We’re better off today than we have ever been—most of us now take food, clean water, clothing and shelter for granted. And wonderful technology—it has automated, made things faster, smaller and more useable, saved us money, time, stress and hassle and impacted more tasks than we could possibly imagine.

In fact we can now be in constant contact with everyone at all times via multiple phones, email and many different forms of instant-messaging. But instead of relaxing while the dishwasher is on we simply cram more into our already busy lives. The explosion of automation, possibility and choice means we are constantly over-committed, over-connected, over-informed and overwhelmed.

I wonder if you ever experience any of these; forgetfulness, racing thoughts, daydreaming at inconvenient moments, become preoccupied or snappy, have difficulty falling or staying asleep or find it hard just to “see the wood for the trees”? These symptoms of stress and overwhelm have become so common that we now simply accept them as a part of daily life.

The good news is that overwhelm is largely self-created. We try to manage time better when really we should be managing ourselves better—doing less and looking after our needs more.

What’s your overwhelm indicator?
How do you know you’ve gone too far, taken on too much or are pushing yourself too hard? Just starting to notice when you feel overwhelmed is a huge step forward. As people get better at noticing, they learn to stop, think and do something about it.

Simply stop and ask yourself one question
“OK, so what’s the EASY way to do this?” Listen to your inner wisdom and implement!

Identify your Top 5 Priorities and make these your focus
People’s top priorities often include things like family/friends, health, financial security and being happy or enjoying life. Next time you feel overwhelmed you can regain calm by asking, “What would be best for my family/health/financial situation/happiness right now?”

Create calm in your mind
Place your feet on the floor and focus on your breathing for a moment. Now close your eyes and imagine your thoughts, tasks, to do’s, etc. as a river raging around you. Slowly imagine the river getting calmer and calmer until it is a quiet, gently flowing stream. Once it is a gentle stream, imagine it getting smaller and trickling into a beautiful, quiet, still pond. Now you’re ready to continue with your day—one thing at a time.

Just make a decision
Sometimes NOT making a decision adds to your overwhelm, as options and possibilities crowd your mind. Simply make the best choice with the information available to you at the time and CHOOSE to be happy with it.

Re-learn how to say “No”
There will ALWAYS be more to do than time available. Once you know what’s REALLY important to you, make that your priority and let go of the rest! Re-learn how to say “No” and the relief you’ll feel will be amazing!

Set yourself up for the day
We all know people cope with daily stresses better when they are well rested. If you go to bed just 30 minutes earlier each day you will start your day feeling more rested and better-fueled. Also, turn off the TV at least an hour before bedtime and allow your brain to unwind.

I once read that the harder you push yourself, the harder your self pushes back. So remember, your life is a never-ending series of choices—make yours wisely!