"I've got so much going on. When I have time to get something done, I can't focus."
When I’m feeling this way, you’ll find me scrolling my IG feed. I’ll start watching cat or baby videos or better yet, football hype reels. Or, I’ll mindlessly window shop.
I get how frustrating this is. You think that if you could be more productive, you’d feel less overwhelmed. You want to work your way out of it, check a few things off your to-do list and feel a sense of accomplishment.
But you don’t seem to have the bandwidth or energy to focus. What’s going on?
There is a good chance you're fried. It’s an odd way to describe it, but when our nervous system is working overtime, our circuits go haywire.
Are you jumpy and get startled easily?
Is it hard to fall or stay asleep?
Have you lost your patience and do you lose your temper easily?
Does everything, even the small things, feel like a big deal?
These are signs that you need to hit the reset button.
Working harder won’t help you through the overwhelm (at least in a sustainable way). I know. I said it again. You need to tend to yourself.
The more you have on your plate, the more downtime you need.
Giving yourself some space in your day will be worth it. Take time for lunch away from your computer. Go for a short walk. Take 5 minutes and step outside with a cup of tea.
You can’t be your most creative self if you're feeling depleted.
Consider some bigger questions...
Are you expecting yourself to be all things to all people?
Do you have reasonable and sustainable expectations for yourself?
Are you able to set boundaries to protect your energy?
Your struggle with focusing isn’t the real problem, it’s a symptom. As you navigate through this, you’ll see that there is a large part of you that’s asking for more support and a mindset change.
If you’d like to partner with me to help you through this, set up a time with me to chat.