Going through your day at a hundred miles an hour doesn't leave much time for thought. When you are not thinking you are simply reacting to what happens around you. This anxiety causing cycle will cause you to lose your mind. When you feel yourself spiraling out of control, you must stop. Stop, take a deep breath, and think about what you are doing. Stop to really think about the pieces and parts. What is the next step you must take? Are you doing things in an efficient order? How can you get control of the situation to avoid future anxiety-filled days?
Get it all out of your head and down on paper. Make yourself a list of tasks and then prioritize them. You might use a pad of paper or you could use index cards for each task. Then you can move the index cards around and prioritize them easily. Now when you get started again, you will be working on purpose. If you get out of control again, you know that you can stop, re-group, and get started again.
Bite Sized Pieces
Big picture thinking can lead to feelings of overwhelm. Often when thinking about projects, we think about the whole project. For example, you have to rebuild the house. Well, break that project down into smaller pieces. So, you may think about the one thing that you happen to be working on at the moment. If you are choosing kitchen tile, think about choosing kitchen tile. If you are deciding on whether to move a wall in the living room, think about that one thing. One room at a time - one decision at a time.
Give Yourself a Break
Take frequent breaks or get away for awhile. There is only so much rebuilding and decision making we can take. Give yourself some rest - even if you just drive around - it will help to clear your mind. Make sure that you are getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can do serious damage to your ability to think straight and function properly. Get the amount of sleep appropriate for you and encourage your family members to do the same. Regaining control of the way you are spending time will give you a tremendous sense of peace.
Remember, when you feel like speeding up, stop. Give yourself a breather and begin again refreshed and with purpose.
Ellen Martin is a productivity trainer, efficiency coach and published author with a passion for changing lives. Recognized as a leader in her field she has appeared on Dr Oz, Larry King Live and TLC, Ellen has earned celebrity organizer status. She’s co-author of the book Exploring Productivity: Ideas from Industry Professionals on Getting More Done in the Workplace, a collection of common sense ideas shared by seasoned experts. She founded A New Leaf, LLC to help clear mental and physical clutter and bring more clarity, organization and peace to your life. She offers free organizing tips at www.ConquerChaosNow.com.