How To Get Stuff Done When You're Overwhelmed and Behind
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มี.ค. 2022
- Anyone else feeling overwhelmed lately and out of control? How about so far behind your plan for the quarter is basically all messed up? That’s been me, too! Today, I am sharing a process I recently used after we moved into our new house to regain control so that I could still get some things done and eliminate some anxiety.
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MENTAL HEALTH NOTE: I do also want to say that you don’t ALWAYS have to be productive. You are good and worthy even when you’re resting! It’s okay to fully take a break and not worry about being productive at all if you’re feeling the need to rest. Burnout is real and it’s serious. Please take care of yourself!
Here are my steps:
STEP 1: Braindump.
Write down everything that has a specific deadline coming up and ask yourself if you HAVE to do this or if you can delegate, push it back, or skip it. If it has to get done, put it on a page flag (or on your list.)
Ask yourself, “What easy things can I do that will help me get a quick win and help ease some pressure or anxiety?” Write these down! Seriously, even if it’s as simple as “take a shower’ or ‘wash the dishes’. Ideally this will be something that can be done relatively quickly.
Now that you have those out of the way, write down every single thing that’s been on your mind as needing to get done. This is everything that’s making you feel anxiety. This might not be an easy win or something with a deadline, but it’s something that’s been nagging at you or causing you to feel overwhelmed.
Questions I ask myself:
“What’s currently causing me anxiety that I can take action on?”
“What’s currently feeling out of control?”
“What other steps can I take to alleviate this feeling of being overwhelmed?”
“Can any of this stuff be delegated, outsourced, or pushed back to another time?”
“What can I reliably handle right now?”
Once your list is made, take away anything that was delegated, deleted, or outsourced. Now you have a list of what’s truly on your plate right now.
STEP 2: Prioritize
Arrange your list or page flags in order according to what’s the most important or urgent item that needs to get done. This will give you a very clear list of what needs to be done and in what order.
STEP 3: Get into action
Choose the first item to work on and just jump in and get it done! One tiny step at a time. As you start to clear the list, you’ll start to feel more in control and relieved.
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Heart Breathings - Episode 323
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About Me: My name is Sarra Cannon, and I've been indie publishing since 2010. In that time, I have published 26 books and sold well over half a million copies.
I've made some mistakes along the way, but I've also learned some valuable lessons that I think will help you reach your goals. I can't wait to help you learn to make money writing what you love.
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![Following Through With My Plans [Productive Week In My HB90 Method, Episode 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QdUvDuIulA0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Following Through With My Plans [Productive Week In My HB90 Method, Episode 2]](/img/tr.png)
Please remember that's it okay to NOT be productive, too. If you need a rest, sometimes it's just time to let go of the to do list and rest or take care of yourself. That being said, if you are needing to get stuff done when you're overwhelmed or behind, I hope these steps can help!
Being productive doesn’t always mean doing “work work” playing a video game is productive I’m happniess and chill time. Taking a nap is productive on getting energy up. That’s how I think about it so I don’t feel bad if it not traditionally productive
I felt this video. After moving into a new home with my kids after a divorce from a marriage for 16 years and a huge house, I was overwhelmed. My first priority was to get my bed and personal toiletries to a point where I could shower, dress, and start my day. Then I got the minimal office set up so I could continue my IT job from home as I had only a couple days off to move out of a 3100 sq ft home into a 2200 sq ft home. (Yes, I am very blessed to have such a large and new home post divorce for my children and me.). Once I did that I made sure the kids' rooms got settled while ensuring we had the minimal dishes and such in the kitchen unpacked so I could feed them. After these things were done I then got my room and bathroom taken care of so I had a place to retreat and relax each day. Lastly I tackled the living room, pantries, garage, and other areas that weren't as important to our need to have a place to relax and detach each evening. The key is realizing you have to take it in small bites. You can't eat an elephant in one sitting.
I started doing this. However, when I finish a task I take the sticky and put it in my planner for that day. This gives me relief and pleasure to see those sticky notes appearing in my planner of the things I have accomplished.
I was several minutes into this before coming to terms with the realization that I'm watching this video instead of, um, tackling my to-do list.
