We all have been to a point where we throw our hands up in the air and just want to give up. I’ve found myself there many, many times.
What we need to remember during these times is that sometimes our lives have to completely fall apart, so we can rebuild it, stronger than it’s ever been. We have to go through the darkness to get to the light. What may feel like the end of the world, may be a necessary step in our journey for our next chapter. And I know, it’s so much easier to say these things when you aren’t going through it.
When I feel overwhelmed and nothing seems to be going right, I re-commit to myself that I will not give up. I slow things down and think about what is happening and what I can learn from it. I practice good self-care. Then I focus on what is really in my control. And those things that I can control? Well, those are the only things I focus on because those are the only things I can actually do something about. However, sometimes knowing that you have control over certain things can be overwhelming itself.
One of my favorite authors, Sarah Knight (I swear she is my super witty soul sister), has created a series of books that are apart of A No F*cks Given Guide. In Get Your Sh*t Together she reveals the magical art of how to break down tasks, that really can apply to any goal you have, by pairing down everything down to small, manageable chunks.
So, after determining what you do have control over and what you want to do about it, break down all the steps you need to take into smaller chunks. It might feel like you aren’t getting anything done at first. But trust me, once you start doing this, it will become second nature and you will get through things that make you feel like you are making progress.
One other tool that I find useful is doing “pomodoros”. What is a pomodoro, you ask? A pomodoro is a 25-minute chunk of time you set aside to 100% focus on a task. Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on your task. Take a 5-10 minute break to refresh yourself, then do another pomodoro. I also use a productivity planner that you can get here that helps me organize the chunks/tasks that I want to prioritize.
