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As a business owner, you wear many hats. You are the boss, inventory taker, social media presence, accountant, customer-greeter, cleaner, cook and more. You probably think about your business during your downtime, and it is easy to become overwhelmed.
There are many different symptoms of overwhelm, and you may mistake them for stress, tiredness or anger. However, it is important to differentiate between these emotions and recognize when you are taking on too much so you can step back, realign your priorities and protect yourself from burnout.
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Symptoms of overwhelm
Some of the common symptoms of overwhelm include irritability, anxiety, feeling sad, having trouble focusing your attention on each task, feeling overburdened, making bad decisions and forgetting things.
You may experience a change in your sleep patterns, either being unable to achieve a restful sleep or sleeping too much. You may notice a change to your appetite, and you may even notice that you are experiencing heart palpitations.
You might withdraw socially, engage in nervous behaviors or find yourself procrastinating when you might otherwise have plowed ahead with your to-do list.
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Strategies for overcoming overwhelm
If any of the symptoms listed above seem familiar to you, here are some steps you can take to help realign your chakras, settle your mind, and begin to feel more like yourself again.
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1. Use grounding techniques.
These techniques are a form of mindfulness designed to address the immediate feelings of overwhelm, allowing you to regain focus and clarity, reduce the likelihood of you experiencing a panic attack, and help you proceed onto the next step. They include taking deep breaths while focusing on the things you can see, hear, touch, smell and taste.
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2. Step away.
Take time away from the situation that's causing you to become overwhelmed and engage in a different activity such as walking, reading or listening to music. Doing this helps you reset your mind and achieve a fresh perspective.
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3. Set boundaries and priorities.
Write out a list of all of the activities that need to be completed and their respective deadlines. You will then be able to prioritize the list, identify which activities can be delegated or deferred, and break large tasks into smaller, more achievable steps. Be clear with others about what is achievable, and do not feel guilted into taking on more than you can realistically handle.
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4. Take time for yourself.
Make sure to take time to engage in the things that bring you joy. Eat well, rest, and try to get adequate sleep. These small self-care steps can make a huge difference to your mind and body.
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5. Get professional support.
If you believe that you cannot overcome your feelings of overwhelm by yourself, it shows strength to accept that you need professional help and to enlist the services of a trained counselor who can help you to develop your emotional resilience and overcome the challenges you are facing.
