Catchy title! It’s a new year. A new decade! With the ringing in of the New Year becoming a distant memory, but Spring still too far in to the future for us to visualise line dried washing and tulips dancing in the breeze – how are you feeling? All the positive vibes? Can’t wait to see what opportunities this new era may hold? Or are you feeling less motivated and, in fact, not at all inspired? Are there areas in your life that are simply holding you back and you feel that impending overwhelm, which can clutch us all from time to time?
The year end/ new year following Christmas can be a hard time for many. Add to that the dire news reports, dark nights and record rainfall, we can all forgive ourselves for allowing it to penetrate and get us down, rendering us immobile to tackle those bigger jobs which inevitably make us feel better once tackled. It can feel like a dreaded cycle of gloom!
On top of our daily schedules and weekly commitments, such as family ties and endless laundry, we add in extra duties such as clearing away and sorting out the Christmas decorations and finding homes for all the new toys and gifts received. Not to mention the mental load, including guilt about our environmental impact which has become more prevalent than ever before…
There are some simple steps we can take each day to help us feel more in control so that the overwhelm of those bigger jobs do not become too much:
1. Make your bed
This one may induce an eye roll, but it really is effective – make your bed each morning. Get the kids to make theirs, if they’re able. As William H. McRaven famously said ‘If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed, will have turned into many tasks completed’.
2. Make a list
Make a list. Start with a master list of all jobs and break it down in to weekly and daily lists. You may not tick off everything, but downloading onto paper frees up our mental space. Don’t underestimate the satisfaction in ticking off a task completed! Didn’t get around to making a list before you started? Write a reverse list of all the jobs you did complete. It will still have the desired effect of regaining some control and reducing the mental load.
3. Make a plan
Use a magnetic fridge or a wall planner and have appointments and important dates at a glance. By filling it out on a weekly basis – i.e. on a Sunday (or Monday, whenever your reset day is) with a cuppa in hand, you can start your week with a clear plan of what is ahead and will be less likely to forget anything. There are some great free downloads available online or some really cool budget friendly pads available.
4.Get Organised
If you have space, keep a bag or box in each wardrobe and pop in items no longer needed as and when you come across them.
When it’s full (not overflowing!) sort those items for the charity shop or clothes bank. Anything damaged can go out with your recycling waste in a separate bag – double check your local Council waste collection site to make sure they offer this service.
5. STOP!
This may seem counter-productive, but sometimes the best thing to do when you have too much to do, is take a break. Step back from the situation, close your eyes and breath. Relax in the bath, have an early night. Do whatever you need to do to regain perspective. There are times when you just need to create some distance in order to see things more clearly.