Where Do You Start When Feeling Overwhelmed? Tips to Manage Your Life

Feeling Overwhelmed

In today's world could almost be called a typical feeling. Sad, isn't it? That feeling stems from simply having more to do than you feel you can possibly manage. It's a very real feeling but, fortunately, the solution is also very real.

In this article I'm going to help you answer the question of where do you start when feeling overwhelmed. Later in the article I'm going to give you some tips to manage your life.

OK... let's start.

First,

Write down all you need to do. I know it seems counterintuitive but this step is necessary because it will give you an overall idea of all the things you need to schedule, but also because it will probably let you know things aren't as bad as they seem.

Second,

Take just a few minutes and write down a priority beside each of these tasks. Some may be high priority in that they have to get done really soon and some may have a lower priority and can be put off.

Third,

Consider delegating some of these tasks. Can your spouse help? How about the kids?

Fourth,

Take the high priority tasks left and figure out an order for them. See if you can multitask with some of the lower priority tasks.

Last time I did this exercise I ended up going for days with the same list and noticed day after day the same tasks getting put off. I finally realized that they weren't so important after all if every single day the importance of other tasks always trumped them. I think I finally just either scheduled time to get them out of the way and finally get them off my mind or just took some off my list altogether.

Tips to manage your life

· Learn to create a to-do list - This is an invaluable tool which can help keep life from getting out of hand.

· Learn to delegate - There's no reason you have to do things that others can do just as well.

· Get accustomed to not getting everything on your to-do list done today - Sometimes we can only get so much done before we're just mentally done for the day. Learn to accept when your Super woman cape gets repossessed.

· Learn to ask for help - There's no shame in this. It isn't a sign of weakness...it's a sign of strength.

· Learn to say no if needed - I love this word because saying yes to something is automatically saying no to something else. Just remember that.

· Learn speed cleaning techniques - Everyone loves a clean house and it can be done.

· Create and follow menus - This is a super time-saver and stress reducer.

· Watch less TV - Regardless of what you think this does not enhance your life. Taking photos of your family and creating albums does. Singing does. Taking long walks with your spouse does. Reading does.

· Check your e-mail less - Just schedule time for this. Don't do it 15 times a day when 2 times would work.

Want more tips on managing your time better? Download my free ebook about Time Management for some wonderful ideas.

Time Management Techniques - How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty

One of the Best Time Management Techniques

A person can implement is to just say "No." Unfortunately, one of the hardest things for a person to do is...you guessed it... just say "No." One of the biggest reasons is because, in many people, that word conjures up nearly unmanageable feelings of guilt.

If you fall into that category then this article was written for you with the express purpose of simplifying your life, improving your life, and reclaiming some of the time appropriated from you by people who know you as a person who can't say that two letter word.

When you finish this article you will have learned how to say "No" without feeling guilty.

First, Think About Guilt

It's simply the feeling that you are declining to do something you feel you should do. But why do you feel you should do the task? Is it because no one else can/will do it? Is it because you are one of those people who feel you should do everything that's asked of you? Really think about this. Search deep for the reason you feel the need to say "Yes" to things you don't want to do.

Second, Realize What That Yes Means

And that you only have so much time in a day. Therefore, a "Yes" here means an automatic "No" somewhere else. Will that be aimed at your spouse or child? That should give you incentive to learn to say "No" to someone else.

In the beginning when you're trying to get away from agreeing to do things you don't want to do purposely plan something with your spouse or child for the exact same time that someone wants you to do whatever it is you'd like to say "No" to and eventually it will be easier for that word to spring forth from your mouth.

For instance, say a friend asks you to do something on Thursday night at 8 pm. Immediately think of something else you'd like to do with someone else you'd like to do it with and then make the mental plan to do that thing. An example may be read a bedtime story to your child. If you'd really rather be reading to your child at that time then you just made the time to do that.

Another great way to make it easier to say "No" is to have someone...say, a friend...who is pretty much always available for...oh, we'll say coffee and chatting. Have this agreement that whenever someone asks you to do something you don't want to do she'll meet you for coffee. Now you should have no problem saying "No" because there's something you'd really rather be doing.

Are you ready to begin managing your time better? Download my free ebook about Time Management for some wonderful ideas.