Last week we looked at being intentional about achieving your goals. We used the S.M.AR.T principle as a great approach to setting and working towards your goals. The S.M.A.R.T principle provides a structured framework that helps you set measurable goals and it helps you keep track of your progress. Having a detailed plan for pursuing your personal and professional goals is useful, however, it can be very tempting to keep pushing without taking a break—we often try to achieve everything all at once, which leaves us feeling overwhelmed.

If you are to live a lifestyle of continuous personal development, you need to be able to know when to take a break so that you can recuperate and get back on the saddle. Remember, self-care is a very important step in the road to success.

Here are a few tips to help you make sure that the journey to success isn’t overwhelming and daunting.

 

Understand that you can’t do everything at once

We live in an age where everyone shares their successes and “glow-ups” online; people seldom share how they got to be where they are, leaving us feeling like failures for not becoming overnight success stories. The truth is, success in any area of life takes time and the process is often arduous and tedious. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, you need to pace yourself. Avert your attention from what everyone else is doing and focus on your journey. Yes, have your list of goals but understand and accept that you cannot do it all at once. There may be pressure from society, loved ones and even from yourself but here’s what we need to understand about pressure: just because it is there, it doesn’t mean you have to give into it. If you try to do everything at once, you will become overwhelmed and this will paralyse you, making it very difficult for you to achieve all that you set out to achieve.

 

Take each task as it comes

Looking towards the future is very exciting and it can be a good thing as it motivates you to work harder, but it can also add to the pressure to get things done immediately—you’ll end up feeling like you aren’t working fast enough to get to where you want to be. Once you have a picture of your bigger goal and you know what you need to do to get there, focus on one task at a time. If your eyes are always set on the road that lies ahead, the journey will feel daunting and you will feel anxious and incapable of reaching your goal. Taking each task as it comes will enable you to give it your all and you wont feel overwhelmed by thoughts of what you still need to do. Once you’ve completed a task, pause to congratulate yourself, take a break and start working on the next task. This will make the journey less overwhelming and you’ll start to be more patient with yourself once you see what you can actually achieve without the pressure.

 

Break up your tasks into smaller tasks

Some items on your to-do list may seem like mammoth tasks. To help you get through each task without pulling your hair out or giving up completely, break each task up into smaller, more manageable tasks; this applies to your tasks at work and at home, not just your personal and career-oriented goals. The danger with feeling overwhelmed is that it can affect your productivity and ability to function effectively. Yes, it is imperative that you stay committed to your goals and that you work hard but it is equally important to take everything in your stride—this will actually increase your capacity to do more.

 

Maintain a balance between working and resting

It is quite unfortunate that we live in a society that glorifies getting little to no sleep because of the grind. Some people often look down on those who prioritise rest. The problem with the “team no sleep” brigade is that they are at higher risk of burnout and depression. You need to get as much rest as possible so that you can have the energy and stamina you need to be successful and effective in your personal and professional life. Resting isn’t only about sleeping; it’s about taking small breaks between tasks—take a walk, meditate, grab a snack or go to the gym. Listen to your mind and body; if they say rest, heed the call or else they will not cooperate when you need to be productive. Rest isn’t just a suggestion; it’s mandatory.

 

Feeling overwhelmed is a natural part of life but it doesn’t have to be the story of your life. Continuous personal growth is about making self-care a habit. If you allow yourself to be overwhelmed, you set yourself up for giving up easily. Do the right things, take things as they come and don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure.

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