Life is tough.
With so many activities and responsibilities, it can just get too much sometimes. You may be feeling overwhelmed with life, but don’t worry. With a bit of help from your mindfulness, friends, and some self-care strategies, you can regain your focus, better manage stress, and feel more in control of your life.
But the first step in managing that overwhelming feeling is to recognize the signs. Here are ten telltale signs that you are feeling overwhelmed with life:
1. You Isolate Yourself from Everyone and Everything
When you are feeling overwhelmed by life, the easiest thing to do is isolate yourself from everyone and everything. Often, this can be a dangerous spiral, as it can lead to depression and thoughts of suicide. It is important to remember that you are not alone, and some people care about you.
Participating in activities that make you happy can help boost your mood and feel more connected to the world.
2. You are Always Tired
When your life feels overwhelming and out of control, you may feel exhausted. No matter the activity or task, it can feel tiring to be constantly overloaded with work and responsibilities. Even if it’s not a stressful day at work or a hectic week at home, you can still be tired because of the overall feeling of being overwhelmed.
The quickest way to relieve this feeling is to prioritize what you do and list the essential things you need to do.
3. You Become Irritable
Stress is often accompanied by irritability. Everyone feels irritable sometimes, but if it becomes more of a frequent occurrence, it could signify that you’re feeling overwhelmed by life, particularly if you are snapping at people for no reason or getting frustrated over small things that wouldn’t usually bother you.
4. You Develop an Odd Eating Pattern
When feeling overwhelmed by life, it is common to develop an odd eating pattern. You might find yourself snacking more often or eating unhealthy foods. This can be a way of coping with the stress of your situation.
5. You Find It Hard to Stay Focused and Lack Motivation
When you feel overwhelmed, it isn’t easy to concentrate on one thing at a time. Your mind may feel like a jumbled mess of thoughts, and you may find it hard to focus on anything — especially things that you find dull or tedious.
You start forgetting things or have trouble concentrating or remembering people’s names. You might not be able to complete simple tasks, such as finding your keys, or you may keep putting off doing something until later. This can lead to procrastination, and if left unattended, it may lead to a lack of purpose.
And when you don’t want to do anything because it feels like too much effort, this can be another sign that you feel overwhelmed by life.
6. You Forget Things
Do you keep forgetting where you’ve put something or when an important event was? If so, it could be because life is overwhelming you at the moment. When we are stressed out or anxious, we tend to forget things much more frequently than when we are calm.
7. Your Sleeping Pattern is Odd
Either you’re sleeping too much or not enough, or you find it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep during the night, etc. It’s different for everyone; this is just a general sign that your body isn’t getting enough rest and therefore can’t function at its best levels when you are awake and conscious.
8. You are Always Negative
Are you always complaining? Are you always looking for the negative in everything? Life can be challenging, and it can cause us to lose our faith and become overly pessimistic. If you can relate to this, it may signify that you are feeling overwhelmed by life.
When you complain constantly, it could indicate that you need to take a step back and evaluate what’s going on.
Our response to life is within our control. If we focus on the negatives, our lives will become more stressful and overwhelming. The key is to stop focusing on our problems and start focusing on the solutions. This is easier said than done, but it is possible when we change our mindsets.
9. You are Emotional
You’re fine; then you burst into tears. You snap at your spouse, kids, or friends. You feel angry for no apparent reason. Being overly emotional is a sign that you need to slow down and look after yourself.
10. You Are Always in a Hurry
You’re always running late, and you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. You often feel rushed, even if you don’t have any binding obligations.
How Can You Deal With Feeling Overwhelmed By Life?
Be Kind to Yourself
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, the first step is to be kind to yourself. Every day, take a few minutes to relax and rejuvenate, whether that’s through yoga, reading a book, or taking a stroll in nature.
It’s also important to simplify your life as much as possible. Delegate tasks where you can, and say no when you need to. Remember that you don’t have to do it all – everyone needs time for themselves and relax.
Ask for Help
When you feel overwhelmed by life, it can be difficult to know where to turn for help. Requesting help is not a sign of weakness; in fact, it can be a sign of strength. You are not alone. Many people are willing and able to help you through your tough times.
Talk to your friends and family. Many online resources are available, such as websites and booking an appointment with a professional like a life coach.
The most important thing is not to try to deal with these feelings independently. Ask for help, and take the time you need to recover and get back on your feet.
Create a “NO” List
Making a “NO” list can be a great way to eliminate overwhelmed feelings. If you are like many people, you feel as though you must say yes to everyone and everything.
This can lead to more stress and overwhelm as your life gets more chaotic and your responsibilities increase. Make a “NO” list of things you will not do, and then make sure to stick to your lists.
Focusing on what you are doing right and being kind to yourself will help schedule room for more critical activities, such as spending quality time with your family.
***
While feeling overwhelmed by life is normal, when this feeling gets ‘too much’, it can have a negative impact on life. It is important to create awareness and to address it. Always remember that help is available and there’s no shame in asking for it.
