Overcommitted and Overwhelmed
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Do you ever do this thing where you come up with a great idea? Like an idea so great that you get really excited about it and start making plans months in advance? And then the day of the thing comes along and you can’t quite remember why you were so excited about the thing because all you feel is the overwhelm of having one more thing to do?
I see you.
Back in February, I got this grand idea to hold Wreath Convention, a drop-in holiday wreath-making party. I was so excited, I thought about it all spring and summer.
And as soon as it was reasonable to start inviting other people, I started talking it up. I made an event on Facebook and invited folks to it. I sent texts and emails and personal invites.
And then weeks went by. My life got busy. And before I knew it, Wreath Convention was around the corner.
When I looked at my calendar and everything that’s happening, plus all the Wreath Convention to-dos, I felt overwhelmed.
I have this habit of overcommitting myself to all the wonderful things available to me. Lunch with friends, hosting a journaling workshop, volunteering to make Thanksgiving desserts for our family, art classes - they all sound great when I sign up for one thing at a time.
But sometimes I forget to pace myself. And then I feel it.
At 9:00 on the morning of Wreath Convention, I felt overwhelmed by how much there was to do - set up the garage, find the wire cutters, get the speaker working, fix some treats, figure out where I was going to set up those treats, clean the house in case someone needed to come in to use the bathroom, come up with a rain contingency plan for if we couldn’t fit in my garage and we had to come inside.
(Cue a flurry of worry over how we’d possibly all fit inside my house and all the places I’d find pine needles for the foreseeable future…)
Two hours before, I wanted to pull the plug on the whole thing and just make wreaths by myself. (Totally defeating the whole purpose of Wreath Convention!)
Fortunately I got over myself and realigned my expectations. I gave up on the food. (I figured no one would want to eat with sticky sap hands!) I found the wire cutters, asked my husband to get the speaker working, shuffled around the tables in the garage, and set myself to work early.
By the time our first guest arrived, I was two wreaths in and feeling festive thanks to a holiday playlist we had cued up. (Except for the unexpected Marvin Gaye song about being a prisoner of war and wanting to come home for Christmas - that was a bit of a downer…)
And before I knew it, I was having a great time, so happy I decided to host Wreath Convention after all.
In recapping the event and how I felt about it, my husband gently reminded me this is what I do - get super excited, overcommit, get overwhelmed, pull myself together, and finally be able to (mostly) enjoy the plans.
My challenge this holiday season - and into 2023 - is to cut out the overwhelm and overcommitment so I can truly enjoy life.
To remember why I said yes and let the enthusiasm I feel carry me through. To continue to get better at asking for help.
And be fully present throughout the whole experience.
I’m going to capture these lessons in my journal, and be sure to mark the page so it’s easy to go back and remember!
What is a lesson you keep learning? How can you finally learn for good so you don’t have to keep relearning it?
Weekly Journal Prompts:
Use these prompts as written or as inspiration to uncover what you need in your life this week. And know that I’m always here to support you and answer questions you have along the way!
What is a lesson that you keep learning and relearning?
What is an uncomfortable situation you keep putting yourself in over and over again?
How can you remember to choose what serves you and eliminate what doesn’t?
What cues and prompts can you give yourself?
If you could free up time and brain space by not overcommitting yourself, what would you do with the abundance you now have?
One Journaling Idea I Love:
What I Learned Today
If you value learning and growth, keep a journal to capture what you learned each day.
What lessons did you learn?
What interesting facts came your way?
What did you learn how to do?
I love the idea of getting a little smarter every day and having a record of all you’ve learned to prove it!
Count Down to Christmas!
For those who celebrate Christmas, I’m offering a journal prompt calendar - 25 days of journal prompts!
Grab your copy - and shop for other journaling helps - HERE.
Work with Me in 2023!
I work with clients both 1:1 and in my group programs to develop journaling practices that help you design and live a life you don’t want a vacation from.
My group program, Better Me in 2023, is designed for ambitious, goal-focused achievers who are easily overwhelmed by overcommitment and perfectionism.
Each month we’ll journal our way to improvement - and less stress and anxiety - in a different area.
And you can start in December with a month of reflection and goal setting to give yourself a Better Launch into the new year!
Jump in for the months and themes that call to you or sign on for a longer adventure.
Ready to jump in?
Register for the adventure. Sign up for 1 month, 6 months, or 12 months!
Interested, but have questions?
Let’s hop on a call to see if Better Me or 1:1 coaching is a good fit for you! Click HERE to schedule a time that works for you.
Want to have a friend join you?
Things like this are best with the right company. Download a copy of this PDF and share with a friend!
I can’t wait to journal with you! 💛
Happy Journaling!
