I started to get that completely stressed out and overwhelmed feeling…again. For me it feels a bit like being underwater-everything is muffled, dark, and oddly slow. Yet, this time instead of ignoring it I stopped and checked in with my body and what was happening. 😱 I mean, usually I do all I can to ignore my body!
Part of it is because I’ve got too much to do and I’m so focused on what needs to be done that I’m not existing in the present. I have some travel coming up and so need to get the house clean and get everything ready for someone to come and take care of my bunny Sweetie. So my brain is split between what is in front of me and what I’ve got spinning on the Hamster wheel. Add to that activities every night this week and I’m wondering when I think I’m getting everything done, and, oh yeah, I need to pack.
The other part, and this was my aha moment, comes from an old bit of trauma.
When I don’t immediately know how to do something, then I feel dumb, and when I feel dumb, I feel small. Ooof, just typing that hits hard. I’ve temporarily taken on another position at work (on top of my job) and so I’m having to figure out everything. Cue constant shame spiral, which leads to my overwhelm.
I share this because I have to break the cycle. I can’t break the cycle unless I know what is going on. There is a reason I’m currently overwhelmed and some of it has to do with choices I’ve made, along with the slightly ridiculous ‘to do’ list.
Right now I am working on being present.
Lately there are two things that are helping me do that. 1) I do very gentle yoga over lunch. I actually call it roll around on the floor yoga. It gives my body the opportunity to stretch and just be. 2) When I go home I don’t reach for my phone, instead I set a timer for twenty minutes and read a book. Total time commitment a day is forty minutes that are broken out over two twenty minute stints.
If you don’t have forty minutes in your day then try for twenty. If you can’t find twenty minutes a day for yourself, then it might be time to take a look at your calendar and carve out that time for yourself.
What would feel good for you to support your brain and your body? What can you commit to doing for twenty minutes a day?
