Developing Simplicity

I am currently feeling that rising panic of overwhelm.

Being a Trustee of Brecon and District Mind is taking a lot of my time as we are going through a restructuring process. I am committed to writing this blog each week and I am facilitating the Writing for Wellbeing Course for Brecon and District Mind, which re-starts in 2 weeks time. At the same time, I’m working hard at marketing my book, ‘Wearing Red, One Woman’s Journey to Sanity,’ writing articles and arranging presentations.

Time to develop some simplicity. When we find ourselves overwhelmed it’s easy to panic. Panicking can exacerbate the situation, making matters appear more difficult, and impossible to sort out. This is when we need to take some action to simplify our lives and do our best to create some kind of order.

We can so easily scare ourselves with all the things that are competing for our attention. At this point, procrastination can creep in, with what I call ‘I’ll deal with this tomorrow syndrome.’ We put off making a start on anything, until another time, assuming that it will be easier then.

I find that the best way to simplify my life when I’m overwhelmed is to make a list. Don’t laugh!  It works for me every time. Try it for yourself.

Making lists is a useful tool for releasing the stress created by overwhelm. When you feel swamped with all the things you have to do, at some level you’re out of balance. The key is to get all the competing urgencies, rattling around in your head, down onto paper and produce a random list.

Then you can create some kind of priority order, and proposed timescale for each entry. Doing this allows you to regain a sense of objectivity about what you can and can’t do. What is realistic for you to achieve in one day? What needs to be done first? What can wait? 

If you re-write the list according to your chosen order of importance, you now have the specific actions that you can take step by step. Your mind becomes free to take stock and focus on the first activity on that list.

These actions can help your turbulent thoughts to slow down. All that is required is for you to just do one thing at a time. Slowly your anxiety will subside and you can move through the day with more serenity.

One thing I haven’t mentioned is the sheer joy to be felt in crossing things off the list. Such a sense of completion. Better than eating a Belgian bun, and that’s my favourite cake.

Creating and prioritising a list can help achieve some respite from the chaotic jumble in my head. Some calm from the storm of being overwhelmed. You now have a concrete plan, outside of your mind, from which you can make sensible and practical choices.

Having a prioritized list supports me in simplifying my life, dissipating the overwhelm and keeping things in the day. I have the freedom to concentrate on one thing at a time and move forward step by step. Calm and clarity return.

It is also important for me to step back from my overwhelm and develop simplicity by taking some time out to be grateful for the simple things I have in my life today. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to be of value to others in the way I have chosen. I can see this as a gift. Articulating gratitude creates more joy in my life.

My list provides me with the ability to maintain the balance in my life and say ‘No’ when it is right for me to do so. I have my mental health and well-being to take care of.

I remind myself that I need to take time out to stop being so busy, to relax and enjoy my surroundings – just look around. There are reminders of pleasure and beauty all around me.

I can keep things simple and focus on what is right in front of me at any given moment. I simplify my thoughts and emotions in this way. The muddle in my head reduces. I quieten my mind by developing simplicity.

Author of ‘Wearing Red, One Woman’s Journey to Sanity’

Available at www.amazon.co.uk and www.browndogbooks.uk