I was going over my task list one day and I realized how overwhelmed I felt. There was just too much to do and I had no idea where to begin. Have you ever felt like the everyday pressures of life was just too much and you feel like you just don’t have enough time to complete your tasks for the day/week?
Many times we have amazing ideas or plans, but they never come to fruition because we get so distracted by unplanned events or we just procrastinate. Every day I have to deal with being a mother, wife, business woman, educator, a community activist, mentor and the list goes on and on. Now complicate this with issues in regards to health, finances and/or relationships and life in your eyes has just become more complicated. So the question is, where do you start? How to you even begin to swim through this sea of muck, where your vision is blurred and you are not sure how to proceed?
When you feel totally overwhelmed with what you need accomplished, just pray. Find a quiet, calm area and start to sort out your jumbled thoughts. Some things that get me in a calm frame of mind are meditation, listening to calming music or sounds, going to the beach or relaxing by my pool, reading a bible passage and/or thinking relaxing thoughts. Before any progress can be made, you must first relax your mind in anticipation of finding a solution.
One passage that I find comforting is Psalms 121: 1-2, where it says” 1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
There is always a solution. It may seem impossible, but for me nothing is impossible with God.
So now you are relaxed. Yoga, movie, meditation, workout, bible passage, massage and/or whatever relaxes you kicked in. Yes!!!! Now you need to start setting and completing your goals. One of my biggest issue was procrastination. Instead of completing my goals, I would just ignore them and say to myself that I would get to them eventually. However, that is the BIGGEST mistake that you can make, as many times we do not complete the tasks. So what can you do? One of my motto is practice makes perfect and you just have to make a concentrated effort to realize your goals (however small they are). I have listed some steps that might help guide you towards completing tasks/goals that you have set.
You first need to evaluate where you are and recognize that you have a lot on your plate. You cannot do it all! Acknowledging the problem, will help you to solve it.
Stay focused. Write a list of goals you want to accomplish for the week (or for the day, if weekly goals intimidate you). Keep a “Goal Journal.” This could be a small notebook that you can keep in your bag or by your bedside. I have found that creating a list helps me to stay on track.
Make sure to not make general goals, be specific! Most importantly your goals must be reasonable, feasible and within reach.
Do not worry about the big picture. Break your goals down into steps, as some goals have to be taken one step at a time. Remember that it takes time to master being organized. I am still working on it too, because some weeks or days can get really hectic!!!
Do not be afraid to ask for help.
It is very important that at the end of the day or week you ALWAYS evaluate your progress (it is like you self-debrief). Whatever was not completed, let it roll over to the next day/week and start the process again.
Example of Goal Setting (weekly/daily)
Daily Goals(Monday):
Call my doctor and schedule an appointment.
Take the children to see ABC this evening
OR
Weekly Goals (Jan. 1st -Jan. 5th):
Go to the gym at Monday/Wednesday/Friday (you can be as specific as you want or you can say “3 times a week”).
Date night with hubby on Saturday (confirm day/time with the person you are going out with, before setting the goal)
Organize the clothes in my closet
Constant practice will help you to feel less overwhelmed,when it comes to organizing your time and completing tasks.
Peace and Love
Tameka Williams
Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved.
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