Lee Sumner
Certified Professional Coach

for inspiration, strategies, and results

May 2006

Vol. III - Issue 5

Words of Wisdom

How to Survive When You
Have WAY Too Much to Do

Are there days when you feel so overwhelmed by all there is to do that you wonder how you'll ever make it through?

When you feel overwhelmed, it's a signal that your body has already gone into fight or flight mode. Your attention and energy shift to the task at hand and it's easy to put your self-care aside, believing that all will be well if you just push through your stress threshold. But, when you're under stress, it's the perfect time to return to basic self-care strategies that will not only protect your health, they'll make you more productive and effective too. Here are some specific things you can do:

1. Eliminate one or two social activities that you'd really rather not do and give yourself the gift of some free time. We all have a tendency to say yes to a couple of invitations we think we should accept when the truth is our heart's not in it. Do others a big favor and make your social choices out of love, not out of guilt or obligation.

2. Create space in your bedroom. For example, remove the pile of books next to your bed (you know, the ones that scream "READ ME!"), put the clothes away, and turn off the phone. The idea is to clear out anything that pulls at you for attention and prevents you from resting your busy mind or getting a good night's sleep.

3. Get rid of two or three projects that sounded like a good idea at the time, but have been collecting dust for the last several months. Too often we fall in love with a project's potential only to end up feeling guilty for not taking action. Give these ideas up and do something different: make the space, hold tight, and trust that the Divine will bring you your highest and best projects. Trust me, when you operate in this new way, you can't wait to take action on the fun and exciting opportunities that come your way.

4. Drink lots of water. When the body is under stress, coritsol levels increase and it's easy to become dehydrated. When you're dehydrated your brain gets foggy, fatigue kicks in, and your productivity plummets. Buy a big bottle of water, keep it on your desk, and when it's gone, fill it up and keep on drinking.

5. Refocus your priorities. Throughout the day take short periods of uninterrupted time to reevaluate your priorities. Too often high stress levels cause us to revert to mindless activities that waste time like surfing the web. Turn off your phone, avoid voicemail and e-mail for 5 minutes and ask yourself the following question: What's the best use of my time and energy right now?

6. Play the delegation game. When I feel overwhelmed I challenge myself to take one big item off of my plate by delegating it to someone else. You'd be surprised at how well people step up to the plate when you let them!

7. Take a break. Get out of the office, even if it's for 5 minutes. Shift your focus from work to something pleasurable like reading a poem or devotional, listening to some uplifting music, or taking a brisk walk. You'll come back refreshed and better able to make wise choices.

8. Eat protein. We naturally turn to high carbohydrate foods to calm our nervous system. When your blood sugar drops shortly after, so does your energy and concentration. To give yourself a longer, more even flow of energy, keep good sources of protein handy. Put a bag of unsalted cashews or almonds in your desk. Or keep a can of protein powder handy to mix with soy milk for a mid-afternoon boost.

9. Take a nap. If you find yourself feeling tired, give yourself permission to enjoy a little siesta. I have a client who insists that some of his most productive afternoons happen as a result of taking a 20-minute nap on his office couch.

10. Go to bed early. Try going to bed at a ridiculously early time (without watching television) and let your body get some extra sleep.

11. Close your eyes. Take a few minutes to close your eyes and connect with your breath. Just closing your eyes causes your brain to begin making alpha waves -- the slower brain wave patterns that create a more relaxed state.

12. Practice doing nothing. Sometime this week, take a period of time and do absolutely nothing. Don't talk to anyone, don't read, or don't watch TV. Just be. When the discomfort rises (and it probably will), simply breathe and sit still.

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Warmly,

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