When You're Too Overwhelmed

At one point (or maybe more than a hundred points) in your life, things will become just too much. Too many items on your to-do list. Too much pressure from your boss. Too much anxiety over things you have no control over. Too many people in the room with you. Too much anger over a situation. Too many things on your mind. When faced with too much, here are some things that you can do.

Talk to God.
Don’t make this your last option. You don’t have to say a “formal” prayer. Make your prayers as normal as breathing. The more you talk to God, the more natural it will feel to turn to Him when things get too overwhelming.

Breathe in, breathe out.
The act of physically taking a deep breath and releasing it after a few seconds can help your brain and your heart slow down. Do this a few times until you feel calm enough to think with a clear head.

Step out/away.
If you need to leave a roomful of people, do it. If you need to walk away from a person you’re talking to, do it. When you need to leave that to-do list and walk around for a few minutes, do it. When you’re ready to face whatever needs to be dealt with, go back.

Read, watch, or listen to something.
It sometimes helps to do something that is so far from your current, overwhelming task just so you can get your bearings back. Read a few chapters from a non-school or non-work book. Watch a few minutes of your current favorite show. Listen to soothing (or rocking!) music. The idea is to get your mind off things, if only for a while.

Sleep.
Yes, sometimes, you just need to fully rest.

What are some other “secret weapons” that you have when things become a bit too much?

This is an entry from Dawns: A Weekly Devotional for Self-Care and Spiritual Growth. This devotional is available at OMF Lit Bookshops and shop.omflit.com for P350.

"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; 
 God will help her when morning dawns."
  - Psalm 46:5 (ESV)

Many times a woman’s path is dimmed by heartbreak, loneliness, pain, self-doubt, and suffering. Where could she turn to find light?

This weekly devotional for women offers words of friendship, grace, joy, peace, and love. Written by three authors — Isa, Janina, and Ida — these pages tackle women’s journey of faith, self-care, and spiritual growth.

Read the entry for the week...
Set aside time to meditate on the anchor verse...
Respond to the journaling prompt in whatever way you wish...
And remember, just when everything looks at its darkest,
soon will break a new dawn.