Too much – knowing your triggers
Last week was the week from hell. We’ve all had them. Everything that can go wrong goes wrong. By the time my husband came home Friday, I was ready to sit on the floor, put my head in my hands and simply cry. Yes, it was that bad.
So what do we do with these weeks? Well, sometimes nothing. Sometimes you have to take it as is. However, I did walk away having been reminded and relearning something important – know your triggers.
When weeks like this happen, I can sometimes roll with the week and adjust as needed. Last week wasn’t one of those weeks. Why? Because I hadn’t been paying attention to my body’s emotional and mental triggers that remind me to slow down.
My triggers include:
* Waking up at 4:30 a.m., adrenaline pumping because I have to get going and get things done. When I start waking up like this, it’s a sign I’ve got too much going on.
* Getting irritated at every little thing that interrupts my crammed schedule. When I’m over scheduled, even five minutes off can be disastrous (in my mind).
* Feeling emotional to the point commercials bring me to tears. I know when my kids are spent because tears come more easily. Well, they do for me too. When I feel emotional about everything, there’s too much on my plate.
The big question from all of this, is what can I do to change this pattern?
Withdraw and evaluate. The world won’t stop if I don’t participate. Say no to new things. Call and tell someone you need to reschedule. We all land here at times and unless we say no, we won’t change things.
Look long-term. I started asking myself what I need to do differently next year to keep this from happening. I made a list and asked Alex, my colleague, to keep me accountable. I also ordered a 12 month wall calendar so we can see how one month impacts the next.
Get perspective. If the leaves aren’t raked, they aren’t raked. If the kids eat poptarts, the kids eat poptarts. If my email goes down, it will get fixed. So far none of these things has caused death or plague. I’m guessing they won’t ever. Perspective reminds me of my place in the bigger scheme of things and allows me to unwind and relax.
The next time you start the process of feeling overwhelmed, remember to listen to what your body and mind are telling you. Those triggers serve a purpose.
Keynote speaker, trainer, and consultant, Sarah Gibson, helps organizations leverage the power of communication, teamwork and diversity to improve engagement and transform teams. To buy her book or inquire about her speaking programs, please visit www.sarahjgibson.com.
