Motherhood has been quite overwhelming for me the last couple of weeks.
Little Stella just turned 8 months old. She's so big already, that I almost miss the tiny-baby time. Most of the time she’s full of joy and smiles, an active and strong-willed baby who shows a good sense of humour. She’s standing up, crawling and climbing on things, finally she’s getting around on her own, she was so eager to learn it for so long.
All this growth is wonderful; I'm grateful that I'm allowed to watch and help her grow.
It also means that she has been sleeping less during the day and is waking up more often during the nights. Sleep regression, teething and growth leaps… It’s hard for all of us.
On some days I’ve been so tired, overwhelmed and dizzy that I didn’t even know that this level of exhaustion could exist and how one could still function and get things done. Sometimes we really are, super-humans!
It’s quite amazing what our bodies and our brain are capable of but it can’t go on like that for a long time.
A tired brain is scattered, overwhelmed and unproductive.
Exhaustion lowers our energy levels and it’s hard to focus on anything complex.
We get irritated and disconnected when we are tired.
And, everyone knows that long-term exhaustion can lead to issues in every areas of our life.
As a coach, I believe, and know that we can always change the circumstances for the better.
We don't have to keep ourselves struggling for long. We don’t need to keep self-sabotaging ourselves.
Even when it feels impossible, the answers always come when we are ready to receive help and guidance. We can always find solutions, when we just stop to think about it and allow ourselves to change our situation.
That’s what I did with my situation with my little one. I stopped complaining, did some research and found solutions to help my little one (and myself) sleep better. Things change so fast with them, I had to ask for help, so I could get some rest.
All this helped. Bringing awareness to the situation and knowing that I can affect and change my situation felt already relieving and I could make a plan of what to do next.
The biggest reason for overwhelm is the lack of clarity; there’s too much to do.
We tend to have to-do lists that include everything we want and have to do in the near future. Sometimes the days are scheduled so full that it doesn’t leave room for natural changes that life brings: we get sick, someone cancels, something needs to be prioritized, energy levels are low… We get into reaction mode and feel that we have to over-control and micromanage everything.
Do this to get rid of overwhelm
Plan your weeks beforehand on Sundays:
Choose three main priorities for the week.
Sketch your weekly schedule so you know what’s coming up.
Set intentions: see things going amazingly well all week and decide how you want to feel at the end of the week.
Ask what are the worries you cannot do anything about? Leave them to the universe.
Schedule time for yourself; exercise, get fresh air and prioritize your own needs. This is non-negotiable: it's the source of your well-being and happiness.
When you get used to doing this it’s quick and then you know what’s happening next week and you are prepared for changes. With the plan, you will also set boundaries. Saying no will be easier. You will also feel that you are in the lead and super good you have planned time for yourself.
Know that there's a lot you can do to help yourself when you need help. All you need to do is to get started.
Have you ever encountered a stressful time in your life where overwhelm got the best of you? How did you manage to overcome it? Let me know in the comments below!
With Love,
Jenni