Overwhelm - Where to Start, When You Don't Know Where to Start

Photo by Alessandra Caretto on Unsplash

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​Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.
- George Bernard Shaw

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New Path Productivity LLC · New Path Perspective Blog: Overwhelm. Where To Start When You Don't Know Where To Start

​​How many times have you said, "I'm always busy, but nothing seems to get done"? Maybe you feel like there are too many things to do, and not enough time to do them. All the while, you're missing out on what's important to you because the only apparent solution is to work more hours.

​The truth is, you can manage your to-do list and its competing priorities. The dream of having your evenings and weekends back can become a reality. Managing your time and your team (if you have one) is possible.
 
But where do you start? You've probably heard the sayings, "Information is Power" and "If you don't know where you are, you can't get where you're going."
 
Take your navigation system, for example. It knows your current location and then provides directions for reaching your destination. It's the same when trying to escape your overwhelm. If you don't know where you are, you can't plot a course in the right direction.
 
I understand, taking an honest look at your overwhelm is scary. But avoiding it doesn't work. Ask me; I've tried it. You either continue living the nightmare every day, getting nowhere, or you hit it straight-on and finally head down a new path.
 
You may be saying, "If I had the time to stop and assess, I wouldn't even be in this situation." But you are, and you can't look backward to course correct. You can only move from unaware to informed by doing the hard work.
 
Are you still with me? Fantastic!
 
To get started, set aside a block or two of time to focus, and honestly assess the good, bad, and ugly of how you manage the following:

• Information (paper and electronic)
• Email
• Communication
• Prioritizing
• Process Documentation
• Time
• Project Management
• Delegation

 
The success of your business, your stress levels, and your feelings of accomplishment are significantly impacted by how well you manage these elements. Everything must work in harmony, and your actions (or lack of them) can inadvertently contribute to your chaos.
 
Think of these elements as the wheel on a bicycle. If any part goes flat, the wheel resists turning. You expend more and more energy pedaling, but you barely move, exhausting yourself in the process. Sound familiar?
 
You may think it's impossible, but you can choose a different path. A path that stops overwhelm from controlling your life.
 
So, how long will you continue down the path you're on? Putting your relationships in jeopardy, and accepting you will never have time for the things that are important to you?
 
When you don't know where to start, the first step is an honest self-assessment. Thoughtful and straightforward consideration will put you on the path to progress.
 
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