Is Your Life Overloaded?

Written by Cynthia Hammer, MSW

How do you prevent overload in your life? Can you see it coming? Do you know how many tasks you can juggle without coming apart at the seams?

Do you plan your time, and have a realistic idea of how long-planned tasks will take? Have you learned to be assertive in saying, "I'd love to, but I need to check my calendar first." What steps have you taken to prevent ADHD overload?

I have learned that the fewer things I have to decide, the less overloaded I feel. It is hard to create habits, but once you have some good habits in place you have fewer decisions to make. For example, I know a woman who always wears the same outfit when going to a professional conference. No deciding. It has been decided.

I exercise every morning. That is a habit of mine. I don’t decide each day when I will exercise. I know if I don’t do it in the morning, it won’t get done that day. My daily workout routine is the same. I decide what exercises to do today. It has been decided. I know “Boring!” but boring can also be mindless, and that is relaxing. My mind is free to wander. That is the joy of habits—in habit mode, your mind is on automatic pilot. The more tasks you convert into habits, the less overload you will feel.

Reduce your commitments and reduce your decisions. Then don’t allow necessary tasks to pile up.

When I want to get something done, I tell someone else what I will do. It is important to me to tell the truth. However, last month, I got in over my head. I had too much to do. I managed, but was irritable, forgetful, and more disorganized. It took several days to recover my good spirits and enthusiasm for life. Too many irons in the fire are not the way to a good life. Less, not more, is better.