Are You Easily Overwhelmed? It's Not You, It's Your Personality Type

Do you often answer the question "How are you?" with "soooo busy" or "things are crazy busy at the moment!"?

But being addicted to busy can come from wanting the approval of others, and it's exhausting trying to keep up, which can prevent you from doing work you love and being your most efficient and productive self. It's less about actually being busy with a full calendar and more about how a person wants to be perceived.

"Busy-itis" can also come from not being comfortable or wanting to sit with yourself…alone. Making the time to slow down can actually take a lot of work. Sounds easy to "sit down," but quieting the mind and looking inward to discover that true confidence comes from within and you don't need the approval of others is no easy task! Your work is your own, and you define your own success.

You manifest change and the opportunity for you to enjoy every single day instead of running around like crazy, trying to check everything off your to-do list, see your friends and family, and make time for yourself—this doesn't mean taking a workout class to check another thing off your list but truly making time for self-care and rest. There will be a moment when you realize that you're spread too thin and that you chose this busy lifestyle. I've been there—you are just completely exhausted and left feeling drained. I wanted to keep pushing myself and kept coming up with the question, when will it ever be enough?

A very common symptom of "busy-itis" is brain fog. Brain fog can be as simple as forgetfulness, confusion, or lack of mental clarity. Sometimes we move so fast throughout the day, we don't remember how we got from point A to point B. High levels of stress hormones can cause brain fog—feelings of stress, anxiety, anger, fear, and frustration. When your mind is fuzzy, you can't retain knowledge as well.

Another common symptom is exhaustion. This is not the same as feeling tired but total depletion which can be caused by stress. Often times we manage our stress by distracting ourselves, completely ignoring what is actually going on (whether we know it or not).

Getting over "busy-itis" can be a process but well worth it—there is a chance for you to enjoy every single day to the fullest AND feel proud of your work. If you suffer from busyness, and a need to keep going, going, going, here are three ways you can take care of yourself and start getting your time back.

Enjoy your morning and wake a little earlier to make some extra time for yourself. This can mean journaling, reading, or cooking breakfast. Having a morning breathwork or meditation practice can be extremely beneficial and will prepare to take on the day!

Instead of creating a long list, make your to-do list more of an exercise and ask yourself why next to each item. This will help you set your intentions for the day and remind yourself to acknowledge the tasks that you love doing. It's a great idea to do this on Sunday in advance of the week, so you can set yourself up for success. Do only the essential things.

After many years of "busy-itis" it may be tough to change your thought patterns and automatic responses. The good news is it's totally doable. When we learn to slow down, we begin to truly connect with our work and with others.