A few years ago, when I felt overwhelmed with everything to do, I would double down on my effort and hard work.

I would put in longer hours, push through the overwhelm, and tell myself that when I got all caught up THEN I would slow down and give myself a break.

But this approach was a stressful way to live. And not very productive after all!

Today, when things feel hard or overwhelming, I slow down and do less, instead of plowing through (it still feels counterintuitive at times).

When you are overwhelmed or stressed, you are less focused, make more mistakes and things take longer (and feel pretty crappy too).

And now, I will do the exact opposite when I feel this way!

So when you’re feeling overwhelmed, instead of plowing through . . .

. . . pause, take a deep breath and acknowledge how you’re feeling. Ask yourself: What do I need right now?

Maybe it’s a walk, a breather, talk to someone, honor a boundary, whatever it is for you. It might look different depending on the day.

And, if you must focus to get something done, ask yourself questions like: What’s most important right now? What really matters? What do I need to care about less?

Focus on the task at hand instead of the 100 other things on your to-do list (which is inherently overwhelming).

Give yourself permission to take something off your plate if you need.

When you slow it down, you can be overwhelmed for 15 minutes or an hour, instead of day after day!

This is one of many life lessons. If you want to read all the life lessons I’ve shared so far, go here.

All my best, 

Stacey Olson, CPPC is a speaker, leadership coach, and author of Your Balanced and Bold Life: Work Less, Live More, and Be Your Best. She helps busy professionals create more balance, stress less, and be their best both at work and at home—even with the constant demands and messy everyday life. Learn more and get the book here.