Category Archives: Solutions to Everyday Challenges

What can you do to overcome overwhelm?

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                Define your boundaries.  Get clear on the scope of your job.  Know where your responsibilities start and stop.  Define how much time you will spend on specific activities.  Know when “good” is good enough.

Identify and focus on your strengths.  Know where you make the strongest contributions and focus on those things.

Delegate.  Ask yourself if you are taking on tasks that could be done by another person.  Are you enabling others by taking on their responsibilities and preventing them from growing?

“Shake it off” at the end of the day or as you move from one task to another.  This is a physical exercise that signifies you are done with a particular activity and ready to move to another.  Stand up and physically shake your arms and hands, as if you are slinging mud from your fingers.

What do you do when you can’t speak up?

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Ask yourself, “What’s holding me back?”  Get a clear picture of this.  Usually it’s fear of something, such as rejection, looking incompetent, losing your position, annoying someone or hurting their feelings.

Then, ask yourself, “What is the worst thing that could happen if I speak up?”  “What is the best thing that could happen if I speak up?”  This brings reality to your situation.  When you can clearly face the reality, you can make a more informed decision about your action.

Talk to a coach.  Sometimes not even a mentor will do.  You’re not looking for advice; you’re looking to be HEARD.  It may be risky to talk to peers or superiors.  Family members and friends don’t always have the frame of reference to appreciate your dilemma. Besides, they all have their own agendas for you; a coach only holds your agenda.

Use metaphors to describe your situation.  This takes you out of it personally and allows you to be more honest.

Write a letter, being completely honest about your frustrations, ideas, fears, and feelings.  DON’T MAIL IT!  Tear it up or burn it.  This ritual helps you release your emotions about the situation.