Overcoming the Overwhelm

Posted on February 5, 2019 by

1 Comment

Well, it has been a while since I have posted anything.  Needless to say, we have been adjusting to having a baby then a toddler.  During naps and early bedtime I have been obsessed with trying to make systems and simplify our life so that things go smoother and we have more time to spend with each other as a family.  A cluttered life makes for a cluttered mind and frustration, right?  Unfortunately, decluttering and coming up with systems then implementing also take time.  I have been so happy to finally be a parent that I hadn’t stopped so much to wish more time for myself but now I am starting to feel it.

My life revolves around naps.  Sometimes if I didn’t plan out what I would accomplish during a baby nap it goes so fast that the moment passes, nothing got done and Ethan is awake and on to the next thing we go.  Phew!  And honestly, some days I feel overwhelmed at all the things I want to do and not so much for me but so that I can make life easier.  Anyone else do this?  In an effort to make life easier you complicate it?

Yesterday I was feeling particularly overwhelmed as I was trying to put Ethan to nap in his crib,which he doesn’t normally do, I interrupted his nap time and then the rest of the day went to hell and a handbasket.  It doesn’t take much to set me behind…so as I layed with him trying to get him to nap it occurred to me that by being more focused on the process of being organized I have become inflexible and self sabotaging.  So, what to do?

I decided to give myself some grace and realize its all a process. Then I had to give myself a little pep talk, because if I don’t do it who will?  So here are some of the things that helped me get past the overwhelmed feeling.  I realized that its too hard to implement more than one thing at a time and that I really needed to pick ONE thing to work on, maybe make a list of the other things to change or implement but put them on the backburner until I was successful with the current project. Then I started thinking about the things I have gotten better at.  Like we have kept up with the laundry, consistently kept dirty clothes out of our bedroom floor and clean laundry put away.  Also, the fridge has been kept tidy, and we have been better at meal planning.  So then I was like, “actually, I am winning”  Big grin on my face.  Ok, I feel better.  I can move forward.

Your situation may be different.  You may have all these basics down if you are on child number 2 or 3 or maybe not.  You may be overwhelmed with work projects or personal projects and obligations.  I think some of these principles could still help you by giving you a reality check, an evaluation of where you are to see what is working and what is not and also to give yourself a review of your accomplishments thus far.  A positive outlook will get you farther then anything else in my opinion. Oh yeah, and get yourself some Stress Away, its one of my favorite essential oils and a must have for mom’s. Let me just say it will make you feel happy!

Here are some tips to overcome the Overwhelm

1. Take a deep breath, give yourself some grace and realize you are already doing a lot even if it doesn’t feel like you are getting anywhere.

2. Make a list of systems you would like to change.

3. Prioritize which one will help you the most and figure out what steps will get you there. Only pick one.

4. Write down what is working for you and what is going well.

5. Give your self some grace, remind yourself that you are doing a great job and momming is hard.

6. Throw some Stress Away in your diffuser and relax. If you are not an Oily member yet and want to get started go to my essential oils post and click on the link. I will help you figure out how to incorporate them especially for emotional support!

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One Comment on “Overcoming the Overwhelm”

  1. Beautiful post! Thank you for sharing. You’re such an amazing mom, wife, friend, daughter and nurse…I’m glad you’re giving yourself some grace. Good golly! We wear so many different hats in life, and this was a nice reminder to give ourselves some credit and slowwww down to celebrate our growth, no matter how small. Much love to you and the family. Love your blog. Candace

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