take on more than we can handle. The desire to prove ourselves and manage the perceptions of others can lead us down a path of overcommitment, leaving us feeling unfocused, erratic, and utterly overwhelmed. This is a tale many of us know all too well, and it’s the focus of a particularly insightful podcast episode I recorded years ago. 

I share a personal story that might resonate with you. I share how I took on an excessive amount of responsibility and tasks, which led to a state of chaos rather than productivity. But the realization of being overwhelmed wasn’t enough to prompt a change. Instead, I continued on this unsustainable path, driven by a need to influence how others saw me and to compensate for feelings of low self-worth.

However, the episode doesn’t just dwell on the problem. It offers a beacon of hope in the form of actionable advice and activities that can guide us back to a place of balance and self-compassion. Here are some of the key takeaways and additional steps to help anyone struggling with similar issues:

Letting Go of Unnecessary Burdens

1. Identify that’s Not Yours: Take a moment to list out all your current responsibilities. Mark the ones that truly belong to you and those that don’t. If a task isn’t essential to your role or doesn’t align with your values, consider letting it go.

2. Practice Saying ‘No’: It’s a simple word, but often the hardest to say – I know it for a fact! Start small by declining extra tasks that don’t serve your goals or well-being.

3. Delegate: If there are tasks that can be better handled by someone else, delegate. Trusting others to take on responsibilities not only lightens your load but also empowers them and if you’re one of those who think that something’s better done by yourself, try letting go of the need to be in control. It all reduces to that. 

Prioritizing Self-Care and Worthiness

1. Self-care Rituals: Establish daily self-care rituals that you enjoy. Whether it’s a morning walk, meditation, a nice bath or a hobby, make sure it’s something that recharges you and put some effort into honoring that bit of your day. 

2. Affirmations: Use positive affirmations to reinforce your self-worth. Remind yourself that you are enough, just as you are, and use different prompts to subconsciously rewire your brain through daily repetition. 

3. Align Actions with Values: Make decisions based on what feels right to you, not what you think you should do. This alignment brings a strong sense of peace and authenticity.

Building and Relying on Your Support System

1. Seek Support: Reach out to friends, family, or a professional who can offer support without judgment. You need a safety net and if you don’t have one, start going out on activities that align with your likes, meet nice people and start building one! 

2. Share Your Struggles: Be open about what you’re going through. Vulnerability can strengthen connections and provide relief.

3. Set Boundaries: While it’s important to lean on others, ensure you’re not becoming overly dependent and that other people do not depend on you either. Encourage mutual support within your network and secure relationships. We nurture each other and that’s how it should always be!

Additional Steps to Overcome Overwhelm

1. Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness to stay present and reduce anxiety about the future or regrets about the past. There are tons of different practices that you can try and I’m sure you’ll find one that feels natural to you!

2. Time Management: Use tools like calendars, alarms and to-do lists to manage your time effectively. Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, and you’ll see how you won’t be running counterclockwise again. 

3. Reflect and Adjust: Regularly reflect on your workload, tasks and well-being. Be willing to make adjustments as needed.

4. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. This builds confidence and motivation, and teaches you that you matter as much as everything else. You don’t need to justify your value or existence based on how much you achieve or how helpful you are to others. 

5. Seek Professional Help: If overwhelm is affecting your mental health, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.

We are all worthy of making ourselves a priority and engaging in self-care. It’s not about what we think we should do, but what feels aligned with our true selves. By embracing our support systems and recognizing our worth, we can navigate through the chaos and find our way back to clarity and calm.

For those looking to dive deeper into this topic, I highly recommend listening to the full episode. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is to take a step back, reassess, and care for ourselves.

Remember, overcoming overwhelm isn’t about a one-time fix; it’s about ongoing, mindful efforts to maintain balance and self-worth. It’s a journey and one that’s well worth embarking on.

This blog post is inspired by the podcast episode mentioned above. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and looking for guidance, give it a listen. It might just be the turning point you need!