Starting a new business is overwhelming! There is so much to do.
I have a vision in mind for what I want to create to help you but it’s so far from there right now that it’s hard to know where to start.
I get stressed out, don’t know what to focus on, and end up jumping from task to task with not much to show for all those hours at the end of the day.
So today, I decided to face this head on and deal with this overwhelm so I can actually move forwards.
I did a bit of research into where overwhelm comes from and what you can do to tackle each of the causes. You’ll have the best results by combining a few together.
1. Too much to do, too little time
This is the classic one. Too much on your plate and not enough time to do it in. Makes anyone feel stressed!
Solutions
- Prioritize. Use the Eisenhower Matrix of Urgent/Not Urgent, Important/Not Important to prioritize your tasks. Delegate, delete and schedule as much as you can for later to get them off your plate for today.
- Communicate. If people are depending on you to do this stuff, let them know you’re struggling to get it all done and why. Communicate clear boundaries so you don’t end up in this situation in the future.
2. Perfectionism
I’m very guilty of this one! I want to do my best at everything but can just get paralyzed by analysis paralysis.
Solutions
- Embrace “Good Enough” as a standard rather than perfect.
- Progress matters more than perfection. You’ve moved things forward.
- Be kind to yourself. It’s hard to let go of a perfectionist mindset.
3. Unclear direction
This is the one I’ve been struggling with the most. When you’re free to take a task in any direction you want, it can give you too much choice. Listening to lots of different opinions on the right direction to take can be confusing too.
Solutions
- Limit external inputs. Set a specific time limit for research or getting opinions from others. Then take action.
- Make quick plans for the few main directions. Choose one and get going.
4. Constant interruptions
Slack, phone notifications, email, colleagues needing support… there are so many things that can interrupt your day. For every time you’re interrupted it can take up to 15 minutes to get back into a flow state. Resulting in you needing to get more done in less time and feeling like you’re always on call.
Solutions
- Set a structured routine that you agree with others around you. In corporate, I used to have a block in my corporate calendar for Do Not Disturb time where I could get deep work done.
- If you work in a noisy environment, get some noise cancelling headphones! They have been a lifesaver for me (my partner also works from home and he’s talks very loud on phone calls!)
- Use Do Not Disturb mode on all your devices.
- Help yourself by focussing on one thing at a time. Trying to multi-task has the same effect as feeling constantly interrupted. Both tasks are shouting for attention.
5. Emotional stress and poor health
When you’re dealing with challenges in life and work you’ve already got a lot on your plate. Add in some poor health and emotional stress, it’s easy to feel tired and things you’d normally be able to cope with are a huge struggle.
I’ve been dealing with the stress and pressure of needing to make this business work and I’ve also had a lingering cold for 3 weeks. So it’s made me tired and hammered my decision making. I’ve had brain fog for weeks.
Solutions
- Get 7-9 hours sleep and stay hydrated. Sleeping well is hard when you’re stressed and ill, so try going to bed earlier to make up for the poor sleep.
- Practice mindfulness. Meditate, keep a gratitude journal, have 10 minutes of quiet with a warm drink and decompress. Remind yourself to relax throughout the day and take deep breaths.
- Eat a balanced diet. This is easier said than done if you’re busy and not well, but try to help yourself by snacking on fruit and add some salad or vegetables to every meal (even if it’s a takeaway or ready meal!).
- Use your energy on the highest impact tasks. This is especially important when your energy is limited.
- Go for a walk in nature. Did you know that people who live in tree lined streets are happier?
Main takeaways
Overwhelm is caused by lots of different things. Whether it’s time constraints, perfectionism, unclear direction, constant interruptions or emotional stress and poor health.
Figure out what is causing yours so you can try the solutions that help with that particular cause.