Six Steps to Shift
From Overwhelm to Overdrive
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by daily life. Between work commitments, family commitments and trying to fit in some time for friends, fun, fitness (and sleep), it’s no surprise many of us get stuck in a cycle of feeling overwhelmed with no clear path out.
In my own life, there was a period of time when I was also stuck in the overwhelm cycle. As a mom to two small kids with a full-time career as a psychotherapist, I became overwhelmed and frankly, burned out. But after taking some time to reflect, seek help and work on myself, I was able to regain some control of my life and break out of the cycle.
Breaking the cycle by slowing down
That experience led me to the idea of “overdrive”. I had my own definition of overdrive in my head, and I wanted to explore the idea. Since my “wake-up call”, I have read so much, reflected so much and shifted my thinking, opening up possibilities for myself that I hadn’t considered before.
What I learned is that overdrive can take two paths:
- Negative overdrive – essentially feeling overwhelmed, spinning in circles, reinforcing the very narrative that contributed to the burnout symptoms. So basically, doing the same thing I’ve always done, just with novel ideas.
OR
- Positive overdrive – feeling inspired in a way that the course feels clear, fear of failure becomes negligible, and the process is far more important than the product.
If you enjoy metaphors as much as I do, think about it in terms of a car (not that I know much about cars). Per Wikipedia: “Generally speaking, overdrive is the highest gear in the transmission. Overdrive allows the engine to operate at a lower RPM for a given road speed. This allows the vehicle to achieve better fuel efficiency, and often quieter operation on the highway.”
So, if one wants to work in their “highest gear” (what I previously, unintentionally and redundantly referred to as “positive overdrive”), they need to reduce their RPMs, or in modern slang “Slow Their Roll”.
To be more efficient and faster, we need to get quieter and slow down. Come to think of it, isn’t that the moral in The Tortoise and the Hare? “Slow and Steady Wins the Race”.
Shifting gears into overdrive
Through my own experience breaking out of the overwhelm cycle, I have made some pretty significant shifts in my perspective and approach to how I use my energy.
I am undoubtedly still very much a work in progress, but I’ve learned a great deal in the process.
If you are like me and are excellent at doling out wisdom to others, but have a hard time following your own advice, see if you can shift (pun intended) into overdrive using these steps:
Step 1: Notice that you’re overwhelmed and staling
This is harder than it sounds. We get so used to behaving a certain way (even if it’s not in our best interest) that it becomes comfortable. If you notice it, you can do something about it. So, find ways to check in with yourself, whether it’s a body scan, some quiet time, or my favorite, free writing.
Step 2: Do something to break the pattern
Something. Anything. If you want to lay on the couch, walk around the block. If you want to eat junk food, eat a piece of fruit. If you want to open up 10 tabs on your computer and try to take on the world, step away from the computer and breathe. Shake up the routine.
Step 3: Create a different kind of “to-do” list
Instead of listing everything you would like to accomplish, which is often an extensive, anxiety-provoking list that has no hope of being completed in one day, make a list that is what you absolutely can and will finish today. I like to add items like shower, eat lunch, and call a friend, because these all add to my well-being and productivity, and it feels good to cross them off. Don’t worry about forgetting something! If you forgot something, it wasn’t that important.
Step 4: Focus on what’s in your control
It is easy to spend a lot of energy thinking about things you can’t control. I like to use this analogy: Let’s say I’m planning a picnic for next weekend. I can worry that it’s going to rain and continually check the weather report. But guess what? No matter how many times I check the weather, I don’t have any control over it. Instead, I can make a contingency plan to account for whatever weather comes (i.e. a rain date, an alternative venue, etc.). Focus on what you can control and let the rest go.
Step 5: Make a choice, and take action
I suppose this is technically two steps, but I intentionally made it one. I know I am not alone in the pattern of making a choice and then procrastinating toward taking the necessary actions to move forward in that choice. Getting caught in indecision will lead to further frustration. So once you’ve made a choice, stop thinking about it and just take action. Two steps forward is better than spinning in circles, and far less tiring!
Step 6: Celebrate
This step so often gets forgotten. We’re so quick to move on to the next task that often we don’t take the time to savour what we’ve already accomplished. This is especially true about “the little things”.
If you are feeling overwhelmed it might seem at first that this is adding to your overwhelm, but it’s not. This is about transitioning from overwhelm to overdrive by increasing your efficiency. You can absolutely do this.
To recap:
Step 1: Notice that you’re staling
Step 2: Do something to break the pattern
Step 3: Create a different kind of “to-do” list
Step 4: Focus on what’s in your control
Step 5: Make a choice, and take action
Step 6: Celebrate
Take these steps to “slow your roll” into overdrive, before you know it you’ll be driving into the sunset feeling back in control of your life.
Elizabeth Scarlett
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