"Anyone else feeling overwhelmed lately and out of control?" ME! Me! And I get so angry with myself for not being productive, having an attitude of "life is passing you by" or that sort of thing. Ugh. That self destructive mindset is something I definitely struggle with. Thanks for the encouragement!
When we moved into a bigger house I put all the boxes in the garage and emptied them one at a time into the house where things were to go so it all got put away in order without cluttering the place and my mind! so much less stressful. ❤️❤️
My husband did that. Thank god!
This is what I plan to do!
I did the same thing with the dining room because I didn’t have a garage or basement everything went in there and bit by bit I kept my sanity
I literally said today that everywhere I look in my house is a mess and I have my writing to do list that keeps growing. Thank you for sharing this as it makes me feel like I’m not alone. 🥰
My Konban board is a large white board with painter's tape to section it off. The Post-It notes are laminated with a piece of magnetic tape on the back. Like my physical planners, I use a fine-tipped permanent marker to write things down, and use a dab of hand sanitizer and a microfiber cloth to erase things when I need to.
TY for this tip - mine is basically the same, but I just couldn't work out how to do the 'notes' as I don't want to use post its, this is perfect.
I so needed this video today. Thank you so much!
I literally fell to my knees and sobbed earlier today. This video has turned my day and my mood around. Thank you Sara!!!
Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry you’re going through a difficult patch! If I can be any comfort, it means so much to me!
So many things in the world. I lost my parents in 2021 and then my husband had a cardiac arrest. He is only 43! THANKS TO GOD he is fine now. 2021 wasnt friendly now i have ptsd and routines have gone.. Still so overwhelmed with so much. Youve spoken about the most relevant thing ever!
Moving and getting settled is so overwhelming. From all our moves being a retired military family. Seeing all your boxes brought back the overwhelm and anxiety. I sooo feel for you and can relate so much with your feelings. Sending you all the calming uplifting vibes.💜💜💜
When my grocery store did a complete reset I asked for a floor plan and made my grocery list in aisle order. Game changer!!!
Perfect timing Sarra! I've been on the brink of tears all day and this certainly helped me. Thank you so, so much !
Same here.
Like the mini sticky notes and tips for organizing them/kan ban. To do list just gets longer and longer and no way to easily prioritize things!
I just found you - Praise GOD! I also just found out Friday that we will have to move by June 30. This is SO timely as I can now make a plan ahead of time to get it all done and then do it again after we move. Thanks so much!! ❤
My gift is organization. When my family moved, i had all the boxes place in the room they belong in and place nicely in one corner of each room with heavy on bottom and light on top. Then if it wasn't late, we all did the kitchen together, then we did our rooms like: our beds first, important boxes, bathroom stuff, work or school stuff, and put that away. The next day, we would finish our rooms, then we did the living room together, and after everything was unpacked, that's when we started buying extra furniture- if needed- and started to design and decorate our spaces.😊
That’s amazing!!
It took me 8 months to unpack in my new home. It’s a struggle everyday to find time for everything. I work full time from home, I have a toddler and I also am a dancer so I have to find time everyday to practice, rehearse etc and on top of that I want to try my hand at writing. Don’t rush take things slow and as you can.
I rewatched this now a year later. So needed to be reminded of how to deal with overwhelm. Thank you! ❤ I keep moving tasks for weeks and not getting it done. I just have too much to do, so I need to do a braindump and prioritize my to do list. AND choosing 1 task that I'm going to do right now.
P.S Can't believe you've already lived in your house for a year. ❤
Dr. Evil voice: I will call it ... mini board.
This is really helpful. Everything was ticking along until I got a (thankfully mild) case of COVID. Now everything feels like it's overwhelming and out of control, so narrowing my focus (Dr. Evil voice: laser beam!) rather than stressing about EVERYTHING is really valuable advice.
I've been feeling overwhelmed by my lack of progress these past months and your video was just what I needed to remind myself to take it one step at a time! Thank you for sharing all the wonderful tips and advice. You're a queen of productivity! Can't wait to see the vision board video!💜💜💜
I have ADD. The overwhelm is real. I have another brain, Notion and kanban boards and erasable index cards. That gets it more manageable.
