What is overwhelm?
There are two definitions of overwhelm from the Cambridge online dictionary:
To defeat someone or something by using a lot of force or to cause someone to feel sudden strong emotion
I like both of these definitions as overwhelm can be a force as well as causing us to feel strong emotion.
When working in healthcare, overwhelm can be one of the common emotions that health workers feel day in and day out. We are talking about some of the most proficient clinical, managerial and administrative staff that are currently employed. So where does this overwhelm force and emotion come from?
Well it is certainly not from inability to prioritise – to do lists are not helpful when 5 different issues are needing your attention at one time. You started the day with a list of jobs that need tackling then your co-worker needed some emotional support; you are phoned by your boss to say that the report, the details of which you have not yet been sent, needs to be completed within the hour; your IT system has developed a glitch that will not allow you to send emails; you have been told that the first meeting of the morning that was cancelled is now back on and could you please give the presentation your boss was going to give as she can no longer attend and to cap it off its only 8:50 and you have not managed to take your coat off!
You may well feel overwhelmed.
However, this overwhelm happens everyday and it is this overwhelm that can wear away our defences and then we get ill – both physically and psychologically.
There is a more deadly form
This is the type of overwhelm comes from within- our minds going into a panic about all the things we need to do, should have done, and think we have to do. We tell ourselves that we cannot get it all done, its all too much and we either want to run and hide or curl up into a ball preferably in bed.
Unfortunately its your mind that is defeating you by using a lot of force AND THAT causes you to feel sudden strong emotion – either run, hide or both.
A quick google search will answer that question and give you methods of dealing with it e.g. Why do I feel overwhelmed? | My Online Therapy. By doing different things you can stop the overwhelm e.g. ruthlessly prioritise, restructure your work, restructure your role, set boundaries and the inevitable take a break. My observations of healthcare workers are they are fantastic at all of these, but perhaps not the last one as they will tell me “there is so much to do I cannot possibly take a break!”. Other helpful tactics are focusing on one thing, writing it down in a journal, the very difficult just say ‘No’ and scheduling in ‘me time’, deep breathing, meditating, digital detox, sleep, walk and avoiding perfectionism. But where do we get the time to meditate or even take deep breaths when trying to get to the loo or even getting a drink is something that is difficult most days at work. As far as eating goes, if you manage half a sandwich at some point in the day you are doing well.
The answers over the internet seem to be to DO something else. Well if my healthcare colleagues have the space, energy and capacity to DO more, then they would be meditation ninjas and say “no ” everyday while writing their journal.
I know that sounds a bit daft but there is a different way that can change working lives, but not by asking overwhelmed co-workers who are potentially heading to burnout to do more. What works is looking at what is going on internally. What beliefs do you hold onto to keep you in the overwhelm arena. Why is your mind keeping you there and what can you do about it?
There is a quote from Akiroq Brost “Every answer you are seeking is already inside of you. Look within. Do the inner work.”
Let me show you how your mind is keeping you imprisoned in overwhelm and where you will find the key to unlocking the door out of overwhelm.
Come and book a discovery call with me at The Professionals Coach
