MSS# 046 3 Steps to Reclaim Your Mental Space from Overwhelm

From the Chief Mindlocksmith

MSS #046: 3 Steps to Reclaim Your Mental Space from Overwhelm

25 Nov 23

MSS #046: 3 Steps to Reclaim Your Mental Space from Overwhelm

25 Nov, 2023

Read time: 1.5 minutes

In a hurry? Cut straight to the heading Dive deep into the strategies - reduced read time 1 minute

In this week's edition, we delve into 3 effective strategies to liberate yourself from mental overwhelm. Managing your mind is crucial in transforming feelings of being swamped by responsibilities, thoughts, and emotions into increased productivity and happiness.

Let’s embark on a journey to restore calm in the midst of chaos. πŸ‘‡

3 Strategies to Combat Mental Overwhelm:

1. Identifying Overwhelm Triggers:

  • Recognising signs of overwhelm.

  • Understanding your unique triggers.

  • Practical steps to mitigate these triggers.

2. Creating Mental Space:

  • Techniques to declutter your mind.

  • Prioritising tasks for mental clarity.

  • Embracing 'mental downtime'.

3. Grounding Techniques for Immediate Relief:

  • Simple, yet effective breathing exercises.

  • Role of physical movement in mental relief.

  • Quick mindfulness practices for busy individuals.

Dive deep into the strategies.

Strategy 1: Identifying Overwhelm Triggers

Start by noting when and why you feel overwhelmed. Is it specific tasks, times of day, or environments? Maintaining a brief journal helps pinpoint these triggers. Awareness is the first step to control.

 

Strategy 2: Creating Mental Space

A cluttered mind is a hotbed for overwhelm. Techniques like the 'brain dump' method, where you write down everything on your mind, can be liberating. Prioritise tasks and schedule 'mental downtime' to recharge.

Additional Techniques:

  • The '5-Whys' Technique: Ask 'why' repeatedly to understand the root cause of a problem.

  • Time Blocking: Allocate specific times for different tasks or types of work. This reduces the mental load of constantly deciding what to do next.

  • Digital Declutter: Limit your exposure to digital distractions. Set specific times for checking emails and social media. This prevents constant digital interruptions from fragmenting your mental space.

 

Strategy 3: Grounding Techniques for Immediate Relief

In times of overwhelm, simple breathing exercises like the 4-7-8 technique offer immediate relief. Physical movement, even a brief walk, resets your mental state. Incorporate quick mindfulness practices, like a 5-minute meditation, for more benefits.

Additional Techniques:

  • Sensory Grounding Exercise: Notice five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This helps bring your focus back to the present moment.

  • Visualisation Techniques: Visualise a place where you feel calm and happy. Engage all your senses in this visualisation. This can be a powerful tool for mental relaxation.

  • Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Consciously relax each muscle group in your body, starting from your toes and moving upwards. This helps release physical tension and, in turn, mental stress.

Summary:

It's not about eliminating all stressors but learning to manage them effectively. Start with one strategy, and once it becomes part of your routine, integrate another.

Your mental space is precious - let's reclaim it together.

1. Identifying Overwhelm Triggers:

2. Creating Mental Space:

3. Grounding Techniques for Immediate Relief:

See you next week. If you haven't already, follow me on LinkedIn and hit the bell for daily posts on tips, insights and techniques.

Want more? 

When you're ready, 3 ways I can help you:

1. Build self confidence and resilience fast - Β£48 training course

Golden Resilience Habit

2. Work with me 121 - start with a FREE 15 minutes exploration session.

Lets have an open chat and explore how I can help you and what is troubling you.

If we both think we can work together and I have what you need we can go from there.

3. Workshops and Speaking - I run workshops and speak. Book me to help your team increase their productivity.

Nuclear Powered Resilience – learn one golden habit that gives incredible inner strength, comfort and support, that keeps growing by instilling Unconditional Love in your mind.

7 guiding principles to better thinking – what trips up our thinking and how to create different habitual responses.

What they should have taught you at school – awareness of how we think and how to get better results.

Vitamin C for the mind – how to feel and have more control in life, with simple techniques built into a habit.

Happy habits – simple habits to make you feel happier everyday.

That's it for this week. Thanks for reading, really hope this helped. Contact me if you think I can help you further at [email protected].

Happy thinking.