What to do when overwhelm overwhelms you
There’s no doubt that the last few years have seen an upsurge in feelings of anxiety. Mental health organisation Kind Mind suggests that the effects of isolation and loneliness caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic are still being realised, and these have been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, worries around climate change, conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, coupled with increased pressures from social media, as well as concerns around technological developments like AI. Last year the Office of National Statistics reported that average ratings of personal well-being in the UK had declined across all measures since 2022 and are still well below pre-pandemic levels, while more than half of adults reported high levels of anxiety, and 4 in 10 (46.5%) reported low levels of happiness.
The benefits of craft on mental health are increasingly being recognised, which is fantastic. But when craft is your job, it can change that positive relationship, as the thing you love doing now also brings with it the burden of earning a living, not to mention the pressures of running a small business (usually on your own) and spreading yourself paper thin.
Given all this, it’s not surprising that many of us feel overwhelmed. So what can we do about it when that pit-in-the-stomach hits? Helen from Silver Nutmeg has been given this a lot of thought and shares her five top tips.
Featured image: After the Rain semi precious gemstone cluster necklace by Silver Nutmeg
During the pandemic the pressures of making, caring, homeschooling, running a small business and suddenly having to share my precious workspace (and time) with extra family members, started to become too much, and in an effort to get back on top of work, life and everything, I began trying to figure out how and why overwhelm creeps in, and what I can do to prevent it. This is what I learned:
1. Empower yourself
I realised that I let other people’s expectations, needs and wants dictate what I judge to be urgent and important. All too often I prioritise the things I feel others have given me permission to do. For me, this means work for clients (and, I might add, household chores) become classed as ‘most important’, while my jewellery business gets squeezed in around these, leaving me feeling frustrated. This translates into a negative pattern of thought: “I never have enough time to get everything done”. Once that mantra of “I don’t have enough time” sets in, it becomes easy for feelings of overwhelm to take over.
The only way to stop this is a shift in mindset. It’s not easy, and it may take time, but give yourself permission, set your own priorities, and, if it helps, write your own job description. Granted, that might sound a bit far-fetched, but sitting down to define your roles and responsibilities can be incredibly helpful.
2. Move yourself
Sitting at home feeling overwhelmed and worrying breeds an inability to get back on top of things, and get stuff done. When I feel overwhelmed I become paralysed. It becomes harder to galvanise myself, and my to-do list morphs into an unsurmountable challenge.
To combat this inertia it’s really important to move. Step away from your desk or work bench. Do some stretches. Go and make a cup of tea. Best of all, if you can, go outside for a brisk walk round the block. We’re not talking about having to make time for a two-hour hike here. Just changing your position can really help to shake off negative thoughts, introduce a little perspective, and help you feel ready to take control again.
3. Tackle one thing that’s really bugging you
We all have things that have been hanging over us; things that don’t get done because they probably only make a difference to us and aren’t a priority for anyone else. But that doesn’t matter. If something is bothering you, it’s important. So put a date in your diary for sorting out whatever is irritating you and give yourself permission to make it a priority.
Get it done and suddenly you will gain a little extra headspace for more positive thoughts.
4. Celebrate small victories
Take notice every time you make a mini win and write these down in your diary or planner. It might sound silly, but just reminding yourself of achievements, no matter how small, can boost your confidence and help to maintain a positive mindset.
For me, these range from “made a sale on Folksy” to “finally cleared some space in my work room so I have a dedicated surface for packaging orders”.
You see, when your small victory is also one of those things that has been bugging you, you’ll experience an extra boost of satisfaction!
5. Manage your time
I won’t lie, I find time management hard, and that’s why have been trying to understand where I go wrong, and find strategies that work for me. You can read what I’ve learned in this blog post.
