The Overwhelm Spiral: How to Recognize and Interrupt It
Overwhelm doesn't arrive suddenly. It builds, one small stress at a time.
Signs You're Entering the Spiral
- Everything feels equally urgent
- Your mind races from task to task
- You can't focus on any single thing
- Small tasks feel impossibly big
Interrupting the Pattern
- Stop - Literally pause what you're doing
- Breathe - Three deep breaths, minimum
- Choose one thing - The smallest possible next step
The Power of "Not Now"
You don't have to do everything today. Some things can wait.
