As 2018 comes to a close, it’s no surprise many of us are feeling really, really overwhelmed. And if you’re anything like me right now, you’ll find yourself asking “why can’t I think straight?”

So, here are four essential steps that will help you get back on track. 

Step 1: Deal with stress 

Feelings of being overwhelmed are often directly linked to stress. And stress can harm your mind and body in more ways than you could ever imagine possible. The best way to reduce stress is to deal with it head on by eating well, getting lots of sleep, learning to relax and reducing your cortisol. Cortisol is the stress hormone that can wreak havoc in our bodies. Reduce your cortisol by eating cortisol reducing foods such as pears, bananas, probiotics found in yoghurt and kimchi, and drink plenty of water. Relax by having a weekly tech free bubble bath, or go for a long walk, or a swim in the ocean – small acts of daily relaxation will do wonders to reduce your cortisol. 

Step 2: Kick self-doubt to the curb

Self-doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will and for many of us, it’s something we will have to deal with often. Therefore it’s so important not to let self-doubt derail you from what you want to accomplish. My top three ways to stop self-doubt in its tracks is to recognise when self-doubt starts to creep in and take a break outdoors to clear your mind, avoid slipping into comparison mode by refocusing on doing something you love, and listen to a podcast to learn something new.

Step 3: Master the art of reflection

Feeling overwhelmed is totally natural, so you should take it in your stride. When you do start feeling like this, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how much you have achieved and how far you’ve come! By changing your mindset and mastering the art of reflection, you’ve just stopped those feelings of overwhelm.

Step 4: Make a new plan 

Feeling overwhelmed might be your mind’s attempt at telling you something isn’t working. You know, that something just isn’t right. So, it’s time to stop, have a break and make a new plan.  When your mind is feeling clear again, look at what you need to do and write a new plan in your notebook, prioritising your workload. 'Reflect, review and refocus', as Beck Wadworth says! Where possible delegate any appropriate tasks as well, and clearly understand what NEEDS to be done, and what is flexible.

Good luck!

AOL Article by Jaharn Giles from Your Creative Start