I'm so grateful you made this video, Sarra. Like so many, I've been desperately trying to write through day job stress, mommy/wife stress and, oh man, WORLD STRESS. I don't know about anyone else, but it has been so very difficult sinking into my story world when what's going on in the real world is so terrible and heartbreaking. It's a strange comfort to know I'm not the only one. LOVE your new house, sister. Those shelves!!
Thank you so much, love this video 💛
Just what I needed !
Great video that was very helpful. So happy for you and your family to finally be settled and enjoying your new location.
I need this video today! Thank you!
Yay! Time to ENJOY your family Sarra! So happy for you and yes, vision boards are so helpful.
Another super helpful video, thank you so much!!
Perfect timing for this one.
Thank you so much Sarra. This was so helpful♥
Loved this! The questions to ask yourself are super helpful. Thank you!!
Thank you for this video. Overwhelm as been a big struggle for me this year and I needed to see and hear this!
Love your videos on this kind of time management/priorities. Really helps with quality of life. Enjoy the process of getting your house the way you want. Big blessings to you and your family.
Thanks for this Sarra. Congrats on the house. Ennjoy it.
This was wonderful and really helped me! Thanks so much!! 💕
I needed this video today, thank you Sarra
Loved this video. Thank you for posting Sarra, it's just what I needed. The overwhelm is real. But now at least I have a simple system to get me started. One thing at a time. 👍
I can’t wait to see your upcoming video about how you manifested your vision board. That’s amazing!! 💕🌸
Thank you so much. I'm in that overwhelmed state right now and your video was so helpful. Congrats on your new home.
Great stuff. Really helpful.
Super helpful. I always appreciate and am inspired by your organization videos. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing, Sarra. The steps you gave in this video, are surely going to help me get back on track with my book and trying to stay off my phone and get stuff moving in the right direction.
Brilliant as always. Sometimes it's not about being overwhelmed but still feeling out of focus, or stressed about things you can do nothing about. This approach is so helpful and clarifying. One of the reasons I love HB90.
Thank you Sarra. I really needed a video like this. I feel so overwhelmed sometimes lately. Right after I finished the video I completed a few 5 min tasks from my draining list that were pending for days. It felt so good. I’m aiming to start and keep positive momentum.
Thanks for sharing your struggles, makes me feel we are not alone
this video is a lifesaver tbh, so thank you! i have add and focus is lost many times. might use the idea of your board in my bujo.
Every time I watch one of your videos I feel more relaxed about everything I have to do. Your videos are so helpful in getting clarity over my to do list and how to get back on track with my plan.
My looming release thanks you for this lol. I feel so overwhelmed!
Awesome method, had never seen this way of getting back on track. Thank you!
This video came at the perfect time. Thank you!
This is so helpful and exactly what I needed in order to start again after being sick. Thank you for sharing! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Perfect timing Sarra, Thankfully I have Spring Break next week, so I have a few days off to deal with stuff that has been piling up. Congratulations on your new home! It looks lovely.
Been feeling overwhelmed a lot lately. I'm gonna try this! Thanks
Honestly this mini kanban is just what I need right now. Have two littles and I rarely have time to carry my planner around and consult it as often as I like. With the mini board I will be able to have everything in front of me. Thanks for the video and inspiration!
Loved this very timely video:)
I needed this video! I'm suffering from writers block that has eaten into my quarterly writing goals. Then I got sick for 5 days (not Covid thank goodness but still). Now I'm really behind on my writing, not to mention a bunch of other stuff I put on hold. I haven't written anything in my planners for this week. I'm going to try this method. Thank you Sarra!
This was great!
this came at an amazing time, i got super sick recently and fell massively behind on EVERYTHING -- so i appreciate the insight, thank you for this
Thank you for sharing these techniques with us! I have been feeling overwhelmed with my own looming deadlines and it’s made my productivity crash to a halt. I think this will help get me back on track indeed, it seems very manageable. I’m going to give it a try! Thank you so much Sarah you are amazing. :-)
Ty so much for this video! So many of us can relate and this advice is so helpful And appreciated! 💗. Your makeup looks beautiful.
