How to Keep Life From Overwhelming You This Summer

Is it just me, or are you trying to figure out how to keep life from overwhelming you this Summer? I know Memorial Day was just this weekend, but it seems Summer is already walloping us.

There is so much tragedy around us. We had another devastating school shooting with multiple children and adults killed, and we are still dealing with a pandemic. Groceries and gas prices are increasing daily as our economy continues to falter. How much can we take?

Furthermore, we all have individual challenges such as illness, unemployment, and family issues. We need to take care of ourselves and not get caught up in the drama of living. As a breast cancer survivor, I know what it is like to feel completely overwhelmed. It is frustrating and all-encompassing at times. But, there are ways to handle it.

Keep Life From Overwhelming You

All life is fragile, and I experienced that firsthand on Saturday. As most of you know, I am passionate about floating in my pool during the Summer. The water has been a tad too cold for me to swim in so far, but that doesn’t stop me from checking the water temperature daily.

I walked up to the pool edge and was sad to find a dead morning dove floating in the water. The poor bird. Do you think it was a mom or dad? Its eyes were closed, and it did not appear as if it had been attacked. I wonder if it fell from the sky already dead or it went for a swim in the pool and drowned? Either way, it is no longer a living thing. It made me feel horrible about the fragility of life. We just never know.

If you knew you would die in the next few days, would you spend your time fretting over things you cannot control? Would you allow yourself to stay angry at someone for an event from years ago? Probably, not.

On the contrary, you will likely use your time to focus on the most important things to you in life. Why don’t we all do that right now? Some people carry a grudge, are vindictive, or stay angry. Why should we put up with that behavior? Those that act that way are not “my people.” As such, they should be kept at arm’s distance. I will focus my energy and time on family and friends. Care to join me?

I will no longer accept invitations to events I feel uncomfortable attending. I will delegate tasks or research hacks for agendas I abhor. Being conscious of my thoughts, I will make decisions that align with my personal goals. Admittedly, this is a very tall task; however, I want to do it. Do you?

Five Things to Do When Feeling Overwhelmed

• Take back control
• Mind your language
• Don’t work Harder
• Take a real break
• Recognize your suffering

I found a website, http://happify.com (I love the name), with an article that focused on doing the five things listed above when you feel overwhelmed. The article was interesting and quite helpful to me. Click here to read it: https://www.happify.com/hd/5-things-you-can-do-if-feeling-overwhelmed/.

“Every day may not be good… but there’s something good in every day.”

Alice Morse Earle

Stop Allowing Negative Thinking to Control You

Overall, I believe we are each overwhelmed in our own ways. The biggest key to managing my overwhelm is controlling my thoughts. How often have you run around the house frantic that you will be ten minutes late to a friend’s house for dinner? When you find your car keys, you drive like a lunatic to get there quickly. Sound familiar?

Despite the drama, the world will not end if you are ten minutes late. Yet, we still spin out of control and put ourselves in harm’s way. Do you think your friend would choose you being late vs. being in a fatal car accident? Slow down, get ready earlier, and don’t rush. There is no need to work yourself up into a tizzy. (I have always wanted to use that word!)

Go easy on yourself! How important is it? I have a friend that used to tell her kids when she worked from home, “If the house is not on fire and you are not bleeding, do not interrupt me.” Great way to teach your kids perspective! We need to stop the drama to interrupt the overwhelm. And we need to stop stressing over things entirely out of our control.

Furthermore, do not get sucked into other people’s drama. Choose to stay calm when chaos is all around you. I have been practicing it, and it is so freeing! Also, be aware that multi-tasking is often drama in disguise. Do you really need to wash the dishes and then dust the living room furniture while refuting your Gas Company invoice via phone? Focus on one thing at a time.

In conclusion, I hope I have not overwhelmed you with ideas in this post! I am sorry for being on my soapbox a bit; I didn’t realize my passion for this topic until I began writing. Earlier this year, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek post about things overwhelming me. You should check it out if you need a chuckle. https://www.outwittinglife.com/five-things-overwhelming-me-right-now-sort-of/

Please let me know if anything here resonates with you in the comment section below. Also, please share any tips you use to combat feeling overwhelmed.