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When that "Overwhelm Button" Goes Off! Part 2
Are we all living in an overwhelmed world? There are times when I really feel sympatico with those salmon who are swimming upstream--but wait...they have a purpose, they are fulfilling their life destiny, completing the cycle...on the other hand, many of us humans simply appear to be battling against the current with no heroic ending in sight.
Trying to find balance these days can feel like throwing yourself against a waterfall. It begs the question, has "Overwhelmed" become an acceptable state of mind and way to live?
In Part I (When that "Overwhelm Button" Goes Off) we looked at the immediate sense of overwhelm in our personal lives, but what about the bigger picture? What about the social perspective we are up against? Consider what many reports are telling us about the way we are living:
>>A U.K. poll of more than 5,000 people reported that "modern life" was the biggest health fear. Lifestyle factors were the biggest worry, including lack of sleep, fatigue, lack of exercise and stress. Health concerns like second-hand smoke, drinking and food additives were far down the list. The 24/7 society we live in is beginning to get to us and people are clearly worried about their hectic way of life.
>>A recent Canadian report found that workers are 'spending less time with their families' than they did two decades ago. People don't want to sacrifice family time, however, the numbers show they are. We are spending 45 minutes less a day with our families. Doesn't sound like much, but over a year this adds up to almost five 40-hour work weeks. That's significant.
>>In a era of instant connection, we are less connected. We are spending more time alone. We often don't eat meals together as a family because of schedules, families usually have more than one television and computer so everyone is off doing their own thing, we live at greater distances from family and we rely on digital communication in lieu of the real thing.
>>People are doing double and triple duty due to their increased roles. Juggling now includes work, partner, kids, and often aging parents. Then we have the phenomenon of adult children returning to live at home due to economics. Many empty nesters are back to caring for a full family, and grandparents are thrust back into parenting roles.
>>What's with vacation deprivation? 25% of workers don't use all their vacation days, 10% don't take any, and 25% plan to work while on vacation. Workers are often required to stay 'connected' while on vacation, meaning that electronics get packed right along with the bathing suit. We need time off to recover from the chronic stress of daily life, but it seems that even if we get away we are not shifting down, so our physical bodies get some relaxation but our brains are still back working at the office. Consider this:
** over 70% of adults don't get enough sleep;
** interruptions consume 28% of our workday;
** the average workday is 8.9 hours, up from a decade ago;
** the new catch phrase is "extreme workers" who pride themselves on a work week averaging between 80-120 hours/week.
LIVING AN OVERWHELMED LIFE IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH. The links between work-life overload, burnout and physical and mental health problems are absolute. The use of medications for insomnia, anxiety, and depression are common place, not to mention the increase in the use of recreational drugs to promote relaxation.
Balance is different for every individual and situation. However, one thing remains the same for all, balance is never static, it just won't stay in place forever. Balance is always in motion like a teeter-totter or a pendulum. We move through the arc, pass through balance, temporarily visit imbalance, and then swing back to balance again. Finding the right work-life ratio is a personal process.
BUILDING SOLUTIONS:
> schedule regular "work-free" weekends
> be religious about out-of-office breaks
> focus on essential tasks during the day, not 'important' ones, we call these "absolute musts"
> unplug from digital devices on downtime
> limit the negativity/violence you allow into your psyche through media
> learn to say NO
> eliminate emotionally draining people from your world
> meditate
> give up unfocused multi-tasking
> slow down, there will never be more than 24 hours
As crazy and demanding as the world can be, we need to find a new equilibrium, a new definition of balance, and we need to choose a different path than burnout. With clear goals, strategies to deal with daily challenges, and a true commitment to living a well-prioritized life, we have all the skills needed to offset the overwhelming atmosphere of today's overdrive world.
Now's the time. If we accept and internalize the demands of an overwhelmed and overwhelming world as "just the way it is", we will simply not choose the values or priorities that sustain and encourage effective living.
Dr. Toby Silverton & Dr. Bev McLagan, Silverton-McLagan Identity Coaching; are personal coaches, therapists, educators, speakers and authors of "The Burnout Trap: Bounce Back from Over-busy, Over-tired and Overwhelmed! and 90 Days of Quick & Easy Stress Relief in Crazy Times!
Since 1982 their uniquely practical and inspired approach has helped an international group of clients achieve personal and professional balance and success. They are known from their ground-breaking work in the areas of life balance and burnout, self-identity, stress and eating disorders. Articles on these specialty topics are now being published on article sites and blogs, as well as eproducts.
For more resources, newsletters and events visit their blog: biggerthanbalanceblog.typepad.com, and their website: livethesolution.com and their expert page on Self-Growth.
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