I’d like to see a video of your tattoos. 😊.
Truly I love all your videos! U r a wonderful writer! I feel so blessed and thankful that you share your wisdom with us! God bless! 💫
Love this system! Better than a list on a notebook because sometimes I need to have all of that right in front my eyes so I won't forget them LOL. I have an acrylic photo frame I don't use, it will be perfect for this. TY Sarra!
A big thx. It's really helpfull. I finish a series of book and I have trouble to get back to writing (and so much other stuff). It will help me a lot. Thx again. Kisses from France !
Oh, yes, this resonates! I'm thinking that while my kanban-ish board is a great overview (I have home life stuff on it, too, not just work things), a brain dump and set-up of a mini-board might be a good way to prep for and prioritize weekend obligations/chores/goals. There are always more things to do than there is time to do it, so the overwhelm prevents me from accomplishing much of anything, then the exact same (or a longer) list is looking at me the next weekend. I think this will help me choose and focus on something specific, and clear it from the list.
I admire you so much. When we moved into our new house, my goal was to be out of boxes as soon as possible. We moved in the middle of December in 2020 and I wanted to be out of the boxes by January 2021. I made it. We'd gotten rid of so much before the move so that helped, but I put everything else to the side except getting out of all the boxes and getting each room organized on a very basic level. Helped my mental state so much and freed up creative space.
Love your great simple ideas, sometimes I feel so overwhelmed that I actually can’t do anything and deliberately procrastinate :( Thank you for simplifying my life
Lately, my focus has just been on work. I worked 27 out of the 28 days in February, and I'm exhausted. Today's my first day off in a while, and I'm sitting here feeling overwhelmed because so much has fallen on the wayside thanks to work. While I haven't been diagnosed with anxiety, it's all anxiety-inducing (if that makes sense). This video came out just in time for me. Thank you.
Thank you for this much appreciated and needed video!! OMG I too have been so completely overwhelmed, bewildered and trapped in the deep end… So good to know that there are solutions and life hacks (and that I’m not own my own). Well presented Sarra, never mind the ‘mal-placed’ eyeshadow 😉 😹
My husband has been in the hospital since my birthday in January. We nearly lost him and everything at home had to change for his return. I've been so overwhelmed with work, my 15-year old having to step up so much without his dad, our home changes, keeping Jerry positive in the hospital through all of this...I needed this. Thank you, Sarra.
I posted in the FB group that a series of surgeries and hospital stays due to complications from my lupus and heart condition has left me feeling so overwhelmed at how far behind I am on my writing, music, and other household goals. I have been so discouraged about my physical limitations that no matter what I did, I felt like I was getting nowhere. And then you posted this awesome video, and I am sooo grateful to you. I took a slightly different approach, but it has already been incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for not trivializing these feelings!
I'm in the "doing what I can but not really getting anywhere" head space at the moment. I live with a list of chronic health challenges and have been having my period every 2 weeks for more than 6 months on top of a chronic vomiting problem. My new doctor is sending me for pelvic ultrasound as it's suspected I have endometriosis and Chron's disease. I'm waiting to hear back from the gastro team about starting to investigate. While I'm waiting I need to do what I can to keep up with house stuff and prepare for what the next step might be.
Thankyou for your comment as it is encouraging me to pick one thing to do right now
I recently moved too, but in the same neighborhood. Supposed to finally get my computer desk back on the 19th and I can't wait. It beats writing on the floor in my bedroom...lol.
I like making to-do lists in my planner each day. I need to get back to doing that.
I've been binge watching your videos about self publishing and I'm wondering if you can do a video talking about becoming an indie author whilst working/still publishing? My biggest fear at the moment is I'd be too slow at writing and releasing books because of my other commitments.
Phew, this could not have come at a better time for me, so thank you for this! I am in almost the exact same situation--just moved, boxes everywhere. In addition to the "spoons" I need to plan meals and run schedules, I need even more spoons to remember where the grocery store is, what time school starts, and "where is that friggin' cheese grater I know I put it in a drawer...somewhere..." Already, I feel much calmer. I've got a new Kanban up in my Notion app (I can't do a paper thing because *I don't know which box has the notebooks in it!* 😩
Those little quick wins release much needed dopamine, which fuels our intrinsic motivation--hence, positive momentum. Suddenly, you feel like Wonder Woman and can take on the world!
