8 Deadly Demons of a Writer #6...OVERWHELMING

Can you relate to this picture? You may not have a pile this huge towering over you, but sometimes it can certainly feel like it. If you can then you've already met today's demon...



Overwhelming - to load, heap, treat, or address with an overpowering or excessive amount of anything *(as defined by Dictionary.com)

We are all busy with our daily routines: work, family, house chores, friends, etc. but then we keep adding more things to our already packed schedules. Trying to get it all done can be tough and feeling like it's not going to get done is when the demon really thrives.

Being overwhelmed from time to time is normal. Everyone has that tipping point when their To Do list becomes Too Much To Do, or at least it feels that way.

What can be done to keep this demon from crushing our creativity and halting our productivity?

We could grow more arms. Hmm, while that may be in our evolutionary future we have a long wait. We could say no to all new projects and commitments. Did you just laugh? I know I did. That's not an option. So, what is? Here's a few things I do when I feel the Overwhelming demon getting too big.

• Write a To Do list in order of importance. (If you haven't noticed by now I love my lists. The more overwhelmed I feel the more lists I write.)
• Say NO more often. (We can't and don't want to say no to everything new, but once in a while we need to be honest with ourselves about how much more we can take on.)
• Delegate, delegate, delegate. (Whatever chore, project, favor you can pass on to someone else, do it. Don't feel bad about asking for help when you find yourself getting too overwhelmed.)

The most important thing to remember when you feel overwhelmed is...

This too shall pass!

I would love to know what you do when you feel overwhelmed.

Thanks for stopping by,

~Kristin : )