Put some boundaries in place

“The key is to really look at what’s causing your feelings,” says Shurety. “Are you trying to do too much? Are you pushing yourself too hard to do everything, neglecting rest and recovery or the habits that keep us resilient?”

If this sounds like you, it’s time for some better boundaries.

“Boundaries are really important to enable us to have the time and space to plan, problem solve, or just recover from mental and physical load,” explains Shurety. “It takes discipline, but boundaries are essential in order to protect our mental health and physical state.”

Soothe your nervous system

“Interestingly, when people are feeling overwhelmed, often what they will do, behaviourally, is to step back and retreat from life a bit, which is ironically what they needed to do in the first place,” says Williams. “Once you’re at this stage, you need to find ways to soothe your nervous system and incorporate these daily. This can be whatever works for you individually, and might be walks in nature, reading a book, wild swimming or meditation – the possibilities are endless and different for everyone.”

Williams advises that “once emotional regulation has returned to normal levels, you can go back to your task list to work out how overloaded you are, and what needs to give”.

Feeling totally overwhelmed? You might just be *overloaded* right now

Feeling totally overwhelmed? You might just be overloaded right now