I am overwhelmed.  There, I said it.

I am overwhelmed.

I am completely, 100%, fully in overwhelmed mode. I realized this when I spent 12 hours working on Thursday–and I did not log on to Facebook once.  Not once. Until 10:30pm.  That’s a miracle.  But that’s also my second job, so I neglected my entire Army for a day. Some General I am. Pfft.

Crappy General Craptastic Stupid Face.

This morning, the work deadlines were crashing into me.  (Work is just crazy right now. Just crazy. I have no idea what has happened).

So I got in from San Diego at 11:00 last night (I was supposed to arrive at 7:40, but the Airport and Atlanta Traffic gods had super special plans for me).  I decided (yes, at 11:00pm) that I would log on to my work terminal and knock out some stuff I may have missed from Friday.

Big mistake.

I also had a bottle of wine hanging around.

Big mistake.

Well suddenly it was 2:45 am –I had accomplished a shit-ton of work…. but I also had to wake up at 6, and do it again.

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Holy mistake guacamole.

The Expert kissed me at 5:30 and left for Canada for a work trip. Which meant, I had to actually be responsible–I couldn’t just be like, “Oh I am tired, get the kids to camp.”

Ha. It was me. With a jet-lagged, work-tired, slight-hangover, missed swim workout…. “Rise and shine kiddos! Mommy loves you!”

Holy shit.

I chugged coffee.  Got the kiddos to camp.  Went to the store and got the fixings for chili, and was back at my desk by 9:00.

I mean, I was wandering around watering plants and dusting and organizing mail.

The Expert called me, “What are you doing?”

“OMG. I have so many things to do. I am drowning.”

“Okay,” he said, “So what are you doing?”

“Oh,” I said, “Watering the plants.”

“Meredith! Get your act together.”

“I am. I am together.”

Then he proceeded to text me a whole bunch of stuff like:  Get a redbull and crank your music and knock it out.  And… my favorite:  just keep moving forward.  Okay, so he knew better than that.

(I am married to a drill sergeant. If in doubt, read the Expert’s “thank you” in my book’s section, The Big Fat Thank Yous. He keeps me moving. I get that.)

So I worked my tail off today. And I am still actually going, but I am taking a break to try and contribute to my favorite part of my world. So here goes.

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At least they were cool. 🙂

Ten Tips for When You are Overwhelmed:

1) Stick your head in the sand.   Do it, but just for about 5 minutes.  I have done it for a week now. I don’t even put on makeup anymore. It’s amazing.

2) Pull your head out of the sand.  Then make a plan. You may need to water the plants and cook chili while you do this.

3) Watch Andy Potts swim. He helps lower the blood pressure. #ClinicallyProven.

4) Then make a list. Lists are actually not overrated. My boss and I have an email that we circulate constantly called “The List.” And we keep pending deadlines on it, with commentary (and somethings like “dammit” where necessary). But seeing the goals and tasks and daily hubbub in one place really does help.

5) Then throw your list in the trash. And re-make the list. This is dumb. But it works. It helps you re-prioritize. Make this list in your fancy handwriting with a nice pen, if you are using paper.

(If you are using paper, then this is like “Choose Your Own Adventure” and you need to get into the technology world, old crab.)

6) Breathe. So simple. But so true. Just take a moment and breathe. What on your list is life-ending? If you threw your (second) list in the trash and walked out and said, “Screw You World” – what would happen? Would people really die? Probably not. Breathe. (Repeat #1 and #2 if necessary, but come back to #7).

7) Count Blessings. When I am cursing my life and world and existence, taking a few moments to just count all the good in my life brings my heartrate down. Then I watch another Andy Potts swim video, and my sitting heartrate is like 47.

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8) Suck it Up, Buttercup! “Oh really? You’re saying this again?” Yes. Because it’s true. Once you have grounded yourself and made a plan, it’s time to say, “Well this may suck, but I”m going in.” This is time make it happen. Pull in the resolve and go.

9) Turn off the distractions. Try and focus. I love social media. Lawd, like the best thing ever! But there are distractions everywhere. If you’re trying to reach a triathlon goal, I think the distractions are pizza and beer–maybe that’s just me. And I haven’t figured out how to get away from that completely… another blog for another day. But no matter the goal—time to focus.

10) Be proud. We are so damn hard on ourselves. All of us. We are never good enough, smart enough or whatever–despite people liking us. I was seriously having a head conversation today that went like this:

How can you be so lazy?

How are you so far behind?

And my GAWD, the fat on your knees…. UNREAL…

At some point today, I snapped out of it (sorta)… I accomplished what I could in 7 hours… then I took a break, went for a swim (ahhhhhh), picked up the kids, cooked dinner and was back on the computer for Round II, night shift.

But that’s okay. We are ALL busy. Stressed.

But, my love muffins?  We are good people. Trying the best we can.  Be nice to yourselves.  And let’s figure it out.

OH, and any other (real) tips are welcome!

 

9 Responses

  1. Your fabulous….anyone who would abandoned their normal schedule and fly all the way out to San Diego for a friends birthday….just to bring them joy and happiness…is Fabulous!!..Hot mess, no makeup, over worked, not focused, overwhelmed and all. Great Blog as usual 🙂

  2. WILD HORSES couldn’t have kept me away from San Diego. Loved meeting you and seeing my gals!!! xoxox

  3. And Bam! Just like that, you remind me that all of my reasons “why not” are and always have been B.S. Thanks for keeping it real!

  4. And that is what makes this blog so relatable. Instead of looking at all the super athletes, including elites who always seem to train perfectly (I know it doesn’t always happen, just what it seems like), it’s great to have someone else posting who misses workouts. It reminds me that I am human and I don’t have to be perfect

  5. Boy did I need this – have worked out hit and miss the past 1.5 weeks d/t being in South Africa – still not home – am very, very tired and all I can think about is seeing my hubs and sleeping for 2 weeks. Tomorrow will be another day. 🙂

  6. I would add that after you make your list pick only 2 or 3 things that must get done that day. It helps keep you sane. I have my weekly to-do list in a spiral notebook with the list on the left side. Then on the right I write the day of the week and pick my 2 or 3 things for that day. I also fold the notebook over and only focus on getting those things done. Doesn’t always work but generally does. You feel accomplished for getting those couple of things done.

    Oh and make the bed! If all hell breaks out you know you accomplished at least one thing that day. I didn’t believe in making my bed until I read it somewhere and its so true. I feel like even if everything goes to hell, I at least got my bed made.

  7. I love your post. You are amazing woman to me and the best thing you are real!!! Because you don’t pretend to be perfect. I love you, Meredith!!!!!

  8. What Not To Do…
    1,) yell at anyone who comes within striking zone for any present and past infractions. 2.) feel like most awful, mother, wife, friend, person in universe for being unreasonably cross with everyone (even though they kinda deserve it).
    3.) stress about time spent beating self up and still being mad at the rest of them. 4.). Settle down to self loathing and get to work , because no one is going to come anywhere near you in THAT kind of mood.

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