When we are feeling overwhelmed, our stress goes up and it can become a vicious circle – overwhelm leads to stress leads to more overwhelm, etc.  If you are feeling overwhelmed - pause right now. 

Try this: 1) rate your feeling of overwhelm on a scale of 1-10 (1 being not much – 10 being over the top – feeling very overwhelmed)

2) Take a deep breath, fill your belly, exhale.  Again.  Breathe with awareness for ten seconds – big deep inhales and exhales (this is called power breathing). 

3) Get a big piece of paper and do a brain drain – write down all the things that are making you feel overwhelmed.  Take a look at what you have captured on paper and start picking areas you can get a handle on and get back in the driver’s seat to start reducing overwhelm. 

For example, 1. look at the list of things that are causing you to feel overwhelm 2. circle the items that you can do something about (either release, complete, delegate, drop it, etc.), and 3. pick one area and commit to addressing it.

When you take action with the intent of reducing stress and overwhelm, this simple and profound act of taking charge of your life starts to create relief and spaciousness, this in itself can reduce the overwhelm you are feeling. 

How do you feel now?  Rate your feeling of overwhelm on a scale of 1-10 again.  Has anything shifted?  Check in with yourself and just notice.  You are a powerful agent of change in your own life.