The last few months have been overwhelming for me. I moved, I bought my first car, I flew to England, drove to Madrid and back (alone, after almost zero driving for the last 9 years), and worked through a pile of Spanish paperwork.
And here I am at the end of it, and the work is done, and life is more or less back to normal.I thought I'd share a few things that helped keep me going. Maybe they will help you too sometime when you feel overwhelmed. :)
Make a List... Or Don't.
When you have a ton of stuff to do, sometimes it helps to make a list. In my case I had a pad of paper, and at the top of each sheet I wrote one word, one category of my life I needed to get in order. Then below it I wrote a bullet list of the smaller tasks involved in getting that task done. Each day I'd try to cross something off my lists until I had worked through them.
On the other hand, I've also found that when you have a lot of little tasks, writing them all down can be even more overwhelming. Sometimes it helps just to put your shoulder to the wheel and knock them off one after another until the clutter is cleared and you can focus on the bigger picture.
Ride Your Momentum, but Don't Depend on It.
I've found that I depend a lot on momentum. When things go well, it gives me enthusiasm to keep going. This is a gift. Every victory makes you a little bit stronger for what comes next. I find it helpful to ride that wave, even if it means working on something I'm excited about today when I was planning to work on something else. There's no sense in going against the grain when you can use it to your advantage.
The downside to this principle is that sometimes you lose your momentum. When things go badly and you come up against a brick wall, it can feel like everything is ruined because you have to come grinding to a halt. It's important not to take setbacks too seriously. It's important to remember that you can always try again tomorrow. And you can pick up your speed again.
Procrastinate. And then Get to Work!
I find procrastination very helpful. Yes, you read that right. ;) Procrastination can be a useful way to build up your courage for the task ahead.
I've also realized that when I'm exhausted and have a huge mountain to conquer in front of me, sometimes the very best thing to do is put it out of my mind and simply rest. Watch a movie, take a nap. Often the smaller window of time you have to work in afterwards is surprisingly prolific.
Taking breaks between tasks can also help when your body starts aching or your brain gets fuzzy. Go outside, take a walk, watch a funny episode of a TV show (but don't get sucked into the vortex!). Allow yourself a small reward and then move forward again.
Know when to put procrastination aside and just do the work. And know when to put the work aside and call it a day too.
Stop to See How Far You've Come
When you're working on something big, you can become so focused on what still needs to be done that you forget how far you've come. It's important to stop from time to time and really notice, not just the things you've checked off your list, but how you yourself have changed throughout the process.
I've done a lot of growing the past few months. I remember how stressful it was when I first got behind the wheel after such a long time. Now that second-nature driving mode is coming back again. My paperwork PTSD that I developed in Germany is almost gone--I don't cringe every time I see an envelope in my mailbox anymore. After years of living with roommates, I'm living on my own and I can do it. I am doing it.
Remember What You're Working For
Having a goal to work towards is what has kept me going. Now that I've done everything I can, I just have to wait, and I feel strangely empty and angsty. Waiting can be even harder than working, when you're working towards something you really want and believe in. Though the work can be overwhelming, it can be what gives purpose to our lives. Sometimes you don't notice that when you're in the middle of it and it all just seems like a gigantic, complicated mess. But whether with work or waiting, I hope both you and I have the courage, faith, and hope to keep going till we reach our destiny.
