A good friend asked me recently, “Do you ever get overwhelmed?” I thought for a moment, No, I don’t. Not very often anyway.”
Almost everyone I know struggles with feeling overwhelmed: artists, teachers, architects, engineers. How have I managed to escape this condition of our times?
Luck and a giant penny.
I started undermining overwhelm in my life almost 40 years ago (40 years! Yikes!) when I was a high school English teacher.
One morning, on my way back from getting my mail out of my teacher’s mailbox, I suddenly saw myself scurrying down the hall. The students were languishing against the lockers, sometimes in mutual anatomical exploration that should have received a “Get a room!’ recommendation, when, as if I were hovering over my body in an operating room, I saw myself as a rational observer might.
I have a slightly crazed look on my face, compounded by the set of keys protruding from my mouth. I’m on my way to get back to my room and get ready for the onslaught of students, 33 strong slightly surly, hormone-bedeviled teenagers, who will descend upon my classroom in mere minutes.
Suddenly, a rather large penny dropped out of the heavens and onto my head and woke me up. Why was I in such a hurry? My students certainly weren’t. How much time would this fretting and fussing save me? Two minutes? Less?
I stopped my near run and started walking slowly, not quite a meander, but close.
I’ve been “meandering” ever since–as I’ve won teaching awards, traveled all over the world, written several books, recorded 4 CD’s, and earned a Master’s Degree.
I say all this to prove that overwhelming ourselves does not make us more productive. The brain research shows just the opposite. We cannot multitask well. We can do two or more things poorly at the same time, while we increase our blood pressure and decrease the effectiveness of our immune system.
Want Some Help Undermining Your Overwhelm?
Pennies can turn into boulders if we aren’t careful.
I’m pronouncing myself as an expert at undermining overwhelm. I’m offering a free consult to the first five people who contact me. I guarantee you will get at least one great idea or your money back! Warning: Do not put this on your To Do list. If you suspect I could help you, hit reply right now. We’ll set up a 30 minute session, less if you like.
If you are too overwhelmed to spend a little time with me, here is a short audio on one idea on how to Tame Your To Do List. Click here.
Listen to your body. It never lies to you.