Change for Good #3
If you sense that you are overwhelmed, then this word is for you: simplify.
Caregiving scenarios, corporate work mazes, financial burden…these and many other situations are rife with complexity. In the midst of so many steps and options and problems, you hit the point of overwhelm. While there is no quick fix, there is a way forward. Here are a few ideas on simplicity:
- Chunk it down. For instance, when you move houses, there are at least 172 things to do. No one can do them all at once, yet you feel the burden of them all. Your dreams race with the anxiety of undone tasks. So, prioritize. Chunk it down. What can you do today? What are tasks for week one? Week two? Put as much of it on paper or on a digital list as possible. Then, be gracious with yourself as you work through it one thing at a time.
- Declutter. Often the complexities of life are accompanied by files, folders, and excessive documents. How can you declutter? This may mean a literal, physical decluttering of a pile of papers strewn about your desk. Or, it could mean putting all of those emails in a folder. You might even find it helpful to mentally move some concerns to the recycle bin of your mind and imagine yourself deleting them. Decluttering usually takes less time than you originally think, but it yields a breath of fresh air and improved mental clarity. Just start where you are.
- Find the one thing. Amidst the many things, you may lose sight of the one thing. Often, less important items crowd out the more important items due to perceived urgency. In fact, some are urgent. But, what is most important? For example, in caregiving, maybe the most important thing is the dignity and respect of your loved one. Realign to allow this principle to guide you. Or, on a work project, identify the most important outcome or output. Articulate the mission. Return to this again and again for direction. Find the one thing.
I hope these ideas give you a good start in the right direction to move from overwhelm to the peace of simplicity on the other side of complexity.
Worth Repeating
Finishers make things easier and simpler.
-Jon Acuff
