3 Simple Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

Have you ever felt overwhelmed? We all have at some point in our lives, especially when we’re faced with the unknown, something we can’t control, or a season of life when our to-do list seems never-ending. Wait, isn’t that every season?

Let’s be honest, 2020 has made most of us feel overwhelmed on a whole new level. We’ve been trying to make decisions about major things in our lives based on little to no information, and we’ve faced a ton of things that are outside our control.

We can’t solve all the world’s problems (as much as we want to), but we can solve our problems. You are in control of how overwhelmed you allow yourself to get. And whether you realize it or not, solving your own problems will make more of an impact on your life than living in frustration about all the world’s problems you can’t fix.

Here are three simple ways to stop being overwhelmed in your life:

Stop talking about how overwhelmed you are

Stop talking about it. Yep, it sounds simple, but the more you say, “I’m overwhelmed,” the bigger and more real it becomes for you—and the more overwhelmed you get!

Remember, whatever you focus on increases, so let’s change the focus and the narrative. Don’t hide it or pretend you’re not overwhelmed, but you can stop fueling it by changing your focus.

Write down what you’re overwhelmed about

Get out a piece of paper and a pen and write out what you’re overwhelmed by. Write down facts about the things that are stressing you out.

Here are some examples:

• I am overwhelmed by social media.
• I am overwhelmed because I don’t know if school is ever going to be back in session.
• I am overwhelmed by my calendar and to-do list.

Simply writing down the things that stress you out can lower your stress. You get all the swirling thoughts out of the battlefield of your mind and into the real world on paper. It’s not only therapeutic, but it also helps you know what action to take next.

Do something

After you write down what’s stressing you out, I want you to look at your list and ask yourself: Is there anything I can do about this? If the answer is no, then all you can do is let it go and give it to God. If there’s something you can do . . . do it! You are in charge of your life, your calendar, and your to-do list. When you take action (any action) on things that stress you out, you feel more in control, productive, and confident. As a result, your feelings of being overwhelmed lessen.

I don’t know what this season holds for you. I don’t know if you’re homeschooling or trying to figure out a new normal for your family. But here’s what I do know: You have more power over your life, your feelings, and your outcomes than you think you do! 

Christy Wright is a #1 national best-selling author, personal development expert, and host of The Christy Wright Show. She’s been featured on Today Show and Fox News and in Entrepreneur and Woman’s Day Magazines. Since 2009, Christy has served at Ramsey Solutions, where she teaches on personal development, business, and faith. Follow Christy on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube or online at christywright.com.