How to Overcome "So Much To Do" Syndrome
You're going to bed and you're going over the list. All the things you need to do tomorrow. Maybe it keeps you awake. Maybe you fall asleep but your restless mind prevents you from having a peaceful sleep.
That To Do list is on your mind and it's messing with your mind. You wonder how you're going to get it all done.
You wake up in the morning with just a touch of dread but you're ready to tackle the day. You're tired from not a great night's sleep so you're already starting from behind.
You have your coffee and pray that there is enough caffeine to get you through the next twelve hours. The day starts to fly by and you haven't done anything on that list.
This is where the anxiety starts to kick in a little. Your brain has the thoughts, "ugh I have SO much to do" but it feels like you have no time to do anything. You doubt your ability and worse, doubt yourself. You tell yourself that you're a failure and you suck.
You're exhausted, even though you feel like you didn't do enough, and just pray for a good night's sleep. So you can start all over and try again tomorrow.
Like you, I have a lot on my plate. I feel like I have a hundred jobs and there is not nearly enough time in the day to focus on even one of them.There is my job where I see clients one on one, my job working with kids at a non-profit, my job as a mom, as a wife, as a daughter, and then the new job where I'm trying to expand my business. It's a lot.Some days I look at my To Do List and an I'm like how the f* am I supposed to do all that? And then self doubt kicks in and I wonder if it's even possible for me. Then I might spiral and start to question my whole life.After years of managing my own stress and anxiety and helping hundreds of people through their own, I have found a way to overcome that little spiral very quickly and most days bypass it completely.
3 Steps to Overcome So Much To Do Syndrome
Step 1.
Write it down.
You must get the To Do's out of your head and onto paper. In order for your brain to hold all that information it needs to repeat it over and over, which causes a stress reaction in your mind.Getting it down on paper will help your brain feel like it's handled. It will no longer have to repeat the list over and over because it knows it's somewhere safe.Writing it down also helps you see the big picture more clearly.
Step 2.
Pare it down.
Once you can see the whole list more clearly you will be able to prioritize it. You will choose ONE thing first.The main thing you will focus on will be one of the things, that if you accomplished that ONE thing then you would feel relief.
You would feel like you had been productive.
Today for me that was writing this blog post. So even if I get nothing else on my list done today but this blog is done, then I know I will feel like I progressed.
Step 3.
Downshift your thoughts.
Your thoughts cause your emotions. So when you say, "holy crap I have so much to do," your whole body responds with stress.
Try it right now.
Say to yourself, "holy crap I have so much to do," and notice how it feels in your body. It's typical to feel some sort of tightening or pressure.
Notice now how it feels in your body to say, "this is what I'm doing today."
You just shifted from stressful to powerful. People always say to me, easier said than done. And I respond, of course! Everything is easier said that done but that doesn't mean you're not capable.
It's worth doing because your sanity is worth everything. Do this and you will feel in control of your life instead of staying in that overwhelmed state and not getting anything done.
What’s your best tip for managing So Much To Do Syndrome?