That I've inspired a Sarra Cannon video and it's about overwhelm is very on brand. :D
This is what I do on days I realize I tried to do too much. Just break it down into smaller tasks, and sometimes that means just organizing needed files to tackle the next day.
Thank you Sarra! So helpful! I don't have anywhere to hang a wall Kanban, but I love the acrylic stand idea!! Unfortunately, at the moment, I am on a forced shopping hiatus!! My hubby said I had to take a break (even though I just ordered 2 more A5 planner binders and a budget planner on Amazon today - OOPS!!) LOL But now I do have plans to 'sneak' a stand in sometime in the near future!!
Oops haha.
Girl, we moved a year ago and I still have boxes!!!
It is overwhelming to move, especially to a drastically different home!
Yes, I hope not to move too many more times in my life. It's exhausting!
I am going through this now. I have so much to do in a small amount of time before baby girl gets here in May and they are small things that need to be done.
moving is so stressful. May I recommend doing one room at at time, it may take one day or a few days but I've found that doing room by room feels better than doing a little bit in each room. I'll be moving in a few years for retirement and downsizing, not looking forward to it lol
First of all, congratulations on your new home. :) Thank you so much for this video. This was very timely for me, especially since I've been experiencing a lot of anxiety and sleepless nights these past few days. By the way, I just noticed that you look like you have a bruise. Please take care! ❤❤❤
Thank you! I put a message up on the screen that my makeup got onto my cheek!
Ha ha yes mama get that little 1 napping.. It's crazy how mom's can move mountains during nap time. Moving always is fun but stressful just know that everything will come together. Once you get your workspace settled it will allow you to get back to focusing on keeping work going too:)
You should look up "The silent to do list" concept
I have read the book!
It takes 2 years to style a big house. You are allowed to have boxes in view for 1 year. Fact.
I’m screenshotting this for when I feel guilty for still having boxes 🤩
I'd add to this, that if its a 'farm/homestead' you are allowed to have boxes in the shed you never look at again.... and Sarra's property definitely fits the farm/homestead description.
For the giveaway, you should give a free or 1/2 price registration to HB90! That would be a dream gift for me. ❤️
Are you going to be doing another bootcamp?
💗💗💗
I'm not a home owner yet still working on my finances and credit I would to have a bookshelf like that ❤ did you built it or was it already like that when you got the house?
Wondering if you've tried using clipboards with your post it notes. (by subject)
I haven't, but I think that's a great idea! You could hang them on the wall!
i get overwhelmed sometimes is there writing ideas to use
For someone that likes to plan and organise You would expect that moving would be a peace of cake. Making a Pinterest board ( sorry I had to laugh ) whilst your whole house is a mess isn’t a priority IMO. We just moved ourselves and although I have ADHD we had a plan and sorted things out fairly quickly. First all the boxes in the correct rooms, then organise the rooms that are most important, Bedrooms, kitchen bathrooms etc. I think you would be less overwhelmed if you focus on the things that matter first instead of stressing over rearranging a bookshelf.
Hadir kakakku,sukses..sehat n full suport
Yes, I'm tired of a million stressors shouting at me
Sara calm down take it step-by-step day by day room by room every single day one thing at a time now look only you can control that steps back take a couple of breaths it’s going to be ok 🥰 no one is going to take it away from you your there every single day honey you got to calm down 🤔
Great video, having ADHD I'm not great at getting organised. Is your eye OK? You look like you have a bruise!
I am fine! I put a message in the video that my makeup got on my face!
@@HeartBreathings I must have missed that part, I thought you had bopped yourself while unpacking or moving things about. Moving is a dangerous business!
remember to breathe... breathing is importatnt
I want to know what the husband is doing during all this?
He doesn't really like to be recorded a lot so he doesn't appear often on my TH-cam! Not sure the intention of the question but we have a pretty good balance here. ❤️
You motivated me to pause the video in the middle and finally call about my missing w2 thank you so much 🥲