How reducing overwhelm creates a domino effect
Instead, what might help is working to reduce the overwhelm to make room for the positive things you want to add back into your life.
I find that when I start to do well in one area, there seems to be a flow-on effect and all of a sudden I am kicking goals in every area. I’m exercising, I’m eating healthy, I’m drinking more water, I’m meditating, I’m ticking things off my to-do list, I’m feeling more positive at work, I’m feeling less anxious… the list goes on.
It’s hard to know how to get into this positive domino-effect situation, and I do have previous articles on the topic of bouncing back which can help.
I was thinking about how it seems like exercising or eating healthy might be the catalyst. However, I think this domino effect actually starts by reducing overwhelm.
If you are currently in a state of feeling overwhelmed with everything you’ve got going on in your head, trying to cram in exercise and preparing healthy meals doesn’t seem like the logical or most compassionate thing to do for yourself.
Instead, what might help is working to reduce the overwhelm to make room for the positive things you want to add back into your life.
A life reset is a great place to start in reducing that overwhelm. The importance of sitting down for an hour or two to take stock of your current situation and work out what’s working, what isn’t and what you’re going to do about it is unmatched.
Trying to force yourself to go to the gym or to sit down and work on a passion project when you’re in the middle of feeling overwhelmed is less likely to lead to a positive result. Then if you do try and it doesn't work out, you’re adding to the evidence that you don’t follow through with your goals or you really aren’t a ‘fit person’ or a ‘writer’ or whatever you are wanting to be.
Instead, try to reduce the overwhelm before adding to your plate and see what a difference that makes.